Album Notes

Mostest Notes March 29, 2007
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A little more than a year after the 2006 release of Mark Ransom's fourth CD, Champion of Mystery, comes his trio's self-titled debut: The MOSTEST. Of the new project Ransom notes:

"I started playing with Tony [Houston] and Pat [Pearsall] at the same time that I was promoting Champion, and there was immediate chemestry. It was clear to everyone that we needed some recordings that could represent this live-band dynamic, so we made a CD."

The new Mostest record was produced entirely by the trio (Ransom, Pearsall, Houston): Recorded on the second level of Ransom's home, which has high ceilings and, "not too many right angles," according to the Bend, Oregon-based songwriter.

"We recorded most of it in two rooms that weren't entirely partitioned... There is a lot of ambient room sound coming through all the mics--which gives it a very live sound I think."

Material for the CD was chosen to fit The MOSTEST's Songwriter-Meets-Jam-Band style. "Mark's tunes set against fun grooves..." Says Houston, "...Stuff you can play the part on, or, if it feels right, let go and jam it out."

Here, The Mostest brings to life eight new cuts either written or co-written by Mark; as well as the Bend, Oregon cult-classic, God Bless The Taco Stand, which was penned by Mark's cousin, Eric Ransom and long-time songwriting partner, Mark Fesche in the early 1990s.

On track three, Give Us Light, The Mostest invites Hip-Hopper Jason Graham center stage for a flowy-poetic 16-bar bridge. Leaving folk rock behind, with the bass and drums mixed out-front, the Mostest weaves a funky tapestry for Ransom's tasty guitar work and positive affirmations:

"I want to release inner peace
I want to see my dreams become reality
I want to breathe, I want to breathe
I want to breathe in the night
I want to exhale peace and light
I want to embrace the afterlife
I want to be free to live my life..."

Ransom credits bassist Patrick Pearsall with the unofficial title of "Musical Director" for his contribution to the band both live and in the studio:

"Pat is way more than a bass player. He knows intuitively what is virtuous about a peice of music, and seeks to accentuate that. When my ears are shot, when it all sounds the same to me, or when I'm out of ideas, Pat always knows what to do. Because of this, we pretty much let him mix the record... I just moved the faders..."