Januar
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Januar

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The best kept secret in music

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"Januar Get's Wise to the Biz"

Getting shafted by a record company usually fails to make it onto any band's list of career goals, and understandably so. But local indie outfit Januar (pronounced yah-new-wahr) already has weathered that storm.
The head of The Leapyear Device, the band's Oakland, Calif.-based label, had told them their new album "The Way Back Home" was ready to be manufactured and was just waiting for payment. The band scheduled a CD-release party for Saturday at the Larimer Lounge. All seemed well.
"After some strange e-mails, we checked with the manufacturer and found out that production was on hold until the label paid for a previous project," said singer/guitarist Amy Burbick. "Not only that, the manufacturer had never even received our artwork - which we had sent to the label, along with the master CD, in early February."
After getting no response from the label owner [name omitted], the band members decided to self-release the disc - something they had originally planned to do - and use Saturday's show to raise funds for pressing the CD. And despite the lack of distribution and booking support, the band will forge ahead and tour the Midwest in early August.
Jeremy Burbick, Amy's husband and bassist [also guitarist/vocalist] for Januar (the Icelandic word for "January"), at first speculated the head of their label had tried to commit suicide, as bizarre as the string of events was.
"It was just a weird emotional thing, finding out we had been had or something," he said. "Now it's like we just lost time, because we could have done this months ago."
Fortunately, the band retained the rights to the new album, which represents a sonic and melodic leap forward from its previous EP, "The Fall." Whereas "The Fall" was steeped in spare, acoustic, shoegazing tunes, "The Way Back Home" rises to a dense yet crisply rendered sphere of atmospheric indie rock.
Denver-based producer Jme allows the delicate high harmonies to breathe without letting them float into the ether. Amy, formerly an acoustic devotee, even picked up an electric guitar and some effects pedals for the affair.
"I felt like he was able to plug into what we're about," Jeremy said of Jme, who also fronts Blue Blooded Girls and forms half the indie duo Blusom. "He allowed it to grow. It was like having another member in the band who knew what we were about."
Amy Burbick and drummer/singer Patty Holland's darkly melodic verses swoop in and out of reverb-drenched choruses. Songs like "Missing the Mark" and "Blown Away" recall the measured, pensive work of Low, Mojave 3, and Pedro the Lion. Similarly, Januar's songs wrestle ambivalently with the issues of faith without being overtly Christian or pedantic - two pitfalls of philosophical-leaning art.
"It's like a searching or anger toward trying to figure out what's going on," said Jeremy Burbick. "It's not like we're promoting it, it's just a questioning outlook on how the establishment deals with it."
The band's habit of searching the horizons has kept it from standing still, even though it's taken four years to release its first full-length CD and set up a regional tour. Original drummer Katie Aikins will be flown in to augment the lineup for the tour.
For the most part, the band members aren't fretting about their recent troubles or feeling gun-shy about other record labels, although they're smart enough to realize those troubles may flare up again.
We're trying to figure out the legal aspects of what's going on," said Jeremy, who has shown a copy of the band's contract to a lawyer. "If we start making money he'll [the head of the label] probably come around, but we haven't heard from him in over a month, so we're not exactly sure what he's thinking."
Chances are he wasn't thinking at all if he let an album as measured and gorgeous as "The Way Back Home" get away.

- The Denver Post 6/22/06- John Wenzel


"Moovers and Shakers 2006 - Backbeat writers sound off on the best local releases in 2006"

Januar - The Way Back Home - Reaching deep into the shadowy regions of their souls, the members of Januar expose their personal demons and end up finding peace and reconciliation with the ghosts of the past. The music on Home is delicately vulnerable, beautifully textured and often icily atmospheric. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more heartbreaking, yet hopeful, record this year. - Tom Murphy

[Other Moovers & Shakers of 2006 included Devotchka, Hot IQs, Bright Channel, Cowboy Curse....] - Westword 12/21/06


"Januar CD Release Show"

In an age of overstatement and cartoonish aping, Januar shouts its presence by keeping things quiet. Though acoustic-based, the Denver group packs enough modulated ambience and simple, almost hymnal melody into its sparse frame to make it sound like a sawed off symphony. Led by married couple Amy and Jeremy Burbick, Januar will unleash The Way Back Home, their debut full-length, with this show. Succumbing to neither singer-songwriter nor shoegazer cliches, the disc manages to channel Jeremy Enigk and Mojave 3 - and even the skeletal folktronica of early Beth Orton - without sounding derivative. Also playing: Killfix, Joshua Novak, The Life There Is.

[Jason Heller also picked Januar's "The Way Back Home" as one of the best local released in 2006] - The Onion 11/9/06- Jason Heller


"Januar - The Way Back Home"

There's a spark here to distinguish them from the pack. The singing is unforced for the most part, and some songs even pack an emotional punch, like the album's opener "What's in a Name"...a big-hearted grab for the 4AD set.
- Delusions of Adequacy 11/3/06 - Zach Kuhn


"Januar - The Way Back Home CD Review"

The music on Januar's latest can be hazy, indistinct and difficult to pin down - and that's generally a good thing. Rather than present their material in straightforward ways, the performers create a series of aural moods in which mystery and merit are joined at the hip.

