A few weeks ago I read about some new Cuneiform releases on the Wayside Music list. Cuneiform is one of the main suppliers of quality weird stuff that’s simply acquired taste. One of the new releases on the list was by Alec K. Redfearn & The Eyesores a 7-22 piece orchestral ensemble from Providence, Rhode Island with prolific writer & singer Alec Redfearn as frontman. I’ve listened to their previous album “The Smother Party” on North East Indie with much love; how can you not love a band that has a bassoon and a french horn in it??

Fusing a sound self described as “Slow, simmering, noirish dirges, spastic no-wave tangos, repetitive rhythmic conundrums, Weimar-style cabaret songs, Drunken revelry, crippling depression, extreme self loathing, Catholic guilt, clanking, scraping and radio noise.”, they are a magical formula of Vialka meets The Tiger Lillies meets Final Fantasy in orchestra format. My love for orchestral sounds and neo-proggy pop never be gone! The music is adventurous yet it’s at the same time very reminiscent in form, it’s warm and heartfelt folkish music, but as I said it’s not your typical guitar & bearded folk, the compositions are highly unconventional.

Mr. Redfearn has been in 30 bands and involved with dozens of theatre, dance, and film collaborations, so it’s easy to say he’s an unstoppable man. His homepage has mp3s from his previous bands which I’ve sampled below yet there’s even more music to be explored there and links to relatively unknown bands like my new found affinity Reverend Glasseye. First two songs below are from “The Smother Party” and you can sample the new album on their myspace.

Alec K. Redfearn & The Eyesores – Valse II
Alec K. Redfearn & The Eyesores – Choreboy and a Blowtorch
Alec K. Redfearn & The Eyesores – Black Tar and White Slavery
Amoebic Ensemble – Gimme a buck or I’ll touch you/Boilermaker
The Eyesores – Dashboard Lazarus
Reverend Glasseye – God help you dumb boy