A Janela, by Chris Eckman

A Janela

by Chris Eckman

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1.	Fireworks 02:40	buy track
2.	Intrusions 03:31	buy track
3.	The Drag 03:23	buy track
4.	Rua Augusta 01:36	buy track
5.	Ghostface 02:38	buy track
6.	Deadwood 04:38	buy track
7.	Fadista 04:28	buy track
8.	A Janela 02:23	buy track
9.	May You Have Strength 04:05	buy track
10.	The Other Side of Night 06:23	buy track
11.	20 Minutes On A Train 04:00	buy track
12.	Sonhos E Sombras 06:37	buy track

about

After a decade-and-a-half helping to lead the Walkabouts, the idea that Chris Eckman would take a solo turn wasn't necessarily a surprise, but it was still a touch unexpected when news of A Janela came along. However, in ways it slotted in with the development of the Walkabouts as a whole as their focus moved towards European musical inspirations -- as the title subtly hints, part of the album was recorded in Lisbon, Portugal, and allusions to the country and its music occur throughout. One song is called "Fadista," referring to the name given to singers of fado, a genre normally performed, like this song in question, on acoustic guitar, while the album concludes with a dark instrumental titled "Sonhos e Sombras." Unlike the collaboration of the Walkabouts and various side projects with European musicians, however, A Janela is mostly Eckman and supporting performers from Seattle, including Walkabouts' associates Larry Crane on bass and Kevin Suggs on guitar. Eckman's slightly raspy, strongly melancholic voice suits the generally dark and downbeat feeling of the album as a whole, with Eckman's piano rather than guitar often leading the way, giving the album more of a distinct character. When he rocks out a bit more, like the late-'90s Walkabouts, he steers away from the driving guitar mania of past work for a murky atmosphere -- very theatrical and cinematic, as on "The Drag," alternating between tense calm and sudden release -- while on "Deadwood" the performance is almost sweetly winsome, a small moment of calm. The credit for 'synths, tapes, loops' also hints at his developing interest in understated textures that color the arrangements, as with the in-and-out samples of Portuguese singing and speaking on the collage pieces "Rua Augusta" and the title track, the latter tied together by a lovely guitar melody and quiet rhythm. His eye for portraits of souls in some kind of torment can readily be heard throughout, as on the emotional soul-harrowing of "Intrusions." -- Ned Raggett / All Music Guide

credits

released November 1, 1999

Recorded June 1998 to July 1999 at Jackpot! (Portland, OR), Flora Street (Seattle), Wingnut (Seattle) & Estudio Calcada Da Estrela (Lisboa) by Larry Crane, Tucker Martine & Chris Eckman.

Produced by Chris Eckman with Larry Crane & Tucker Martine
Mixed by Tucker Martine and Chris Eckman at Flora Street

Bass, Shaker: Larry Crane
Drums: John Moen
Drums, Tambourine: Tucker Martine
Pedal Steel Guitar, Classical Guitar: Kevin Suggs
Trombone: Steve Moore
Violin, Backing Vocals: Anne Marie Ruljancich
Vocals, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Piano, Organ, Synthesizer, Tapes, Loops: Chris Eckman

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about

Chris Eckman Ljubljana, Slovenia

Musician/songwriter/ producer. Released more than a dozen albums with the Seattle-based cult band The Walkabouts. Discography includes several solo albums plus collaborative records with Carla Torgerson (Chris & Carla). Current projects are Dirtmusic,The Strange, Distance, Light and Sky and The Frictions. ... more

chriseckman.net

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