Albumen
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Albumen

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The best kept secret in music

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"Northeast Performer"

Albumen - Lake Desolation
Recorded by The Albumen at The Peach Pit in
Greenfield Center, NY
Mastered by Larry DeVivo at Silvertone Mastering,
Saratoga Springs, NY
Produced by Albumen


Albumen claims that "as the record took shape, it became clear that the ghosts of the dead inhabited the songs and the album." While Neil Young and Michael Stipe are still alive, the songs can certainly be connected to outside influences.

The opener, "Circle Down," is a moody tune with the vocals gnarling over the twang of an acoustic guitar. With "Silent Sunrise" and "Mouthful of Pennies," the album displays a little more power.

The CD comes in an odd brown case with a textured tree on the front in light red. It feels like a thick chunk of homemade paper, and it opens like a new set of strings.

The songs slowly turn from structured verse-chorus-verse into extended jams; "Eyes Like Stars" transitions almost imperceptibly into "Bad Arm and Bowie Knife." "Raven Black" comes full circle and pulls down the tone into the slower acoustic mood that began the album.

The nine-minute epic "Dark, Dark Country" concludes the album. The song starts slightly upbeat yet restrained, before breaking down to a faint guitar heard in the distance like a lone shooting star. The band takes its time pulling back into the verse, eventually pulling the album to a fitting close of delay-heavy guitar behind a strong rhythm guitar. Distorted guitar fades with the closing of the album, leaving the ghosts they intended to harness. (Treble Hook Soundsook Sounds)

-Matthew Ozelius

- Northeast Performer


"Dead Angel #5"

Albumen -- LAKE DESOLATION [Treble Hook]

All the reviews I've seen of this so far have referenced Michael Stipe and R.E.M. more than anything else, but I think this upstate NY band probably has more in common with the Mountain Goats (and maybe sometimes the Red House Painters). What makes it interesting is that nothing here is straightforward -- the songs are great and so is the playing, but they mix elements of folk, country, rock, and electronica in such a manner that I'm sure some people have a hard time getting a handle on what they're doing. (What they're doing, incidentally, is usually rocking out.) Imagine early R.E.M. with Neil Young in an eclectic mood on guitar and a healthy interest in filling out the sound with peculiar electronic textures (usually in subtle fashion, although not always). The psyched-out reverb abuse in "Delgado" is nice, as are the strange sounds lurking around the edges (and occasionally barging upfront) in "Eyes Like Stars," but the real meat here is in the more straightforward songs (mainly the first half of the disc). At times they make me think of a traditional folk-rock band with country leanings who decided to add some extra pizzazz to the songs by dialing in strange tones and effects, but what I like most about them is how well they play and how often they catch you by surprise when they abruptly shift gears from the low-key country-rock and start rocking out. It's certainly a schizoid approach, but that's okay by me. They get enormous bonus points for the packaging, which includes a nicely-illustrated "booklet" and a cardboard eco-pack sleeve reminiscent of the old Independent Project releases. Come to think of it, there's probably a little bit of Savage Republic and maybe even Tone in there somewhere. Don't be afraid of the unexpected... there is no need to approach with caution... you do know you need this, right? - Dead Angel


"songs:illinois"

Delgado flipped the switch and my legs went dead...

Albumen is a made from an egg and was used to make early photographic prints. The band Albumen has a sound that at times harkens back to an ealier era but at the same time the rythmic qualities of the band are courtesy of drum machines and computers. It'd be nice to sum this band up in a few pithy sentances but they refuse to make it that easy.

I will say that at times the lead singer reminds me of a more forthright Michael Stipe, while the songs (especially "Circle Down") remind me of Smog or Silver Jews. The brand new record is called Lake Desolation. I love the line in the song "Delagado" where the singer says "But Delgado flipped the switch and my legs went dead and I could feel a little tingling at the back of my neck, but he's looking kind of worried and scatching his chin, if that bastard runs out of batteries I'm dead." If you care at all about packaging then you'll also want to pick this one up, it's gorgeous and idiosyncratic. Buy it here. Listen to 2 more songs and a video here. - songs:illinois


"Palebear"


Albumen
Lake Desolation
[Treble Hook Sounds]

The year is still mighty young, but I’ll go out on a limb and say the new Albumen record is one of the best of its “type” that I’ve listened to this year. “Type” is going to be difficult to pin down accurately, however, for their new album Lake Desolation. The songs are all over the map and underneath it, ranging from fine folk ramblings to disturbing electronic offerings to straightforward rock. Sort of like Earlimart lost somewhere in The Appalachians but with more keyboards.

