Album Notes

Fourteen is a Bay Area band making music that is alternative rock at its best, full of catchy hooks and tight melodies. Their sound is a blend of 80's Brit Pop and modern rock. "Space_" is the band's first release, released on their own label, Spank Records.

Infusing intricate layers of distorted guitars, vocal harmonies, and percussion with a radio friendly ethic, "Space_” stands on its own. Vocally, Fourteen sets themselves apart with Jeff Salman's brit-inflected and heartfelt vocals. His lyrics are intensely personal, drawn from the tragedies of his family and friends.

Jeff Salman (vocals/guitar) and Gabriel Respicio (drums) were once founding members of the Shining Scribes - voted Best Unsigned Bay Area Band by BAM Magazine in the mid-nineties. Shining Scribes released one CD on Spank Records as well as being a favorite in San Francisco clubs. When that band broke up, they took a break for a while and started careers, families, and the like. They soon realized that music was not something they could do without. Encouraged by the same things that originally distracted them, they formed a new band. A mutual friend introduced them to Ken Mahru (bass). A singer/songwriter in his own right, Ken was looking to support another band and improve his bass skills. One night the three played together and things clicked. Fourteen was born. Gabe's brother Michael Respicio (percussion) joined them soon after, contributing rhythmic textures and vocal harmonies.

“Space_” took almost a year to record, with tracks being laid down by each member at their own pace. The time and care taken with each track is evident on this release, which is demonstrates the band's strengths in melody, arrangement, and performance. “Space_” is a record with as much complex density as its namesake.