NNA003: Oak / Pink Desert split c30
Like-minded split cassette between Vermont trio Oak (Peasant Magik, Grimeology) and Pennsylvanian shamans Pink Desert. Oak procures a heady synthesis of acoustic and electronic sound including harp, dulcimer, vibraphone, tambura and more. Pink Desert, here as a trio with Kyle Page on percussion, delivers their signature brand of vocal drone set against ethereal sonic landscapes.

to order paypal $7 (in side US) or $9 (out side of US) to nunewage@gmail.com

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hey folks,

Super psyched to get out and play some shows this fall! It would be awesome if anyone that is located in the TBA shows could help fill in the holes!

SEP 5th :: Colchester VT @ Wasted City
SEP 6th :: Danbury CT @ Heirloom Arts Theatre w. Hat City Intuitive
SEP 7th :: Wallingford CT @ Wierd Diner
SEP 8th :: Brooklyn NY @ TBA
SEP 9th :: Philadelphia PA @ TBA
SEP 10th :: Emmaus PA @ House Show w. Pink Desert, more TBA (?)
SEP 11th :: Pittsburgh PA @ Garfield Artworks w. Mike Tamburo, more TBA
SEP 12th::: UPSTATE NY TBA
Sep 13th:::BOSTON TBA
******
so we are looking for shows in NYC, PHILY, UPSTATE NY, and BOSTON....
if you are in these areas we are looking for any help we can get (we love house shows so dont be shy!!!)

blessings,
OAK

HAPPY SPRING FRIENDS,

lets bring in the cosmic vibes! we had the vernal equinox...now its time to reel in the bliss.

2 great shows coming up for us

GREG DAVIS, MEAGAFAUN and OAK

MONKEY HOUSE
WINOOSKI, VT
MAY 3, 2008


OAK WITH A SILVER MT ZION

MAY 16, 2008

FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
BURLINGTON, VT
730

sweet split tape with pink desert/pet coffins/pillars of heaven coming out on peasant magik soon!

also coming soon:
nna tapes

much love.sp

OAK, EP 1 & EP 2


E-Mail |
(Self-released, CD)

Burlington trio Oak are one of the most interesting and musically talented groups I've ever heard locally, and I don't think they've been together for even a year.

The band, which features multi-instrumentalists Sara-Paule Koeller, Toby Aronson and Chris Kunitz, play a near-indescribable form of music that bears similarities to avant-garde classical, prog-folk and experimental. I know, I know — a ton of acts are getting their "post-everything" groove on these days. But what makes Oak stand out is their compositional integrity.

Koeller is an oboist, an instrument not often heard on non-classical albums. Her playing throughout these EPs is stately and refined, evoking both minimalist Japanese music and pastoral Americana à la Aaron Copland. A classically trained guitarist, Aronson provides lilting six-string accompaniment on numerous tracks. I'm not sure what the hell Kunitz plays, but he does a damn fine job of it.

EP 1 opens with "Julia Set," a swirling musical meditation that trades off between fervent acoustic strums and what sounds like toy piano. Full-bodied percussion provides a sense of motion, as the song slowly fragments into a mellow oboe-guitar duet. Later, the music picks back up, only to be consumed in a hazy web of undifferentiated tone.

"Gravel Pit" features a huddle of found sounds augmented by electric guitar, oboe and relaxed but deliberate bass. At around 3 minutes long, it's the shortest of Oak's numbers. The song is absolutely mesmerizing despite its relative brevity.

Contrapuntal composers such as Steve Reich and Terry Riley inform the needle-prick tonalities on "Chaparral." It's followed by closing cut "Spikes," one of the most elegant instrumentals I've had the pleasure of hearing.

As good as EP 1 is, EP 2 is even better. It arrives via the sublimely hypnotic "Do the Work of Two With One," which is the sole Oak composition to feature vocals. Koeller, who doesn't so much sing as intone flecks of sound, possesses pipes perfectly suited to the lovely instrumentation.

"Whoever Brought Me Here Will Have to Take Me Home" features what I'm guessing is hurdy-gurdy — an old-time, hand-cranked drone device. In addition, there are ghostly arcs of what could be viola, slide guitar, oboe or all of the above. With sounds this compelling, who cares how they were generated?

My favorite cut on EP 2 is the muted and somewhat sinister "Thelema," and not just because it's named after late British occultist Aleister Crowley's mystical organization. Nope, I like the tune because of its gradual build and narcotic charm. Actually, it put me in a bit of a trance — at work, no less.

Oak should already be on one of two Canadian labels: Alien 8 or Constellation Records. Montréal's just up the road, guys — make it happen. Hear them live on Monday, April 30, at Winooski's Monkey House with Uncle Woody Sullender & Kevin Davis, Mr. Shopping and A Snake in the Garden.

CASEY REA


OAK / A SNAKE IN THE GARDEN "The Enchanted Forest" (Grimeology)
Sweet split/collab tape from these two East Coast best fwend gang/projects. A Snake in the Garden (one dude, apparently) is definitely the hater of the pack, starting the CS off with a gross phasing mixer rumble stacked with background lurk noise, against which he growls echoing Malefic-style vocals. Totally theatrical but great…yet when things kick into pure screech attack mode somehow the intensity lessens. The frequencies are compressed and mid-range, which seems to gate the violence from breaking out into total amp fury. Still, a good offering. Oak go the more steady/static route with "Rods From God," which burns like an antique incense urn of slo-mo e-bow, drifting jangle, and water-treading sitar accents. Doesn't really go anywhere, but the trip is plenty pleasant. The B side is the collab, "Sacrificial Wizards," and it seems like nobody wanted to play leader. Snake holds in his electric venom, but the Oak posse keep their hippie hair trimmed kinda close too, so nobody really ever steps up and pushes things one way or the other. The outcome is a quiet, tentative tip-toe through gently tapped metal, nature hiss, and softly plucked single strings. Which, personally, is a path I dig treading. More heads are better than none.

we have a limited numbers of copys left of "the enchanted forest" a split oak/snake in the garden cassette.  with unholy noise and music for mountains.  second side includes a oak and snake in the garden collaborative seance.

 

contact us or email turkeyp@gmail.com to get a copy.

much love

I want to invite everyone to our long awaited cd release show. it is going to be a special night of wonderful music featuring a snake in the garden, mr. shopping and special guest uncle woody sullender. we will release a 2 ep set with homemade packaging.

this show is on monday April 30th the Monkey Bar (Winooski) and $5. With the weather getting warmer we encourage everyone to ride bikes! Check out Tick Ticks site for more info (ticktick.org or www.myspace.com/ticktick.

hope to see everyone there and happy spring

We have been spending this strange winter recording.  The new track that has been posted will appear on one of 2 eps that we will be releasing in April.  much love,