Huffamoose Alums The Fractals Spin New Music Into "Heavy Rotation"
Philly's top musicians shine on debut CD
"Huffamoose alums’ debut LP is a sprawling, moody masterpiece of modern rock
that’s not emo or whiny, nor trendy or retro; it’s just right." - Bill Chenevert
- Philadelphia Weekly
"Do not be deceived by the swerving and ever-pleasant melodies of The
Fractals: This is sly, sophisticated music that wants to tear your head off." -
Tom Moon, Music Critic
Philadelphia, PA - Guess what happens when a quartet of three martini lunches
staggers toward a ragged copy of “Respect For Acting,” stumbling over
bell-bottoms into plasticine porters, hissing like 8-Tracks, knocking over emo
kids with Flying Vees...The Fractals, that’s what happens, and they have been
happening for ten years. Tearing it up mercilessly in a cyclonic maelstrom of
Steely-cum-Stevie-cum-Angus, with outer rings of Zeppelin and Trane, the
whirling dervish that is The Fractals is not to be ignored. The storm hit May
14th when The Fractals ushered intheir debut CD "Heavy Rotation" with an
explosive CD release party at Johnny Brenda's in Philadelphia and the CD hit
store shelves.
"We had a blast recording this album", enthuses Kevin Hanson, the band's lead
vocalist and songwriter. "Stylistically, we indulged a wide array of our
influences, from Joni Mitchell to Iron Maiden. But it all came out sounding
distinctively like The Fractals."
Kevin Hanson, lead singer and songwriter, has performed and recorded with the
likes of Usher, Jay-Z, The Roots, Musiq Soulchild, and countless others. He
appears in the acclaimed films "Fade To Black" as a band member for Jay-Z's
"farewell” concert and Dave Chappelle's "Block Party" as a member of the house
band. His distinctive songwriting is what has drawn so many to both Huffamoose
and his current band. His compositions and masterful guitar playing are the
spinal cord of The Fractals.
Jim Stager, bassist, has performed and recorded with hundreds of artists,
ranging from Rosemary Clooney (!) to the legendary punk band "X". His mastery of
rock and jazz merge in a style that has earned him a place in the pantheon of
Philadelphia's notable session greats. Whether guiding his upright through the
downhill slalom of modern jazz, or firing off downstrokes with a Fender
extra-heavy pick, Jim is bass, hear him roar.
Erik Johnson, drummer, has performed and recorded with countless artists in
myriad styles, from playing avant-garde jazz with Ben Schachter, George Garzone
and Tim Hagans to backing singer-songwriters such as Susan Werner, Mutlu and
Lelia Broussard. Often described as a “beast” of a drummer, his soaring
background vocals hover over the band in an unlikely juxtaposition of melody and
maelstrom.
Mike Frank, the newest member of The Fractals, is well known as a true musical
savant who never sacrifices musicality for virtuosity, although he has technique
and musical mastery in spades. He has been performing with master singer and
songwriter Jim Boggia for over twenty years (at times along with the other
Fractals, long before joining the band) and has more recently recorded and
performed with The Disco Biscuits. Mike’s gift for spontaneous orchestration
gives even his most adventurous solos a sense of cohesiveness amidst chaos.
Whether playing their own music, backing other artists or composing for
films—they scored and performed music for the cult classic “Aqua Teen Hunger
Force” as well as Abel Ferrara’s “RX Mas”—the band is in a constant state of
musical hyperactivity. The Fractals have completed their first full-length
offering, "Heavy Rotation". Spinning intertwined webs of storytelling and
improvisation, the band’s one-mindedness leaves audiences stunned and
invigorated. In the words of legendary music critic Tom Moon, "Do not be
deceived by the swerving and ever-pleasant melodies of The Fractals: This is
sly, sophisticated music that wants to tear your head off." This is also a
quartet that breathes and moves as a shape-shifting, four-headed creature from a
planet where music is life and sound is truth.
ALBUM INFO
Album Title: Heavy Rotation
Artist Name: The Fractals
Release Date: May 14, 2010
Track Listing
1. Take Your Clothes Off Please 2:45
2. Priscilla The Killa 4:03
3. Bombs Away 4:13
4. Dark And Stormy 3:52
5. Isn't It Remarkable 4:14
6. Buried Alive 3:41
7. That Girl Tonight 4:45
8. The End Of End Of Days 4:28
9. She Gets Me 3:56
Produced by Adam Winokur and The Fractals
All songs by Kevin Hanson - Kevinski Music (BMI)
Http://WWW.THEFRACTALS.COM
|