Album Notes

The Black Riders live in a world of outlaws, a harsh tone, always on the run, alert and vivid. Their stories are told with words, music and images, fantasy being the most important instrument in the communication between the two musicians.

Their first encounter as sidemen in the Austrian Indie-Pop Outfit "Esteban's" already made their energy and creativity evident, leading to numerous jams in between rehearsals and at soundchecks. In their first session as The Black Riders, the "Freight Train Symphony" was conceived, conveying more and more ideas. Nearly all of the compositions on the album originated in such sessions, some being later completed with lyrics and melodies. This adds a certain pop-appeal to the progressive, blues-infected desertrock.

The still vacant job of a bass player is due to fortune, inevitably leading to the unique sound of the duo: Live and always newly recorded fat, distorted bass lines, ethereal soundtrack-like noise or laminar melodies. Drummer Michael Prowaznik seems to easily conceive tight, powerful grooves one wouldn't expect of a such a reduced setup. All that sounds like a five-piece band but only else sees Ben Martin on guitars and vocals.

The Black Riders are a live act, every performance leaving space to improvise. To maintain this creative energy, "The Guns Are Rested" was recorded live in just two days ... which is impressively showcased in the first-take "The Manifest"!