a r t i s t : Plants
t i t l e : Photosynthesis
d a t e : 2007
l a b e l : Strange Attractors
g e n r e : Electronic
r l s. d a t e : Jul/2007
t r a c k s : 08
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 45,4 MB
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Music by: Joshua Blanchard / Molly Griffith-Blanchard / Jesse
Stevens
with: Ben Buehler (recording, bass, voices, percussion,etc ) /
Jason Buehler ("piano box" & banjo) / Howard Gillam (electric
tones) / Michael Braun-Hamilton (singing saw)
Portland, Oregon's Plants are blossoming into one of the most
expansive ensembles emanating out of today's psychedelic
underground. Formed by the wedded musical partners Joshua and
Molly Blanchard to explore delicate acid-folk terrain, Plants
have evolved well beyond their sparse and mystical roots to
sail along a rich and diverse confluence of mind-enhancing
streams. 2006 bore witness to a trilogy of recordings, from
the quivering folk of their debut The Mind is a Bird in the
Hand (Audio Dregs) to music captured in yurts and bunkers
along the Oregon coast (Totem CDR, Audio Dregs) and the
pillow-prog odyssey Double Infinity. Reaching deep within,
Plants unfurl Photosynthesis, a haunting foray into gently
rippling netherworlds.
Aptly named, Photosynthesis illustrates the subtle skill in
which Plants extract and blend a variety of sounds to concoct
a heady elixir of minimalist psychedelia. A rotating cast of
support for the husband and wife core offers a diverse array
of instrumentation, including acoustic/electric guitars,
cello, singing saw, organ, electric tones, and a guest
appearance from Jason Buehler of the band Nice Nice on banjo
and "piano box". Gently swirled together, Plants invoke images
of a quiet solstice ritual involving early Popol Vuh, the
fusion-folk of C.O.B., and a flower-powered, V.U.-era John
Cale. Haunting and ethereal, Photosynthesis is a fresh new
perspective from the West Coast folk-psych scene.
"By combining the sounds of old-school heads like Love and
Donovan with the modern tape-damaged murk of Akron/Family and
Ariel Pink, Plants have carved a nice little home for stoner-
nerd bliss." -CMJ
"A warm haze of acoustic-based psychedelia. Those still wary
of too much hippie in their folk diet need not fear, for like
all the best of the new crop, Plants play it weird." -The
Stranger
*
Guitarist/vocalist Joshua Blanchard was a member of the avant
-pop Point Line Plane (Skin Graft Records) and hallucinatory
electronauts Mome Raths
Multi-instrumentalist Molly Blanchard is classically trained
in medieval music and harpsichord, and has collaborated with
Portland notables The Decemberists and 31Knots
Guest appearance by Jason Buheler of Warp Records & Temporary
Residence Ltd. recording artists Nice Nice
Packaging: Full color 4-panel digipak
(http://www.strange-attractors.com)
bandsite:
(http://www.plantsmusic.com/)
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01-Photosynthesis [04:15]
02-Seedling [04:09]
03-Seedling 2 [04:33]
04-Tumbleweed [05:12]
05-Roots [04:47]
06-Birdflowers [01:40]
07-Seedling 3 [03:00]
08-A Hidden World Exposed [07:40]
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35:16 min