Formed out of the ashes of Rodan, this loose collective thrives on the neo-classical compositional skills of pianist Rachel Grimes, bassist/organist Jason Noble, and violinist Christian Frederickson. Augmented by a rotating cast of cellists, trumpeters, and drummers, the trio concocts an emotive symphony that, though thoroughly modern, seems timeless. The songs on The Sea and the Bells flow together so seamlessly, it almost seems like one brilliant hour-long epic composition. "Rhine & Courtesan" opens the album with a dynamic, wistful melody that evokes the feeling of riding on ocean waves, then crashes to a startling halt, only to re-emerge with a claustrophobic eeriness that foretells impending doom. Other songs continue the nautical theme, from the haunting "Night at Sea" to the hallucinatory "Letters Home." In an alternative scene where instrumental rockers are a dime a dozen, Rachel's stands out like diamonds on the ocean floor. ~ Bret Love, All Music Guide ¿
on The Sea and the BellsMySpaceProfile Editor
Utilizing a broad range of compositional styles, this collective centers around a core group of musicians who have forced alternative fans to rethink so-called classical music. Romantic, moody, challenging, sometimes impressionistic and touching in a gentle way without being New Age wispy, the instrumentation includes piano, guitars, strings, drums, percussion, bells, clarinet, vibes and the musical saw. Further proof that sorting music into genres is a conceptual process of the lowest order.
Members: Christian Frederickson, Rachel Grimes, Jason Noble, producer Bob Weston, and over a dozen other contributors.
