Showing posts with label the Bicycle Eaters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the Bicycle Eaters. Show all posts
Monday, July 8, 2013
Video from Jeffrey Bützer and the Bicycle Eaters' performance at the Goat Farm 6/29/13
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Creative Loafing's article on Jeffrey Bützer's new album "Collapsible".
Jeffrey Bützer embraces change with Collapsible
New album stays classy while breaking the old-timey mold
by Bobby Moore
Multi-instrumentalist Jeffrey Bützer's next show will celebrate not only the release of a brand-new album, a French pop-inspired opus titled Collapsible, but also the change in musical direction that the album signifies. In the beginning, much of the material heard throughout Collapsible
was originally conceived and arranged to appear on a solo album of
Bützer's original numbers played on toy instruments. But when the
project failed to come together, it freed up those toy instrumentals for
a more realized project, incorporating several of Bützer's Bicycle
Eaters bandmates, including Cassi Costoulas (vocals), Chad Shivers
(guitar), and Kristin Haverty (cello), as well as numerous special
guests. The result is an album that balances fairy-tale-esque songs with
real-world piano-driven numbers that come to a head with the album's
most defining moments as "Barbiturates and Bear Traps," "Les Feuilles
D'aluminium," and "Pickpocket."
The most notable addition to Bützer's typically cinematic repertoire are the French song lyrics heard throughout the album courtesy of French singer and first-time Bützer collaborator Lionel Fondeville. Fondeville wrote the lyrics for each song with Costoulas' luxuriant voice in mind. Costoulas, who was trained in classical vocal music at Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts at Pebblebrook High School and Emerson College in Boston, sings in various languages, including French, Italian, Latin, German, Spanish, and Swahili. "After spending years learning the sounds and the feelings behind the words, singing in different languages becomes less scary," Costoulas says. She goes on to say that although she isn't exactly fluent in French, Fondeville did provide her with translations and pronunciations to guide her through each song. "It helped so that I didn't unknowingly butcher his beautiful lyrics."
Recorded in the summer of 2011, Collapsible hits the Atlanta streets this month.
"Mixing took a while, because I kept changing my mind on things," Bützer says.
Working alongside producer and Bicycle Eaters bassist Matt Steadman, the two crafted the final cut after sifting through about 20 alternate takes that ended up on the cutting-room floor. As a result, Collapsible is the product of gradual change, fueled by new collaborations, slight adjustments, and additions to the Bicycle Eaters' live lineup. Though these small changes weren't completely conscious, Bützer admits that he wanted the album to diverge a bit from his previous material. "I wanted to get away from any Tom Waits or gypsy music," Bützer says. "I get compared to newer, trendy gypsy music a lot, but I don't listen to any of that kind of music."
Despite the changes, both subtle and obvious, the music still resonates with the same cinematic pop appeal that has defined Bützer's work all along. "People still say it sounds old-fashioned, so I guess I won't get away from that," Bützer says.
In the past, most of Bützer's music has been released under his name. And after much deliberation with the album's collaborators, he stuck with the solo moniker for Collapsible to keep from having his favorite album to date, and any future recordings, mistakenly perceived as a side project or a release by a new band. "I don't have an ego about music," Bützer says with his self-depreciating sense of humor on full display. "It's hard to convey that to people when you play under your own name and put it on T-shirts."
The most notable addition to Bützer's typically cinematic repertoire are the French song lyrics heard throughout the album courtesy of French singer and first-time Bützer collaborator Lionel Fondeville. Fondeville wrote the lyrics for each song with Costoulas' luxuriant voice in mind. Costoulas, who was trained in classical vocal music at Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts at Pebblebrook High School and Emerson College in Boston, sings in various languages, including French, Italian, Latin, German, Spanish, and Swahili. "After spending years learning the sounds and the feelings behind the words, singing in different languages becomes less scary," Costoulas says. She goes on to say that although she isn't exactly fluent in French, Fondeville did provide her with translations and pronunciations to guide her through each song. "It helped so that I didn't unknowingly butcher his beautiful lyrics."
Recorded in the summer of 2011, Collapsible hits the Atlanta streets this month.
"Mixing took a while, because I kept changing my mind on things," Bützer says.
Working alongside producer and Bicycle Eaters bassist Matt Steadman, the two crafted the final cut after sifting through about 20 alternate takes that ended up on the cutting-room floor. As a result, Collapsible is the product of gradual change, fueled by new collaborations, slight adjustments, and additions to the Bicycle Eaters' live lineup. Though these small changes weren't completely conscious, Bützer admits that he wanted the album to diverge a bit from his previous material. "I wanted to get away from any Tom Waits or gypsy music," Bützer says. "I get compared to newer, trendy gypsy music a lot, but I don't listen to any of that kind of music."
Despite the changes, both subtle and obvious, the music still resonates with the same cinematic pop appeal that has defined Bützer's work all along. "People still say it sounds old-fashioned, so I guess I won't get away from that," Bützer says.
In the past, most of Bützer's music has been released under his name. And after much deliberation with the album's collaborators, he stuck with the solo moniker for Collapsible to keep from having his favorite album to date, and any future recordings, mistakenly perceived as a side project or a release by a new band. "I don't have an ego about music," Bützer says with his self-depreciating sense of humor on full display. "It's hard to convey that to people when you play under your own name and put it on T-shirts."
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Cover for "Collapsible", new album from Jeffrey Bützer
An album release show is planned at the Goat Farm (Warhorse) for June 29, more details to follow.
Monday, November 19, 2012
A Charlie Brown Christmas / The Ventures' Christmas Album
2012 marks the fifth year Jeffrey Bützer and T.T. Mahoney present Vince Guaraldi's A Charlie Brown Christmas, which has become an Atlanta tradition and institution. I have attended every one of these magical performances, which enkindle my love and spirit for the Christmas season each year. It has also been my honor to perform The Ventures' Christmas Album the previous two years, as I will this year with my group Chad Shivers and the Silent Knights.
At The Earl December 14 & 15, tickets at Ticket Alternative (which may also be purchased at Whole Foods, Criminal Records, and CD Warehouse).
At The Bottletree Cafe December 21, tickets at thebottletree.com.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Jeffrey Bützer and the Bicycle Eaters record release 3/31
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Thursday, February 2, 2012
BeAtlanta Review of Jeffrey Bützer and the Bicycle Eaters "Hiding Plastic Spiders" 7"
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Jeffrey Bützer & The Bicycle Eaters
Jeffrey Bützer is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who has released several albums and played around the world. Members of his band, the Bicycle Eaters, include myself on guitar, Eric Balint (also Book of Colors) on percussion, and Kristin Haverty on cello. Our first 7" record will be released March 31, 2012. A track from the upcoming record can be downloaded at our bandcamp site.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)