Music
Press
Subtle and emotive. Melancholic and poignant. The music of Ragni is all that and more. Ragni consists of Jakub Zapotoczny on keyboards / vocals and Brenden Fletcher on vocals / guitar. They describe themselves as indie-mood music and they pride themselves in being blatantly non-commercial. Their debut EP is perfect for playing in your headphones at the end of a long hard day with the lights off. It has a very ambient feel to it as the songs are made strong by the inclusion of cello, strings, and even some faint echoes of old family recordings and the creaking of Brenden’s grandparents house in which the CD was recorded. The last two songs, “The North Sea Epoch” and “Kolysanka” are tracks that I find particularly captivating. For me they paint a picture of the calm that takes place after a storm at sea, when the clouds part and you can still smell the preceding chaos in the air.
Another highly impressive thing about this release is the CD packaging. Unfortunately we’re living in an mp3 age where artists are devoting less and less effort into how to package the product. (Does anybody else get annoyed when they dish out the $$$ for a CD and get nothing but the single fold case containing a few thank-yous and your CD?) The Ragni EP comes with a full 72-page wordless graphic novel that was illustrated by Karl Kerschl of DC Comics fame. The artwork acts as a narrative for the music and the two complement each other very well. If you enjoy the music of Sigur Rós or even Canadian acts like A Northern Chorus, this EP would be a good one to add to the collection. - ItsNotTheBandIHateItsTheirFans.blogspot.com
Subtle and emotive. Melancholic and poignant. The music of Ragni is all that and more. Ragni consists of Jakub Zapotoczny on keyboards / vocals and Brenden Fletcher on vocals / guitar. They describe themselves as indie-mood music and they pride themselves in being blatantly non-commercial. Their debut EP is perfect for playing in your headphones at the end of a long hard day with the lights off. It has a very ambient feel to it as the songs are made strong by the inclusion of cello, strings, and even some faint echoes of old family recordings and the creaking of Brenden’s grandparents house in which the CD was recorded. The last two songs, “The North Sea Epoch” and “Kolysanka” are tracks that I find particularly captivating. For me they paint a picture of the calm that takes place after a storm at sea, when the clouds part and you can still smell the preceding chaos in the air.
Another highly impressive thing about this release is the CD packaging. Unfortunately we’re living in an mp3 age where artists are devoting less and less effort into how to package the product. (Does anybody else get annoyed when they dish out the $$$ for a CD and get nothing but the single fold case containing a few thank-yous and your CD?) The Ragni EP comes with a full 72-page wordless graphic novel that was illustrated by Karl Kerschl of DC Comics fame. The artwork acts as a narrative for the music and the two complement each other very well. If you enjoy the music of Sigur Rós or even Canadian acts like A Northern Chorus, this EP would be a good one to add to the collection. - ItsNotTheBandIHateItsTheirFans.blogspot.com
If this (album) is still around, I’m sure it’s going to sell out at comic conventions this summer.
Instead of issuing standard CD sleeves for their debut EP, the rock band, Ragni, worked with Karl Kerschl (Superman, Teen Titans) to produce a 72-page wordless graphic novel that works on the same themes as the music...
The songs are stunning ... Epic in scope, you can hear most of them on Ragni’s MySpace page - somewhat reminiscent of Sigur Ros or gybe!. - www.drawn.ca
If this (album) is still around, I’m sure it’s going to sell out at comic conventions this summer.
Instead of issuing standard CD sleeves for their debut EP, the rock band, Ragni, worked with Karl Kerschl (Superman, Teen Titans) to produce a 72-page wordless graphic novel that works on the same themes as the music...
The songs are stunning ... Epic in scope, you can hear most of them on Ragni’s MySpace page - somewhat reminiscent of Sigur Ros or gybe!. - www.drawn.ca
This week will see the Polish Tour premiere for the Canadian-based indie-pop band, Ragni.
Polish ex-pat, Jakub Zapotoczny (vocals and keyboards) and Canadian Brenden Fletcher (vocals and guitar) will show us their self-titled debut album and their delicate and beautiful music in five concerts to take place in such cities as Warsaw, Poznan, Szczecin, Kobylanka and Drawno.
Little stories, subtle melodies, fragile whispered lyrics and little noises embracing each and every song. All driven by smooth and beautiful piano sounds and a dreamy cello, conducted on the album by Matt Brubeck, are the perfect soundtrack for these winter nights knocking on our doors by this time.
On tour, even though they can be as many as 10 elements, Europe will only see Jakub and Brenden playing live.
Listen to their music at their MySpace and do not miss them live. - http://musicplpt.blogspot.com
This week will see the Polish Tour premiere for the Canadian-based indie-pop band, Ragni.
Polish ex-pat, Jakub Zapotoczny (vocals and keyboards) and Canadian Brenden Fletcher (vocals and guitar) will show us their self-titled debut album and their delicate and beautiful music in five concerts to take place in such cities as Warsaw, Poznan, Szczecin, Kobylanka and Drawno.
Little stories, subtle melodies, fragile whispered lyrics and little noises embracing each and every song. All driven by smooth and beautiful piano sounds and a dreamy cello, conducted on the album by Matt Brubeck, are the perfect soundtrack for these winter nights knocking on our doors by this time.
On tour, even though they can be as many as 10 elements, Europe will only see Jakub and Brenden playing live.
Listen to their music at their MySpace and do not miss them live. - http://musicplpt.blogspot.com
Discography
2006 - RAGNI E.P. (w/ Graphic Novella)
Air Play - Campus Radio in Canada and the U.K. (London, Nottingham and Glasgow)
2008 - RAGNI (TBD) Produced By Joseph Donovan (Sam Roberts, The Dears)
Photos
Bio
Ragni is Brenden Fletcher and Jakub Zapotoczny.
RAGNI's debut was recorded in Brenden's grandparents house. The songs are underlined by faint echoes from the past (old family recordings, the creaking of the house itself and outside elements to round out the ambience). The tracks were mixed in Montreal by Joseph Donovan (Sam Roberts, The Dears) and mastered in New York City by Dave McNair (Miles Davis, Bruce Springsteen).
Accompanying the album is a fully illustrated graphic-novella created by acclaimed DC Comics artist Karl Kerschl (Superman, X-Men). The story springs from the atmospheric sounds of the recording, with images that fully compliment the themes and sounds of the CD.
"Little stories, subtle melodies, fragile whispered lyrics and little noises...All driven by smooth and beautiful piano sounds and a dreamy cello...are the perfect soundtrack for these winter nights..." - musicplpt.blogspot.com
Jakub Zapotoczny (keyboards, vocals) was born in Sulecin, Poland to a family influential in the local art scene. He immigrated to Canada as a young man and graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Music, Lummen School of Music, Mohawk College Applied Music (performance major). Jakub was one half of the popular Hamilton bands, Mellotone and Butterfly Plague.
Brenden Fletcher (vocals, guitar) spent much of his childhood with his Scottish immigrant grandparents who shaped his views of storytelling and music. He was raised in the Canadian countryside making up mythic stories and songs. He’s a graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Music, University of Windsor and was lead vocalist in the progressive St Catharines outfit, Bedroom Astronomers.
Ragni has toured Europe, performed live streaming shows to thousands of listeners through their website, given away exclusive digital tracks at iPod friendly shows and been featured in the 181st Royal Scottish Academy Exhibition alongside the work of acclaimed painter, James Hawkins. Their music can be heard in documentaries and short films from the National Film Board of Canada and podcast shows available through Apple's iTunes music store.
In 2008 Ragni will release their first full length album, produced by Joseph Donovan (Sam Roberts, The Dears)
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