The Januar lineup is down by a quarter; the only sign of former drummer Katie Aikins is a thank-you on the new disc's sleeve. However, Amy and Jeremy Burbick, who play guitar and sing, and drummer/vocalist Patty Holland compensate for Aikins' absence via production that ladles atmosphere onto the likes of "Undertow," whose harmonies are enhanced by a canyon's worth of echo. Tunes such as "C Chord" are too rudimentary to take advantage of such dial-twisting, but "Schism" and "Go With What Ya Know" are marked by darkness and complexity that blossom in the studio.

Fortunately, The Way Back Home isn't as simple as it seems.
- Westword 10/19/06 - Michael Roberts


"Eats and Beats"

...If you're more of a music guy like me, you can do no better than to catch some of Denver's best bands tonight at the Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St., as hometown heroes Porlolo and Januar take the stage along with Maria Taylor of Azure Ray.

Januar (pronounced "yaw-new wahr," Icelandic for January), fronted by the husband-and-wife team of Jeremy and Amy Burbick on guitars and vocals, has been playing live since 2003 when they became a three-piece with the addition of Patty Holland on drums, percussion and vocals.

The trio's atmospherically beautiful music - a perfect mix of acoustic guitars, thoughtful lyrics and tempered, precise percussion - is highlighted by all three of the musician's incredible vocal talents. Live, it can be an entrancing experience - as is evident by their ever-growing following and recent national attention.

The band recently finished their new CD "The Way Back Home" which features 10 songs lushly recorded with studio wizard and multi-instrumentalist Jme. The new disc will be released this summer via California-based label The Leapyear Device, who found the band through their myspace site (www.myspace.com/januar). Following that, they're planning a summer tour, so Denverites should catch them while they can
- The Denver Post 4/28/06 - Michael Behrenhausen


"Januar - The Fall EP Review"

Januar - The Fall EP (self-released) - Bree Kutz

Denver is a very generous breeding ground for bands of all shapes and sizes. Local act Januar knows this very well. Formed in 2002 as a trio, the group still considers themselves to be a "trio" sonically, even though the band is currently made up of two drummers and two guitarists.

While both Amy and Jeremy Burbick provide vocals, they sound eerily similar, intertwining and moving together through intricate harmonies as one. Not only does the married couple share vocal responsibilities, they also share song-writing duties and both play acoustic guitar. These acoustic guitars work as catalysts for such a unique vocal sound, and the drumming patters like a sonic heartbeat.

On their upcoming EP, The Fall, Januar produces a beautiful web of sleepy melodies and bright lullabies. This EP is soothingly atmospheric, quickening the paces at opportune times, but never coming off as pretentious or overwhelming. Opening for national acts like Mirah and Ester Drang and playing with local acts such as Pinkuu and Francophone give credit to the notion that Januar is both versatile and sustaining.

This Friday, March 18th at the Larimer Lounge, Januar will be throwing a CD RElease party for this latest EP. Sharing the stage with equally engaging and diverse locals Drop the Fear and The Moths [actually, our CD Release show featured Nightmare Fighters, Cat-a-tac, and ALL CAPITALS], Januar will be celebrating not only a new recording, but a new year, complete with both percussionists: Katie Aikins on congas and Patty Holland on drums and vocals.
- Kaffeine Buzz 3/18/05 - Bree Kutz


"Januar - The Fall EP Review"

Januar hasn't played many shows in its three-year existence, but the quartet has a good reason: Drummer Katie Aikin spends more time in far-flung locales like Pennsylvania and Iceland than she does in Denver. That Fact - along with the group's unusual two-acoustic-guitarists/ two-drummers lineup - might lead you to believe that there's something sonically lacking. But Januar's new five song EP, The Fall (whose release will be commemorated Friday, March 18, at the Larimer Lounge, in a show with Cat-a-tac), sounds empty in all the right ways. Etched with melancholy and an understated, pulse-like percusiion, tracks like "Heaven's Gate" and "Fool's Gold" hum with hypnotic open chords and the airy harmonies of spouses Jeremy and Amy Burbick. And although the disc's sweetness occasionally crosses into the realm of cloying, it's tempered by a humble earnestness that captivates - that is, when it's not stealing breath
- Westword 3/18/05 - Jason Heller


"Januar CD Release Show [The Fall EP]"

Local lo-fi act Januar plays the Larimer Lounge Friday to celbrate the release of The Fall, a short disc of gentle, dreamy, acoustic guitar-based rock. The EP, which follows Januar's 2003 full-length, features the delicate, feathery vocals of married couple Jeremy and Amy Burbick. While Januar's sound is all sweetness and light, its lyrics venture into darker places: Songs like "another Lullaby" and the cult-focused "Heaven's Gate" plumb depression. The band's name is the Icelandic word for January, and its drummer (and occasional resident of Iceland) Katie Aikins will be on hand for this show.
- The Onion 3/18/05 - Jenny Shank