I’m not gonna lie and say this won’t be a challenging album for many who are used to more straightforward neu-folk like Iron and Wine. This is folk that is RIPPED completely open. Often bathed in deep-well reverb and loads of strange blips and beeps, the songs refuse to sit still and play nice. I think this is why I dug the album so much.

Casual alternative listeners may be content to say that the singing often sounds remarkably like Michael Stipe with less of the whine (and more of the hair). However, for indie folks more in-the-know, let’s go with an initial impression of Bill Callahan (Smog) and David Berman (Silver Jews) with just the barest, barest inkling of Calvin Johnston’s (Beat Happening) bassoon-like mutterings at times.

Many of the songs are dynamic, containing quieter porch folk and that leads to forceful overdriven choruses and endings. “Circle Down” is a good example of that double-sided nature. “Silent Sunrise” is one of my favorite tracks on the album, a midtempo rocker with really infectious chords and melodies.

“Mouthful of Pennies” takes the initial drum riff from The Pixies’ “La La Love You” and proceeds to explode voraciously into an angry Neil Young slash Yo La Tengo punky dronefest. “17,000 x 0″ is weird Apple computer generated vocals mixed with a strange bluesy beat. “Delgado” certainly does sound like something off of New Adventures in Hi-Fi. The echo-laden drum machine feast “Bad Arm & Bowie Knife” is SO strange I can’t really describe it. “Raven Black” sounds like a Magnetic Fields song gone wrong.

Then comes the 9 minute epic “Dark, Dark Country” which contrasts really strangely with all the previous electronica, being a straight 3 chord classic garage rocker that eventually converts itself into a more introspective shoegazey mood piece before blowing off the back doors again at the end. Lovely dovely.

Interestingly, Andrew Churchman of Pants Yell! (one of our all-time favorite Boston indie bands) fame plays drums on a few tracks. Though I think they’ve gotten a full time drummer now (according to the site the band is a trio of Andrew, Paul and Mike).

You can visit the Albumen website for more info on the band.

by Tyranosaur - Palebear.com


"BigYawn.net"

W
ith its cardboard sleeve, hand screened tree cover and DIY photocopied insert with rural images, 's Lake Desolation, the first release on Treble Hook Sounds, visually recalls the releases of seminal mid-90s emo labels like File Thirteen Records and Indian Summer's Inchworm imprint. However, this initial impression quickly fades upon listening to the gently picked notes of album opener, "Circle Down."

The track begins as a gentle folkie tune with Andrew Ashton's vocals sounding like R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe with country inflections. Ashton masterfully overdubs a second guitar line to mimic a violin mixed in the background, which further enhances the warm country tone. It's a beautiful opening that quickly changes pace and takes a turn into more upbeat territory with a doodling guitar line, only to return to its subdued beginnings.

The other half of this upstate New York duo, Paul Coleman, gets a turn on vocals for the second song, "Silent Sunrise." Coleman's vocals don't quite have the unique texture of Ashton's and at times come across more indie rock, especially when paired with the song's playful Pavement-esque music.

When vocal duties are handed back to Ashton on "Mouthful of Pennies" his voice conjures Neil Young fronting Goo-era Sonic Youth, while the song's background cricket chirps help to enforce the pastoral qualities of Lake Desolation. "Delgado," with its looping electric guitar line over a drum machine beat, is very indebted to post-Bill Berry R.E.M., while one can almost imagine Peter Buck banging out the sustained guitar chords of "Eyes *Like* Stars" before the song veers off into more noisy and spastic direction.

Coleman's Casio SK-1 makes its presence most noticeable heard on "Bad Arm & Bowie Knife" and "Raven Black" - the two songs that come closest to the band's self described sound of "Woody Guthrie drinking beers with Throbbing Gristle at a Soft Boys show."

