2 a.m. Orchestra on Kiwi FM
Saturday October 3rd
5p.m.

102.2 Auckland
102.1 Wellington
102.5  Christchurch
www.kiwifm.co.nz

2 a.m. Orchestra's 2nd full-length album, Impermanence, is currently being featured on amplifier.co.nz

---Download both albums free during the month of May---

See the front page or visit
http://www.amplifier.co.nz/artist/45609/2-am-orchestra.html

2 years.
Thank you L.A. and specifically those who came out to our show March 4th. I've had so much fun with the current line up, my close friends Jake Rice, Dean Mucetti, and Colin Burgess. It's been a pleasure and I will miss these gentlemen dearly.

But alas, all things change and such. I'm heading off to New Zealand.
New band. New songs. Hopefully some new recordings. Slap me if I come back with an accent.


DK

myspace.com/143120110

 
According to their MySpace page, 2 a.m. Orchestra "sounds like Gaia working Saturn's hula-hoop". Translated into English, this means eclectic pop music.

2 a.m. Orchestra is conducted by singer-songwriter David Kelley. "Impermanence" delivers more of the heady atmospheric pop people have grown to expect from this outfit. Many people have likened 2 a.m. Orchestra to Radiohead, and I couldn't agree more with this association. To clarify, they are more like the modern Radiohead than the early-mid 90s Radiohead that stormed onto the alternative rock scene with landmark CDs like "Pablo Honey" and "The Bends". I also catch some elements of Coldplay, The Ocean Blue, and Depeche Mode. If you like records rich in acoustic guitar, moody vocals, and well placed orchestration, you need to check out this band.

The opening track, "The Builder" sets a somber mood and is fairly representative of the remaining songs to come. Up next is an acoustic-based ditty entitled, "Not The One" that features some cool harmonies. The tracks I enjoyed the most include "Delilah" and "Untouched Earth". The CD ends strongly with a trio of enjoyable tracks. "The Old Church" showcases the vocalist's range and the band's instincts to play music that match the theme of the song. "Wash Away" is one of the more pleasant and bright moments on the record, albeit a very short one. Finally, "The Cycle" is a rather catchy discourse on the circles of life.

The strengths of this record include a capable vocalist, some creative melodies and harmonies, and their different take on the traditional pop sound. The band makes great effort to mix things up and keep the record interesting, and the sonic quality is impressive. But I feel many of our powerpop and AOR fans will have difficulty getting into this group. The songs are generally slow and the hooks are subtle. In some cases, they only emerge after repeated listening.

If you enjoy the experimental stuff Thom Yorke and Radiohead has been doing the past 4 or 5 releases, than you should appreciate 2 a.m. Orchestra. Also for fans of bands we've covered such as Only Makebelieve or Andrew Keese & The Associates. This CD takes time to grow on you, but there are rewards for those who invest the time.

iPOD-worthy: 4, 6, 8, 9, 10
 
 
http://billsmusicforum.blogspot.com/2009/01/review-2-am-orchestra-impermanence.html
http://billsmusicforum.blogspot.com/search/label/review

Download:

www.numberonemusic.com/2amorchestra

www.myspace.com/2amorchestra

Listen:

www.tagworld.com/twoamorchestra

www.2amorchestra.com

 

 

 

Why has 2 a.m. Orchestra dissapeared?

I've been hiding away outwards of the U.S. for the last half of the year. Earlier last spring, however, I spent a few months in New York. I played a couple of shows nobody came to, wrote some new songs, and hammered out a few demos. Then, in the summer I returned to my hometown (Fresno, Ca.) and layed down some tracks for what could potentially be the "3rd album." I rented out my grandmother's old house in the country, becoming the 3rd-generation Kelley to to call it home. The house inevitably became part of the recording, contributing various floor squeeks, bird chirps, and bad ground buzzes. I roped in my buddy Jeff Simpson to work on the project (i.e., clean up my messes and make me sound good). We left it unfinished for the time being, but what we've got so far sounds groovy--a completely new direction from the last two records.  Don't really know when or how to go about finishing it. Geographical challenges and such.

I'd like to organize a new website where folks can download the previous two albums for free. Unfortunately I'm website retarded. Anybody want to help?

okay, bye bye for now and bye bye for now and bye bye.

David K

2 a.m. Orchestra

2 a.m. Orchestra music available here:

http://www.weedtracks.com/weed/id3_artist/2+a.m.+Orchestra

http://www.emusic.com/artist/11581/11581713.html

2 a.m. Orchestra: 2 a.m. Orchestra
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=5004265

2 a.m. Orchestra: Impermanence
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=81560700

Q & A with David Kelley of 2 a.m. Orchestra

 

I decided to put this together after receiving a number of messages here on myspace from people inquiring about various things. I've answered a few of your questions below. Thanks for your interest guys!

 

What's happening with the band? There hasn't been a tour in awhile, what's up?

I had the opportunity to play over seas for a few months. Mostly solo stuff, but I had a band backing me for a few shows in Nanjing. It was a blast. As for the full band, we've taken sort of a break from live performances with the exception of the one we just did in my hometown, Fresno. I've just moved to New York, so I suppose I'll be playing here a bit.

I often see pictures of the band with different members, what's up with that?

Randy Stindt and I have always played together since the project began. Other than him, the members of the band seem to change based on who is available and what kind of tour we're doing. It's pretty much whoever I can con into playing with me…

Are you guys signed?

Everything we've done has been released independently through our own pseudo label (DJK RECORDS). But we're also affiliated with VeeDee Records (www.veedeerecords.com).

Who is your favorite vocalist?

At the moment I'm worshipping Keren Ann and Rufus Wainwright

What was your inspiration for "The Loss?"

I don't know how to go about answering this question, but I've decided to add the song to our myspace play list.

Where are your CDs available online?

There's a link from the merch page at www.2amorchestra.com

http://www.1340mag.com/cd_reviews/view.php?review_no=291

 

Impermanence is the second release from independent, creative pop rock band 2a.m. Orchestra.

When you first throw in the album Impermanence you might think of Pink Floyd.  The Builder has touch of that welcome to machine feel to it.  Yet instead of remaining in that familiar Floyd monotone the song gradually builds to a heavy progressive rock climax.  Surprisingly this is followed by Not the One which may have you thinking of the Doors (People are Strange) or even Elliot Smith (Baby Britain).  From there on the album delivers one poetic Beatle-based masterpiece right after the other.  You will hear touches cello, clarinet, and violin proving that the word Orchestra isnt just clever name.  In The Old Church, a meditative high point for the album we are hit with the giant sound of pipe organ.  All of the elements are worked together masterfully into a pop rock rhapsody, reminding one of bands like Beulah.  The whole album wraps up with an acoustic folk-like melody called The Cycle which serves as a perfect epilogue to this wide ranging project.

Frankly, there are moments on this album that are just beautiful.  The band seems to lean heavily toward creativity and poetry, mixing acoustic orchestral elements with rock elements.  This album has made me want to become a permanent follower of 2a.m. Orchestra.


Key Tracks: "Not the One", "The Old Church", "The Cycle"

Reviewed by: Jared Brown