ARTIST: Tuatara
TITLE: East of the Sun
LABEL: Fast Horse Recordings
GENRE: Indie
BITRATE: 173kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 51m total
RELEASE DATE: 2007-06-00
RIP DATE: 2007-05-23
Track List
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1. Waterhole 3:56
2. The Spaniard 4:08
3. Bones, Blood And Skin 4:43
4. Silo Spring Violets 3:30
5. Trouble Rides In 3:26
6. Missionary Death Song 2:51
7. A Spark In The Wind 2:56
8. Madrigal 4:14
9. All The Colors In The World 4:40
10. Orpheus Must Die 3:20
11. Your Ghost Town 1:12
12. Thank You Jesus 1:26
13. Rainbow Drops 2:50
14. Love Is 4:50
15. Oxman Spoonmaker 3:47
Release Notes:
Initially formed as a band to write and record songs to be used in film
soundtracks, Tuatara quickly found a creative synergy between its members. The
bandÆs earliest recording sessions yielded much more than just a handful of
tracks; what originated was a supergroup of monumental proportions that would
produce a diverse repertoire across six albums. Composed of principle members
Peter Buck and Scott McCaughey of REM, Barrett Martin of the Screaming Trees,
bassist Kevin Hudson, horn players Dave Carter and Craig Flory, and
percussionist Elizabeth Pupo-Walker, Tuatara returns from a four-year hiatus to
release East Of The Sun, set to drop in June 2007 on Fast Horse Recordings. With
four full-length releases already under their belt, Tuatara has evolved from an
entirely instrumental project to an ever-growing, eclectic ensemble, including
vocals and even spoken word. On East Of The Sun, guest vocalists are plentiful
and include names such as Mark Olson and Gary Louris of the Jayhawks, Sufi Poet
Coleman Barks, Mark Eitzel of American Music Club, Jessy Greene of the Geraldine
Fibbers, LunaÆs Dean Wareham, John Wesley Harding, Gina Sala, and Victoria
Williams. Tuatara channels both the essential and experimental rock and roll
that dominated the 1960Æs with ôThe Spaniardö and ôMissionary Death Songö, the
albumÆs second and sixth songs, respectively. The incorporation of CarterÆs
trumpet adds an exotic element to several tracks, as well as an appropriately
placed sense of urgency. ôThe Spaniardö and "Bones, Blood and Skin" also include
the sweet, nostalgic sound of a Spanish guitar courtesy of Flamenco legend
Ottmar Liebert, and Iraqi oudist, Rahim Alhaj, adds his Arabic touch on "A Spark
In The Wind." These exotic elements throughout East Of The Sun give the tracks a
rich, otherworldly sound. East Of The Sun is only the beginning. The amount of
material Tuatara has written over the last four years has resulted in, not one,
but two albums, to be released separately. East Of The Sun and West Of The Moon
create a yin and yang effect, both containing mystical elements, with the lyrics
about personal loss, spiritual yearning, and finally, redemption. Barrett
explains, ôMusically, the Sun songs are more masculine, with a kind of High
Plains Drifter/Spanish Troubadour quality. The Moon songs are more groovy and
feminine, and definitely just as powerful as the Sun songs.ö East Of The Sun
sets the tone for the pair; itÆs an alluring prologue that leaves the listener
desiring what comes next. Fortunately, the second installment of the enticing
tale is not too far behind. "The Loading Program" (2004) Tuatara takes a new
twist in the evolution of their unique sound with the addition of some of the
world's top DJs remixing classic Tuatara songs. "The Loading Program" takes the
listener on an entirely new audio adventure, featuring remixes by DJ Spooky, DJ
Logic, DJ Wally, Spearhead's Michael Franti, producer Eric Rosse and New
Zealand's Mr. Reliable. The album plays as perfect blend between the organic,
live instrumentation of Tuatara, and the electronic wizardry of these top
producer/DJs. "Cinemathique" (2002) The third Tuatara album was the flagship
release for Barrett's new label, Fast Horse Recordings. The album has a more
ambient, textural quality, using the electric sounds of vintage keyboards,
shimmering vibes and rich horn parts to create a listening experience of
cinematic proportions. "Trading With The Enemy" (1998) Released on Epic/Sony,
the album garnered great reviews, sporting a richer, more arranged production
reminiscent of the big band recordings of yesteryear. "Beaking The Ethers"
(1997) This is the critically acclaimed debut album, released on Epic Sony. The
band was formed in Seattle in 1996 by Barrett Martin, drummer for Screaming
Trees, Justin Harwood, bassist for Luna, Peter Buck, guitarist for REM and
Seattle sax legend Skerik. The core group had been recording music for a
soundtrack demo and the sessions proved to be so fruitful that they decided to
produce their own album. The result was this stunning instrumental debut which
was warmly received around the world for its originality and pure musical
expression. The record also made its way on to several "best of" lists for the
end of that year.