With marketing and hype superseding most releases these days, it makes you appreciate small surprises like Lake Desolation. Albumen's album is a bit like Grandaddy's debut, A Pretty Mess by this one Band, in that it seems to be capturing the band just as their influences are on the cusp of crystallizing into something wonderful and exciting. - BigYawn.net


"Slightly Confusing to a Stranger"

Albumen
Lake Desolation
( Treble Hook Sounds ) 2006

" I just want to fly with my buddies and black out the sky / don't want to hurt anyone, but I'm hungry"

Yeah - I could put Albumen's cd in the deck and head to work, slowly creating the words I want to use in getting the weak opinion of one human (here I am) in line to sell you on it. I could also try and drop the names of similar sounding artists (some of which Albumen may have never heard / heard of) all while trying to convey to you - the reader - a description in sound via black text. Yes, indeed - that is exactly what I'm gonna do here.. . the lone transcription of unique audio out of love for that which travels through my speakers.

Now Albumen reside around the woods of New York (is there such a thing? oh - upstate), somewhere near the Great Sacandaga Lake - which is how we arrive at Lake Desolation. Is it diversity you were searching for today? For it is diversity I have here on Lake Desolation. First spin on this keeper is "Circle Down", a tale of the corporate world set metaphorically (possibly) to the lives of flesh-eating vultures. I'd lay down the term folk upon this initial offering, somewhere alongside that which early Jason Morphew albums had to offer. I would say that, says me, if it were not for all that follows. Joined here on record by one Andrew Churchman, of Pants Yell!, offering his expertise on drums - Albumen natives Andrew Ashton and Paul Coleman lead the listener on a pleasant journey spanning many genres. I'd almost swear Neil Young has snuck in the studio (dubbed the Peach Pit!) on "Mouthful of Pennies", a rocker that does all it can (and succeeding) to grasp the intensity of 1978's Crazy Horse explosion. Further examination of vocals on the previous 2 songs reveals a smidgen of similarity voice-wise, but this track is spot on. That which continues finds the band hinting at electronics & programming with "17,000 x 0" - where we find the group letting their Mac do some talking against a backdrop of bass & sonic whispers. The traces of acoustic / folk underbase are apparent through much of the album, and the band takes many opportunities to layer more driving instrumentation (See: Eyes*Like*Stars, somewhat reminiscent of Sparklehorse's "Pig") over these fertile grounds.

There's plenty to keep your interest perked on Lake Desolation - just don't get to comfortable in one specific sound, for these boys are out to patchwork the land in ideas appealing to many.

The album comes packaged in a natural Arigato Pak! with an elder bare Oak and hand stamped track titles. The core disc depicts the scene from opening track "Circle Down" - one vulture perched on a limb as the hungry swarms above. The incredible, enjoyable Albumen!

cracker named k :: (01.07.06) - sctas.com


Discography

Lake Desolation - 2006

Has received some college airplay in the Northeast and reviews on various sites/blogs.

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

Albumen formed on April Fools Day, 2005 with some whiskey, a notion of wanting to be a quiet folk band, and some Graham Parsons covers. Things changed very, very quickly. Formed by Andy Ashton, and recent transplant (from Boston) Paul Coleman, Albumen hit the ground running with a backlog of songs from both Paul and Andy. After a few practices, they incorporated a sampler and drum machine to complete their sound. A couple of shows were booked and they were off and running.

Time to record. With about 10 songs in hand, Albumen began to record their first LP, Lake Desolation, in late July of 2005. Through the process, Paul and Andy came to the realization that some of the songs needed a drummer. Andrew Churchman of Pants Yell! was recruited for recording, and Jef Czekaj of Plunge into Death played for a show.

Their first record, Lake Desolation has garnered comparisons to Smog, the Silver Jews, Galaxie 500, early REM (a lot of comparisons to them) and Neil Young. The record is a journey through dark days in rural places. Vultures, ghosts, Civil War battles, and radio-controlled bulls are all fodder for the mill.

Enter Mark. Albumen began the search for a drummer after the completion of Lake Desolation. Sometime in December, the band started playing with Mark Ramirez. Mark brought drumming skills, as well as a bunch of great songs to boot. Not wanting his songs to sit idle, it was agreed that Paul would drum on his songs. A three piece was born.

Next up...more shows and new recordings. Now that they've settled in with Mark, it's time to begin the whole cycle again. Albumen will be playing shows here and there throughout the Summer of 2006, and most likely starting on a new record before the end of the summer.