17 Pygmies
Keeping in mind that we are talking about a band with a 30+ year history, 17 Pygmies are a band that has admittedly undertaken many personnel changes (the only original member is Jackson Del Rey) and diverged in any number of musical directions finally decided to "play it straight" or at least "play it as straight" as such a band can. In 2008 Jackson put together the now referred to as the "Celestina" era of the band featuring core members Meg Maryatt on vocals, Jeff Brenneman on guitar and Dirk Doucette on drums to undertake an ambitious 331/3 song 3 CD set concept trilogy about a rather odd feminine robot growing up in outer space a somewhat innocent, childlike manner intermittently interrupted by acts of incredible violence (she has a bad habit of trying to snap a human neck every now and then.)
In 2012 the last CD, entitled "Even Celestina Gets the Blues" not only ended the Celestina trilogy, but also left the story line at such a point that it was only logical to continue the story and further explore the cosmic space operatic poppy space soundtrack music terrain already previously established. Isabel is the first part of another three part concept CD in the vein of Celestina, but following the exploits of Dr. Amelia Isabel, one of the other passengers of the Celestina (the ship and the main character share the same name). The music is at times pensive, brooding, introspective, poppy, proggy, jazzy and orchestral.
There are many musical "touchstones" to Isabel, the most obvious being Pink Floyd, Kate Bush, Harold Budd, Brian Eno, John Foxx, The Incredible String Band, "Lamb" era Genesis, Samuel Barber, Arvo Part, Jerry Goldsmith and Christopher Young.
Interestingly, 2013 also found the re-release of a 2 CD retrospective containing three remastered versions of the bands' early works Hatikva (1983) Jedda By The sea (1984) and Captured in Ice (1985). So when we say 2013 is the year of the Pygmy, we ain't kidding!
Over a 30 year period, there is obviously more to discuss, but let's leave it at that for now. All we know is that we are all present in the here and now. Buy the ticket and take the ride.
So for those of you who are already onboard, as well as those who are about to enter into our world, thank you for coming along on this part of the voyage. We could not have done it without you, whoever you may be.
HISTORY OF THE BAND:
17 Pygmies officially began in 1982 when then Savage Republic member Jackson Del Rey (aka Philip Drucker) began jamming in a garage with keyboardist and guitarist Michael Kory (Radwaste) and drummer, soon to be singer, Debbie Spinelli from Food & Shelter and Radwaste. The group's first composition was an odd, kind of surf-a-delic, Emerson Lake & Palmer inspired cover version of the theme music to David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia. Since no one was around to say stop, the band quickly devolved into a kind of spooky instrumental and 80's style techno-pop band, and by the time the Pygs, as they were now known to the five people including the band members who knew them, started covering Brazilian sambas (and just before the release of their first EP) Robert Loveless, now a member of Savage Republic, signed on as bass player/keyboardist.
That "Hatikva," EP quickly led (minus Kory, who left to pursue an alternate path to obscurity) to 1984's full length LP “Jedda By The Sea." "Jedda" was an album short on the letter "h" but long on musical innovation and is still considered a "post-punk" masterpiece by those same five people including the band members who though "Hatikva” was worth releasing. Next came 1985's "Captured In Ice" which interestingly contained the non-hit "Chameleon" which made a very influential list called the 100 greatest unknown techno songs. All this obscurity led to several personnel changes (the only permanent idiot,,,er band member is Del Rey) which of course led to the release in 1989 of "Welcome" on the Island Records subsidiary Great Jones label. And they say contrary thought won't get you anywhere. Well, it didn't and the band was dropped the next year (1990) that saw the self- release of the last demos for Island as the EP “Missyfish”.
Ironically (or is it iconic) 17 years later, the “13 Blackbirds/13 Lotus” double CD was released under the indie record label Trakwerx, with original member Del Rey and Welcome era singer Louise Bialik in tow. Another fine fellow worth mentioning, guitarist Jeff Brenneman from White Glove Test also joined the fray. Soon after, there were more personnel changes, and the band reformed as The 17th Pygmy with Meg Maryatt (who was a contributor on 13 Blackbirds/13 Lotus) on vocals, guitar and accordion, Tony Davis, from White Glove Test on bass and Dirk Doucette, also from White Glove Test, on drums.
