jackie-o motherfucker

JACKIE-O MOTHERFUCKER 2008-formed in 1994, jomf have influenced countless contemporary sound-makers and musicians with both their freeform, modern interpretations of traditional folk, and their cut and paste, collective style of band membership. spiritually aligned with the free-music experiments of the late 60's and early 70's, as well as the lonesome folk and blues produced in the roadhouses and juke-joints of early 1900's america. jomf have fused together the traditional song form and the improvising ensemble, into a powerful and engaging live band, and 2008 finds the group finally honing in on the sound they have been searching for. the current line-up features honey owens, who has been cultivating her own music as VALET, recording for kranky records in chicago, and playing live all over america with her own music, and with atlas sound. honey has been an important part of jomf in the past, palying guitar and singing in early formations of jomf (flat fixed, fig. 5) and also contributing both as a vocalist and a producer on FLAGS OF THE SACRED HARP. as a part of the current touring line up, this is a rare opportunity to experience, as honey will no doubt be concentrating on her own projects in the coming years. nick bindeman, jomf guitarist, has also been continually refining his own sound and style, with his band ETERNAL TAPESTRY, they have a brand new crd out now on the jomf imprint U-SOUND, titled SUN ARISE and have received the thumbs-up from kraut rock archivist JULIAN COPE earlier this year. also just released on U-SOUND, is a live recording of the duo of TETUZI AKIYAMA and TOM GREENWOOD, titled STONED RUNES, this recording was made in tokyo earlier this year, when jomf performed dates in japan, performing with OM, MERZBOW, AND JIM O'ROURKE, and is a quiet and beautifully wandering document of zonked folk/blues acoustic guitar playing. earlier this year, jomf signed to the influential uk label FIRE RECORDS, and are hard at work recording a brand new studio release for the label, titled BALLADS OF THE REVOLUTION. many of the songs to be released on this record will be performed live on the upcoming tour. in the meantime, FIRE will be issuing an incredible recording this fall, made in the studios of VPRO radio in amsterdam last year. titled THE BLOOD OF LIFE, this record contains two jomf classic songs from the past, HEY! MR. SKY, and THE GRAVE, both completely new versions of these songs, produced in a very minimal but powerful style, as well as two new songs, a traditional ballad THE LOST JIMMY WALEN, and a brand new track, THE BLOOD OF LIFE, which is a ground breaking piece of new music for the band. also coming out this fall on visual artist chris johansons AWESOME VISTAS imprint, is THE CRYIN' SEA, another recording produced in europe, this LP only release features an incredible screen printed cover, with artwork done in a collaboration between TOM GREENWOOD and CHRIS JOHANSON, who have also been working together on a major exhibition of johansons work at DEITCH PROJECTS gallery in nyc, which opened sept. 4th. one more jomf release to look out for is FREEDOMLAND just issued by VERY FRIENDLY/CARGO UK, this lp/cd release was recorded in the USA during two long tours in 2005/06, and features the vocals of EVA SALENS. eva has been busy in the meantime working on her own music, and will be on tour this fall supporting jomf in europe as INCA ORE. extraordinary drummer danny sasaki, (enemy mine) who has been on board with jomf since 2005, will also be a part of the jomf line-up this outing, rounding out this incredible live band. please come out and support jomf, and check out the current harvest of new recordings. now represented in europe by THE HARRY FARMER AGENCY, jomf will be happy to give interviews, or help to support these dates in any way possible. ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------- VALLEY OF FIRE the first jomf studio release since critically acclaimed 2005 cd, FLAGS OF THE SACRED HARP (atp recordings), will be issued by textile records this oct. produced by adam forkner (yume bitsu, white rainbow, k records), VALLEY OF FIRE contains 3 brand new finely crafted songs on side one, and on side two, a 20 minute classic psychedelic, dirt road journey. the record represents the two equally facinating aspects of jomf sonwriting, and musical arrangement. over the years, jackie-o motherfucker have spent equal time writing and arranging classic american folk and blues, with long, free-form compositions, drawing comparisons to 1960’s and 70’s ensembles like ASH RA TEMPLE, AMON DUL, AMM, FAUST, CAN, and THE CHICAGO ART ENSEMBLE, while at the same time, developing a song crafting style that has drawn on a musical language passed down through