Album Notes

The Big Believers formed in June 2007. Guitarist Joel Martin and drummer Dave Johnstone began playing live immediately after conceptualizing The Big Believers, using themes written by Martin as a launch pad.

Martin and Johnstone have fostered a unique musical relationship through playing together as session musicians in Los Angeles. Under the employment of others, they have played sold out shows in the largest venues in Europe such as Wembly Arena, filled venerable American halls like the Wiltern and the Filmore, been seen on Bravo TV concert specials and heard on countless CD's.

The pair formed Dead Language in 2005, an innovative power trio that gave prominence to Martin's vocals. After releasing two EPs within 6 months and embarking on a tour of the midwest, Martin and Johnstone put the band on hold. Focusing on their strengths and lessons learned in Dead Language, the two have returned as The Big Believers.

All instrumental, the most endearing facets of the duo are the uncommon degree of interaction and their savvy as craftsmen. Each has an organic and passionate voice on their instrument.

The band entered New Monkey Studio on October 13th 2007 to record their debut record. New Monkey was the brain-child of master songwriter Elliott Smith. Fritz Michaud, who has worked with cutting-edge artists Autolux and Smith, engineered the sessions. Joel and Dave tracked every song on their self-titled album live in the studio with no overdubs or edits. The music was recorded on 2" tape and mixed to 1/2". They picked Lurssen Mastering, regarded as experts in analog mastering, to put the finishing aural touches on the album.

The music flirts with a host of idioms. Post-rock, free jazz and ambient are all there but never committed to. The songs are too 'tuney' to be avant guard. THIS IS NOT FUSION. The music flows equally down paths that lead to the harmonic complexities of 60's bebop as well as riff-laden arena rock.

This will be the first release on Arc of Noise on January 18th 2008. Arc of Noise was formed by Joel Martin in order to allow the record to compete in the new marketplace.

Martin is an LA native while Dave hails from St. Louis MO