The Almighty Oracle

The Alphabet consists of Judith Jewcakes (Shimer), Parker Car and Forest Creatures (Christenson). If you’re wondering why these names seem so familiar it’s because you attentively read this blog and have noticed the same people were involved in Pretty Balanced. The band changed their name to something that’s easier to remember but the musical style remains the same and it’s for the best.

Scarlet Starlet is not a full length album and not exactly an EP. It stands somewhere in between the two formats. With a couple of new songs (Prosthetic Face, Children) and multiple versions of old favourite (My Mind Is A Box, originally on Icicle Bicycle) and alternative takes on Miriam and Emyli (also off IB) Scarlet Starlet appears to be a nice transition from Pretty Balanced to The Alphabet.

1. Prosthetic Face
2. Children
3. My Mind Is A Box (Cotton Soft Version)
4. My Mind Is A Box (Crispy Version)
5. Emyli
6. Children’s Children
7. Miriam
8. Huzzah
9. My Mind Is A Rock (feat. Garth Harrison Shack on guitar)
10. Remi[Nd Is A Bo]X

The band obviously had fun recording these and it’s fun to compare all the sounds that come in to change the perspective on the song. Instruments used : vibraphone, xylophone, organ, piano, violin, bass and light original percussions and of course the voice – which is an often overlooked instrument [Children's Children makes used of it perfectly]. So no, this is not mainstream music but it’s highly enjoyable anyway as long as you like to pay attention to details.

Here’s The Alphabet’s first music video ever (for Prosthetic Face):

Visit the band on myspace.
Buy Scarlet Starlet on CD Baby!

mel :: Jul.10.2009 :: Forest Christenson, Forest Creatures, Judith Jewcakes, Judith Shimer, Parker Car, Pretty Balanced, Scarlet Starlet, The Alphabet :: No Comments »

Once again, Allison DeWitt and Forest Christenson release a track that’s close enough to genius to have me play it on repeat for over an hour now (the night is still young, though). It doesn’t quite sound as dark as the lyrics can appear, it’s an interesting feeling.

Here it is for you to enjoy, too :

Don’t forget to visit Twin Souls Of Sulfur on myspace.

Lyrics : Continue Reading »

mel :: Mar.09.2008 :: Forest Christenson, Song of the Day, Terpsichore, Twin Souls Of Sulfur, allison dewitt :: No Comments »

“All of a sudden the piano grew MIDI (which is so ’80s) and went through an identity crisis, along with the electric bass which became big and made out of wood, while the violin grew an extra string along its bottom and the drum kit shrank considerably, causing the sounds imprisoned within this album (which you can release by playing it as much as possible) to occur. Simultaneously. [...]“

This is a part of what you can read on the booklet for the new Pretty Balanced release. It explains or maybe comes as a little warning to their followers because of the slight change in the sounds for this album compared to Icicle Bicycle.
I honestly think Conical Monocle comes naturally after IB, of course it’s less piano chamber rock and more Ctrl+Alt+tronica [as the band recently tagged themselves] but it works because the initial Pretty Balanced musical genius is still there.

Continue Reading »

mel :: Feb.02.2008 :: CD Review, Conical Monocle, Forest Christenson, Judith Shimer, Parker Ross, Pretty Balanced :: No Comments »

Sometimes you find a song and can’t help but listen to it on repeat for hours/days. I found one of those gems last night! Here it is for your enjoyment :

Twin Souls Of Sulfur is one of the many projects of Forest Christenson (Pretty Balanced, Solarist, Starving Goliath) who produces, plays the violin, mandolin, drums, and synthesizers while Allison DeWitt is in charge of the vocals and the occasional kazoo.

Visit their myspace page here.
Visit Forest’s website here.

Lyrics : Continue Reading »

mel :: Jan.12.2008 :: Forest Christenson, Pretty Balanced, Solarist, Song of the Day, Starving Goliath, Sulfur, Twin Souls Of Sulfur, allison dewitt :: No Comments »