"Favorite 21 Albums of 2006 from Denver"

Januar - The Way Back Home - Definitely one of the greatly underrated bands in Denver. If the Innocence Mission didn't lose the great vocals and collaberated with Mojave 3 had they dipped back into their Slowdive days of glory a bit and then teamed up with some great folk artist, it might sound something like this. There are deep issues thoughtfully explored across the breadth of this album and even now it gives me chills thinking about a couple songs ("What's in a Name" and "Schism"). Not a lot of albums have had that kind of effect on me in awhile so i know this one's great.
- Tom Murphy's Blog [writer featured in Big Takeover, Westwork, All Need is Music...] 1/25/07


Discography

The Fall EP - 2005
They Way Back Home - 2006

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

EVERYTHING YOU NEVER WANTED TO KNOW:

WHAT'S IN A NAME
Why did Januar [yah-new-wahr], a Denver-based "trio" who creates atmospheric indie-pop in the vein of Low, Pedro the Lion, and Mojave 3, pick a name that hardly anyone (even certain band members) can pronounce correctly? The group’s first drummer, Katie Aikins (who had grown up in Iceland), suggested Januar (the Icelandic term for January) because the band, which had sprung from the ashes of former space-rock band, Breathing Eve, formed in January 2002. Soon to be married couple, Jeremy and Amy Burbick, readily agreed to the name (especially since Amy’s option had been “Shades of Mediocrity”). The “rules” of the new band were relatively simple: 1) No electric guitars, 2) no bass, and 3) no primary vocalist (vocal duties would be shared by all), but it wouldn’t be long until Januar would be breaking their own rules.

A TRIO OF FOUR
Januar began playing their bare-boned approach to indie-rock in the clubs of Denver, but by Fall 2002, it was time for Katie to move on (Iceland, PA, and GA). Still, Katie remained a member of Januar, which for the next two years existed primarily as a recording project for Jeremy and Amy. Occasionally Katie would come back to town in order to record and play a show, but in early 2004, Katie was unable to make a scheduled performance. Patty Holland (who had played percussion with Januar at coffee shop gigs) made a seamless transition from the djembe to the drum kit. Januar began playing out on a regular basis, with Patty as the primary drummer, and started recording a five song EP. On March 18, 2005, Januar released The Fall Ep, with a show that featured both Patty and Katie, and the album received critical acclaim from the Westword, the Onion, Kaffeine Buzz and others.

MAKING THE WAY
By the summer of 2005, fate (and a little thing called Myspace) introduced Januar to home studio wizard Jme (in Blusom- signed to Second Nature Records, Mr. Xmas and formerly in Acrobat Down and Blue Blooded Girls), and Jme offered to record the band for a “price” that even Januar could afford (free). Suddenly, the band, who had banned the bass and electric guitar, was embracing both instruments. Even though Januar was morphing into a “standard trio” (with Jeremy on the bass, Amy on electric guitar, and Patty on the drums), the songs comprising the new album were sounding anything but ordinary.

SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE
Through the mayhem of Myspace, a West Coast indie label stumbled upon Januar and wanted to release their debut, full length CD, The Way Back Home. The label promised Januar many things, including national distribution, advertising in music magazines, college radio airplay, and even a free trip to sunny CA to have a CD release show. After much deliberation, Januar signed a contract in January 2006 (which seemed like a good omen, but things are seldom as they seem). Januar delivered The Way Back Home to the label in February, and began waiting for a release date. After a few setbacks (which is typical in the music biz), the label assured Januar that the album was being manufactured and was next in line to be released. The band was given the go ahead to set up a June 24th CD Release Show in Denver and was promised that the CDs would be in their hands before the show.

PRESSING PARTY
Two weeks before the big event, Januar received a strange email telling them that the head of the label would be unreachable for awhile, but the CDs were on their way. Januar called the manufacturer, just to be sure, and found out that production on their album had never officially begun. The label still hadn't paid for a previous project; the manufacturer never had been given Januar’s artwork; and the head of the label had essentially disappeared. It became clear that Januar was going to have to cut ties with the label and release the album on their own. There was no way The Way Back Home would be ready in time for the scheduled CD Release Party, so the show was changed into a Pressing Party, to help raise funds for the album’s pressing. [John Wenzel from The Denver Post wrote the article “Januar Gets Wise to the Biz” about the whole fiasco 6/22/06]

A TRIO OF TWO
Before the Pressing Party, Januar had scheduled a summer tour (thinking, at the time, that the album would already be released and have national distribution and radio airplay). Instead, they headed out on the road (with Katie filling in for Patty on the drums) without any CDs, until midway through the tour. Upon returning home, they set up another CD Release Show (this time with actual CDs) for November 11, 2006. A month before the show, Patty, who had far too much on her plate, had to (amicably) quit the band. Katie, in her last year at seminary, was unable to leave school during that time. Januar finally had their CDs, but they no longer had a drummer.

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Jeremy (who had only played the drums occasionally for fun)