generations. from classic arrangements of traditional spirituals, and work songs from the american south, “go down old hanah”, “amazing grace” (fig. 5) to modern arrangements of greenwich village folk from the 1960’s, “somethings on your mind” -dino valente/karen dalton (liberation), to completely original jomf classics “everyday”, and “hey! mr. sky” (change, flags....) jackie-o motherfucker have trawled the dusty corners of history, and absorbed the languages of past generations, twisting the elements to form a new style which has been appropriated by musicians all over the world. VALLEY OF FIRE begins with “sing your own song” an original composition with vocals by eva salens (inca ore) recorded in charlottesville virginia, lyrics written by street poet URIAH J. FIELDS, the song addresses the importance of the individual voice, rising above a rotten political structure ...LIFT UP YOUR VOICE AND SING....! track two, titled “valley of fire”, another jomf original composition, was recorded in leeds, england over the winter of 2006, with further production in portland by adam forkner. track three, is a jomf arrangement of a beach boys song from their lonesome and wasted record, “surf’s up”. also recorded in leeds england, in the living room of lauren naylor, with further production in portland by adam forkner. it is an incredibly dark and minimal arrangement of the song, with an awesome vocal contribution from forkner. side two is a side long composition titled “we are/chanel zero with vocals by eva salens and tom greenwood, in typical jomf style, it takes the listener on a lysergic ride through the misty atmosphere... a minimal, free-form/dub exploration of the classic public enemy track “chanel zero”. recorded live in london, with post-production by adam forkner in portland. VALLEY OF FIRE picks up the trail of FLAGS OF THE SACRED HARP, and wanders down a similar path, adding elements of krautrock, and classic west-coast american production to create an incredible, original album. the band is planning a european tour in the fall of 2007 to support the release. traveling as a 5 piece ensemble, including TOM GREENWOOD (voice/guitar), DANNY SASAKI (drums), NICK BINDEMAN (guitar), DANA VALATKA (electronic percussion, voice), and NATALIE MERING (voice, guitar) this particular line-up of the band have been working together for almost three years, in several formations, and have developed a strong language of sound, as well as a knowlege of past jomf songs, constantly arranging and re-arranging, adding new breath into a huge catalog of work. expect the most fluid and cohearent performances in the history of this exciting and shape-shifting american band. ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------Jackie-O Motherfucker was formed in 1994 by Tom Greenwood and Nester Bucket layering guitars and sax over hand cut analog tape loops and collage, collections of found sound, field recordings, cut-up classic rock, hip-hop beats and 4-tracked drones. Assembled and processed, the band rehearsed often in the basement of an abandoned drug store on Mississippi St. in North Portland. The first live performances featured an amplified reel to reel tape machine and electric guitar while additions of live percussion, 8-track tapes, alto sax, and a turntable filled out the sound. Many of the performances of this time were done to provide a live musical score for shadow puppet theatre. After a US/European tour in the late summer of 2003 the east coast configuration of JOMF temporarily dissolved, with members returning to Brooklyn and Montreal. The group re-assembled in Portland and recording sessions began for Flags of the Sacred Harp. Honey Owens returned to working with the group again, having departed after Fig. 5 to work with her other group Nudge (kranky). The new configuration also includes guitarist Adam Forkner (Umi Bitsu, Whiterainbow, Devendra Banhart).Flags of the Sacred Harp, the first full length JOMF studio release in three years, will be issued in November 2005 on ATP Recordings. Over a year in the making, Flags of the Sacred Harp displays the groups patient and evolved songwriting style with historic references to American blues and hymns. One of the most focused and sublime releases from Jackie-O Motherfucker, the release contains songs that are all manifestations, mutations and re-interpretations of old blues and gospel, specifically from an old hymnal called "The Sacred Harp". Three lush, beautiful vocal arrangements on each side of a 17 minute soaring instrumental making a total of 7 songs unfolding over 70+ minutes. Flags of the Sacred Harp is an epic recording documenting the groups maturing skills in writing, arranging and production and is a timeless de-construction of American music.