- Release Info -------------------------------------------------------------- -
Artist: Solarcade
Album: Songs For The Gathering
Label: A&I Records
Playtime: 25:25 min
Genre: Rock
URL:
Rip date: 2009-05-23
Street date: 2009-02-24
Size: 38.81 MB
Type: Normal
Quality: 201 kbps / 4410kHz / Joint Stereo
- Release Notes ------------------------------------------------------------- -
Solarcade is the musical partnership between vocalist Paul Van and guitarist
Pomilla. They are musically comparable to Depeche Mode and the Raveonettes in
their use of outside musicians to fill out their sound. As a result, Van and
PomillaÆs eight-year collaboration has yielded some achingly beautiful music.
Their cinematic, nuanced compositions have attracted the attention of The
KillersÆ Brandon Flowers, who personally selected Solarcade to open select
dates for his bandÆs arena tour in 2007.
Van, whose baritenor voice has been compared to that of Peter Gabriel draws
much of his musical inspiration from an interesting source. The singer, who
emigrated from South Africa at the age of 16, describes his childhood:
"Growing up, my archaeologist mother was always talking about different
cultures and ways of living while my brother, an expert on Shakespeare, would
be talking about the timeless truths and universal themes of Shakespeare. One
of the reasons I am drawn to composing and performing is that it allows me to
explore these different life themes and possibilities and to share them.ö
Pomilla, the other half of Solarcade, hails from Houston, TX. Pomilla's
guitar style has been compared with ZZ TopÆs Billy Gibbons and U2Æs The Edge;
these greats also happen to be two of his biggest inspirations. Formerly on
the fast track to a career with a bachelors in criminal justice and working
death row in Texas as a Correctional Officer, Pomilla could not silence the
riffs that played in his head. "They just come to me, and I have to play them
out until I get them down.ö
It is a testament to the vibrancy of L.A.Æs music scene that two driven
musicians from different corners of the world found in each other their
perfect missing piece.
Together Van and Pomilla, who met on the local Los Angeles music scene,
create music that reflects their varied influences and experiences. On their
previous independent effort, 2005Æs Aliens and Angels, Van lyrically
questions whether these entities are one and the same, and in 2007Æs This
Beautiful Demon╕ the pair explore love and loss. On their third recording,
Songs for the Gathering, Solarcade reveals an entirely new awareness and
perspective.
In their upcoming EP, Songs for the Gathering, Van builds upon his lyrical
explorer sensibilities and combines them with Pomilla's seductive
progressions to inspire the listener to press replay in order to fully absorb
the sound, meaning and feeling of each song. The first single, ôRiseö has an
uncanny relevance to the era in which we live. ItÆs a song for those mired in
despair and who are on the verge of giving up. Van puts it simply as ôan
anthem to fight for the better life because itÆs in our grasp. To summon the
courage to stare hopelessness in the eye and reject it, and to not be
dumbfounded when you learn that the so-called wise men know less than you
thought. ôRiseö is a defiant call to action that says, itÆs in me, and it's
in you, and together we must make it.ö
In an effort to achieve that rich full alternative pop sound, the band chose
to work with producer Brian Reeves (U2, Rooney, Jonas Brothers). Van
previously collaborated with Reeves when the former was chosen to sing the
theme song for the Sci Fi Channel series, Jeremiah. Van says, ôI loved the
mix on that song. Once I tapped into what he was doing, I knew that Brian
would be perfect for Songs for the Gathering.ö Pomilla describes working with
Reeves on the album: ôWe had a great time. He grinds you to the bone, but
itÆs positive fury! I became a better guitar player.ö
Reeves, who has worked with some of the greatest alternative bands in
contemporary rock history, says "Solarcade is the real deal. Van has a voice
that is immediately recognizable as he skillfully engages his listener. He
paints a lyrical picture that leaves you breathless. PomillaÆs unique guitar
stylings give the act a character that is both contemporary and classic, yet
beautifully dynamic. It's obvious that Solarcade's music is truly inspired."
Brian Reeves and Brandon Flowers have already discovered Solarcade - now itÆs
your turn. The band, now based both in Los Angeles and in Las Vegas, release
their seven song EP, Songs for The Gathering on February 24 through A&I
Records.
- Track List ---------------------------------------------------------------- -
01. Rise ( 3:28)
02. My Weather Of Love ( 4:03)
03. Oceans To Oceans ( 3:46)
04. Artshow ( 0:57)
05. When She Comes ( 4:03)
06. A Warning Sign From A Half Moon ( 3:57)
07. Rise ( A Thousand Seas Remix) ( 5:11)
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