After releasing eight critically acclaimed albums over more than a decade, San Francisco’s Granfaloon Bus ‘parked’ forever in 2003. Eager to continue making music, front man and songwriter Felix Costanza turned his attentions to a new solo project, which he called ‘Okie Rosette’
Writing and recording progressed slowly, but eventually the new songs took shape, and the album ‘Leap Second’ was brought to life with the help of various accomplices.
The recruitment of Rachel Stevenson on vocals created the perfect pairing for Costanza’s world-weary vocals. Thee More Shallows’ Dee Kesler lent his recording expertise and sonic wizardry to some of the tracks and played several instruments. Carrie Bradley (The Breeders, 100 Watt Smile) contributed violin parts, and ex-Granfaloon Bus members Jeff Stevenson (bass) and Ajax Green (guitar) found themselves unable to resist the opportunity to record with their old friend and bandmate again. Others joined in the fray, contributing various embellishments, including horns, organ, tambourine, handclaps, etc.
As with his previous work in Granfaloon Bus, Costanza’s lyrical mastery is again evident, managing to be at once both accessible and enigmatic.
A description once used by a journalist to describe the music of Granfaloon Bus – ‘slanted folk-pop’ – still applies as an apt description of this mixture of folk /melodic pop/Americana stylings, further tweaked with distorted samples, electronic beats, loops and skewed lyrics.
It all adds up to a stunning album – the best work yet by Felix Costanza.
Okie Rosette will be on tour in Europe in October 2008...
For booking in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, contact:
mario{at}kumpelsandfriends{dot}com
All other bookings, contact: tours{at}monotremerecords{dot}com