Album Notes

skidmorefountain


Songs on the Book of Departure

recorded @ jackpot recording studio 05/04-

On the group's second full-length release, Songs on the Book of Departure, Beatles-esque melodies, Hip Hop rhythms, ambient soundscapes, adventurous improv, and deeply personal lyrics seamlessly intertwine and intersect. Recorded and mixed by legendary Tape Op founder Larry Crane (Sleater-Kinney, Elliot Smith), Departure captures the physical and emotional landscapes of three tough years spent writing the album. A move from the sun-drenched Southwest to dark, rain-soaked Portland is reflected in the autobiographical nature of the songs, from the Spanish wine-infused "Marques de Caceres" to the melancholy storm clouds of "Disarray." The harrowing experience of backing a crooked Dub Reggae artist finds its way into an underlying rhythmic sensibility on the album.

A fierce musical restlessness has carried Skidmore Fountain through three corners of the country, residing for the moment in Brooklyn. Loading their worldly possessions into a battered van named Herbie, the group began a cross-country tour from Portland to their newfound home in New York.

It's been said that the old labels of music are becoming more and more irrelevant, and Skidmore Fountain ably demonstrates this. Beginning life in Tucson Arizona as a trio performing modern classical music, the group gradually electrified their instruments, building a dizzying array of pedals and sound effects along the way, adding a drummer, and beginning a relentless quest for new ideas, new sounds, new textures, new vistas. Beatles-esque melodies, Hip- Hop rhythms, ambient soundscapes, fearless improvisation, and deeply personal lyrics seamlessly intertwine and intersect on the group's third full-length release, "Songs on the Book of Departure".


skidmore fountain has been compared to bands such as:

311, cold play, ani difranco, cursive, tom morello of rage against the machine, bob marley, pearl jam, charles mingus, miles davis, trey gunn, john frusciante, the roots, radiohead, zap mamma, led zeppelin, pink floyd, beatles, dave matthews, gipsy kings, maroon 5, maktub, yeah yeah yeahs, pink martini, dcfc, postal service, bill cosby, yo yo ma.