DEBUT CD "HAPPINESS" NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE!: iTunes and
Former Morphine saxophonist Dana Colley collaborates with Bourbon Princess ’ front woman / bassist Monique Ortiz and Larry Dersch of Binary System on A.K.A.C.O.D’s debut record, Happiness . Creating a darkly psychedelic sound that is sensual, cinematic and otherworldly, Colley & Co pay homage to the “low rock†sound created by his former band while pushing musical boundaries and forging new ground.
Fusing Colley’s unique electric guitar influenced baritone saxophone playing with experimental percussion and an unforgiving voice that compares to such greats as Jim Morrison, Nico and Patti Smith, A.K.A.C.O.D, have been packing rooms and garnering rave reviews in their native Boston for their mesmerizing live shows.
"Local vets Dana Colley, Monique Ortiz, and Larry Dersch (also known as Colley/Ortiz/Dersch — get it?) make for a low-rock supergroup if there ever was one. Hearing former Morphine saxophonist Colley’s beefy bari lines with Ortiz’s glassy, heavy-groove bass and low-register croon prompts comparisons with Colley’s old band. But more important is the songwriting on the trio’s 2007 debut, Happiness, particularly Ortiz’s distinctively dense lyrics and snaky melodies. Haunting stuff." -Will Spitz, Boston Phoenix (from Will’s Top Ten Boston Bands Of The Year)
“Her smoky, velvet voice entwines naturally with Colley’s legendary saxophone. Ortiz and the band grooved through a low, driving set of rolling deep bass, a ghostly Morphine-like essence inevitably discussed by those who were there to see.†-Boston Noise
"The comparisons of A.K.A.C.O.D with Morphine are obvious: the "low rock" groove of sax, slide bass, and drums, the presence of Morphine saxman Dana Colley as player, producer, and songwriter. But that would discount singer/bassist Monique Ortiz’s own distinctive songwriting chops, macho-woman deep alto vocals, and frank sexuality. With Larry Dersch on drums, A.K.A.C.O.D. ("also known as Colley/Ortiz/Dersch") are working their new Happiness, which mixes Morphine sexbeat and Sabbathy distorted stomps."-Boston Phoenix
Ortiz met Colley in May of 1996 at the Trocadero in Philadelphia, when he was touring with Morphine. After a brief but fateful conversation with front man Mark Sandman, she decided to pack her bags and move to Morphine’s home base of Cambridge, MA, in search of a better creative environment. Within a few months of moving to Cambridge she began performing solo, and within a year she formed Bourbon Princess. In 2003 Dana agreed to record, co-produce, and perform on the second Bourbon Princess LP Black Feather Wings.
Monique and Dana knew Larry through the "Morphine circle" (he played on the Morphine LP Like Swimming), and last fall when they began writing and recording material together they invited him in to complete the line-up of what is Also Known As Colley, Ortiz, and Dersch. The trio are garnering rave reviews for their live performances as well as their debut c.d. HAPPINESS . They will be bringing their unforgettable sound to stages around the world in the coming months.
WHAT FANS ARE SAYING...
Lowrock Lives
"Came across AKACOD on Morphine’s MySpace page of all places, and was blown away. The CD does not disappoint on any level. The combination of Colley’s sax and Ortiz’ sultry contralto is incredible. Long story short, lowrock has a future, and it’s looking pretty damn bright."-Chris Lindhorst
It’s About Time
"Woohoo! The Low Rock sound lives on and grows new wings- Combining Monique’s vocals, bass, textures and absolutely fearless lyric style with Dana’s briiliant wall of sound, experimentation and effects rig and Larry’s spot-on, rock solid drumming was a f-ing brilliant idea and I’m glad I was on the planet to hear it. I think that Mark would have gotten a big grin out of Happiness and Cheer You On. Excellent work, guys! See you at the show-" -Clint Gordon
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