Album Notes

A late bloomer with music, Carl Franke picked up piano by studying a guitar book in 1996 after graduating from Kutztown University and moving back into his high school bedroom in lovely Oreland, PA. From there, he eventually moved back out of his parents' house and joined several short-lived disastrous bands that went nowhere.

One thing that he continues at, though, are solo recordings utilizing various keyboards, household objects, drum machines, and borrowed percussion. He currently resides in the Fishtown part of Philadelphia.

"First Berries After Hibernation" is a collection of electronic instrumentals from Fishtown artist and musician, Carl Franke (Note: Carl has been beardless since 1996) . "First Berries" represents a culmination of years of lo-fi four track home experimentation. After stints playing synthesizer and writing songs with local bands, Carl has retreated to the comfortable confines of the bed room studio to churn out this percolating beauty. Whereas artists like Boards and Canada and Ulrich Schnauss compose music that harkens back to nostalgic sounds of the 1970s and 80s, "First Berries" has a haunting early 21st Century vibe. Moaning mellotron patches, goopey hip-hop beats, dub synth stabs and pastoral samples all converge into an eerie, yet relaxing vibe. This album is perfect for late summer porch hangs, a private soundtrack to mass transit adventures or extensive tweaking. Yes, that tweaking. Ride the snake to the lake and taste the fresh berries of Carl Franke.