Album Notes

For TENKI’s new releases, We’re Not Talking About The Universe, #1 & #2, the band again explores the gray area between 80s new wave and epic rock with a healthy dose of {mid} western grandeur by way of searing trumpets, bombastic drumming and psychedelic guitars. The Vocals and lyrics from the recordings depart from the narratives of their previous album "View Of An Orbiting Man" and travel into more abstract emotional settings, as if lead singer Jamie Toal had retreated to the desert with only the Arab Strap's Monday Night at the Hug and Pint and Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here. “Universe" travels in and out of cinematic instrumental epics such as “Etaples” and “Universe Part 1 and 2,” while embracing a certain refreshing sex, drugs and rock & roll approach in “Involution” and “Big Bang.” If those two songs don't get you moving, you might want to order yourself a double next time.

TENKI's near seven-year existence has built a reputation as a stunning live act through numerous gigs in their ever-fickle hometown of Chicago, multiple tours south through the Smokey Mountains and the always memorable New York route. And though the member's have changed throughout the band's history, their sound continues to evolve, with each release besting its predecessor.

About this album:
“A new favorite. This album strongly rocks and is weird. Go buy it or die. I'm not joking. Go to MySpace.com/hellotenki and eat your words, jackass. This is the correct record for the CD player - at all times. Shoegazing thinking-person's space rock with trumpets, man. Like your stoned older brother and his metalhead Floyd-freak friends down in the basement, only with actual talent and a hundred tons of sound like a cosmic sledgehammer to your puny face. In fact, you are not whole without TENKI; you will not get to awful Nirvana without passing through the blissful hell of TENKI first. Let's face it: you are a sissy and will crap your pants because you are not TENKI and can not handle the TENKIosity of this record, but you will soon be drawn to it like flame from a Bic lighter to a ten-foot tall, angry and vengeful, king-hell TENKI-moth. But you cannot burn the TENKI! Silly fool; weak little monkey-man... TENKI has already burnt you, you just don't know it yet. You will, though. Soon. Now shut your stinkin' fun-hole and get with the clicky-clicky, bucko. I am DEADLY serious about this thing.
- Jeremy Mutant (2006) www.thechickenfishspeaks.com