Thus, in October 2007, “Ballade of Tristram’s Last Harping” was released, which reflected a retro ‘60s Psychedelic-‘70s Classic Rock direction. Ballade is also a visual tribute to the Art Nouveau movement. The Art Nouveau style is probably best exemplified by the works of Gustav Klimpt and Aubrey Beardsley both of whose works were liberally borrowed from (but never credited) on the covers of many, many, many ‘60s albums.
With Jackson Del Rey’s newfound creativity writing experimental prog rock scores to classic silent films (“Battleship Potemkin”,“Nosferatu” & “Tarzan”), he had the idea to record a concept album, “Celestina” (loosely based upon the classic 15th century Latin novel La Celestina, a timeless tale of love and betrayal). 17 Pygmies return to their original name, perhaps for good, and continue on in the tradition of their signature sound that was first explored and presented on their classic 1984 release “Jedda By The Sea”.
Not to rest on their laurels, 17 Pygmies released their newest concept project in November 2009 - "The Outlaw J.D. Ray". This time around, Blind Lemony Pledge Fresh Jackson and his posse (western, not rap) use post-civil war folk music and pre-WWII blues as the backdrop to a story of ambition, deceit, and of course love lost and found (you know, basic tragedy stuff) and of course, redemption. With of course, a washboard.
Continuing in the Trakwerx tradition from 13 Blackbirds/13 Lotus remixes of "Lotus", 17 Pygmies have joined the 'Trakwerx Collective' and contributed 2 short film scores: "Lightwerx: Georges Melies" DVD (released in November 2009): "Princess Nicotine" & "L'Artiste Et Le Mannequin". 11 other contributors have joined in the fray with wildly different musical efforts, combining alternative, folk, hip hop and experimental elements.
17 Pygmies perform the last song ("Stay With Me") for Jackson Del Rey's original film score set to the 1918 silent film "Tarzan of the Apes", based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' story, directed by Scott Sidney.
On January 1, 2011, 17 Pygmies released part two of the "Celestina" saga "CII: Second Son". Well-received in the prog rock community, the music is a bit darker and more dramatic to reflect the mood of the storyline, but also warm and sweet at times moving the love story forward. As with all Trakwerx releases, the limited edition signed CD is elegantly packaged and hand assembled, in a foil-pressed sleeve, including Part Two of the short story.
On January 1, 2012, 17 Pygmies released the third and final episode of the Celestina series: "CIII: Even Celestina Gets The Blues (A Tale of Love and Quantum Physics)". Alternately dramatic and delicate, the music reflects the "Interface" Celestina feeling human emotions of sorrow and loss for the first time. The limited edition CD comes in a fold-over gold foil-pressed cover including Part Three of The Book of Celestina.
2013 marks the 30 year history of the band which finds the re-release of a 2 CD retrospective containing three remastered version of the bands' early works of Hatikva (1983) Jedda By The Sea (1984) and Captured In Ice (1985).
Keeping in mind that we are talking about a band with a 30+ year history, 17 Pygmies are a band that has admittedly undertaken many personnel changes (the only original member is Jackson Del Rey) and diverged in any number of musical directions finally decided to "play it straight" or at least "play it as straight" as such a band can. In 2008 Jackson put together the now referred to as the "Celestina" era of the band featuring core members Meg Maryatt on vocals, Jeff Brenneman on guitar and Dirk Doucette on drums to undertake an ambitious 331/3 song 3 CD set concept trilogy about a rather odd feminine robot growing up in outer space a somewhat innocent, childlike manner intermittently interrupted by acts of incredible violence (she has a bad habit of trying to snap a human neck every now and then.)
In 2012 the CD, entitled "CII: Even Celestina Gets the Blues" not only ended the Celestina trilogy, but also left the story line at such a point that it was only logical to continue the story and further explore the cosmic space operatic poppy space soundtrack music terrain already previously established.
Released May 2013, "Isabel" is the first part of another three part concept CD in the vein of Celestina, but following the exploits of Dr. Amelia Isabel, one of the other passengers of the Celestina (the ship and the main character share the same name). The music is at times pensive, brooding, introspective, poppy, proggy, jazzy and orchestral.
There are many musical "touchstones" to Isabel, the most obvious being Pink Floyd, Kate Bush, Harold Budd, Brian Eno, John Foxx, The Incredible String Band, "Lamb" era Genesis, Samuel Barber, Arvo Part, Jerry Goldsmith and Christopher Young.
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