ARTIST: The Brides of Obscurity
TITLE: Extended Play
LABEL: Electrokitty Records
GENRE: Indie
BITRATE: 178kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 15m total
RELEASE DATE: 2007-03-13
RIP DATE: 2007-03-07
Track List
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1. Bombs Away 2:53
2. Positively Me 2:42
3. Don't Get Me Wrong 3:46
4. Told You So 2:53
5. All Because Of You 3:30
Release Notes:
Seattle, Washington-based songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Gary Reynolds has
been making lush, orchestral classic pop under several monikers in several
cities for over a decade. Also an accomplished recording engineer operating out
of his own Electrokitty Studios, Reynolds eschews a specific type of creativity:
unrelenting, driving, and constant. His need to create, record, play and work is
infallable, and for good reason: his gift for borrowing the soaring, touching
hooks of late 60s George Harrison and appropriating the whimsy of Bowie with his
own distinct, often pessimistic touch of blues is undeniable. After playing with
a rotating cast of characters in earlier projects like NYC bands Thomas Covenant
and Pop, Reynolds has found a group of musicians that perfectly fleshes out his
vision on his newest self-released offering, Instant Happiness.
Self-produced by Reynolds and mixed by Robbie Adams (U2, Smashing Pumpkins),
Instant Happiness is an instant classic, thick with gospel handclaps, piccolo
trumpet, choral backups, wurlitzer, strings, singsong piano, infectious hooks
and unforgettable grit. While various session players have historically
contributed to Reynolds' recorded work, the vision is clearly his. "I'm not a
tyrant, but I do direct them," he explains with a laugh. Reynolds' work starts
off small and ends up huge--his writing is an incredibly intuitive additive
process. "I start off recording as a typical rock band, and it always ends up
this way--I just can't do the four-piece thing," he says. That's because
Reynolds is clearly too gifted; too prolific a songwriter and arranger to chain
himself to a format so traditional and stayed. It's a good thing, too. Soaring,
piano-driven choruses on the title track to Instant Happiness, the backwoods
swing of "Lonely Interlude" and the delicate, thick progression of "Here We Go
Again" are made all the more engaging thanks to Reynolds' obvious attention to
detail. Although his work rewards repeat listens, it's all instantly connective.
Electric. Immediate.