Showing posts with label ARKS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ARKS. Show all posts

Monday, December 17, 2007

Arks Split, Mutations on the Horizon . . .


It is with infinite grief that I report the demise of Arks. One of the few genuinely talented nouveau post-punk bands, these Chicago boys were as exciting in life as they are eloquent in death:
We are of course saddened to depart from beneath a banner that's served us dutifully for these past five years, but we are simultaneously adrenalized by upcoming collaborations with each other and with the inimitable talents with whom we've been fortunate enough to acquaint ourselves over the band's lifespan. We realize, ultimately, that this is not a death: this is simply a necessary mutation. This is a branching out in the evolutionary tree.

And as this evolution is mutually recognized and accepted within the band, the group's soft disintegration is executed with no ill-will. We dissolve Arks as we ran it: as the best of friends. We wish only success toward one another in future projects. We will be the first ones in line at one another's shows. Just try and stop us.

Lead vocalist and guitarist Paul Hormshemeier and drummer Glenn Rischke continue a partnership with the ambient experiment Music Hall, while Mat Biscan (guitar) and Lanny Oswalt (bass) will work together on an as-yet-unnamed project with another as-yet-unveiled Chicago musician whose own band has too recently disintegrated.

So, farewell, Arks. Your jagged intensity will be missed, along with the arketypal key changes, stuttering beats, haunting guitars and visceral lyrics. Best of luck in your new and continuing mutations, and thanks for one hell of a last album.


www.arksmusic.com
www.myspace.com/arks

***
www.myspace.com/musichall

Monday, August 13, 2007

8/13 Releases . . .

Forget the manufactured vacuity of Eisley. These are the real releases you should be checking out this week:

8/13 - London is alight with talk of trio Hatcham Social. Rightly so, as their double A-side single "Til the Dawn/Penelope (Under My Hat)," serves up indie rock so mod it should be delivered on the back of a Vespa.

8/14 - Chicago's ARKS
release their latest album, The International. ARKS is perhaps best described as uniquely dark post-punk. The album is riddled with beat changes, key mutations and subtly brilliant drumming. Fans of Wire should love it.