Album Notes

Claremont Taylor guitar, vocals
Wellington Taylor bass guitar
Peter Rosch drums

This story begins in Portland Oregon, where a young Claremont Taylor spent the 90s as a regular in the northwest punk/grunge scene. In 1998 he returned to his hometown, NYC, where he co-founded what would become West with his brother Wellington Taylor. Together they began developing their unique sound, combining elements of free jazz, northwest garage punk, math rock, etc.

Claremont and Wellington began playing with long time friend Mike Zimberg and West was born. They set up shop in a small basement rehearsal studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and started gigging around Brooklyn and New York. In 2001 the trio ventured back to Portland to record their debut album, Trailduster, at Smegma Studios, releasing it DIY style on their very own Out to Lunch Records.

In 2002 Mike left the band to pursue the "boundless joys" of marriage. Claremont and Wellington asked Peter Rosch, their friend and fellow band mate from the group Richmond (Celebrity Hotwax, Olive Juice) to take over behind the kit. Peter, having already realized that marriage is a scam, was happy to join. His powerful and virtuosic drumming fueled the band into a creative writing frenzy.

West is now playing to a devoted and growing following at some of the finest clubs in New York and Brooklyn. Not to mention combing the east coast in Claremont's 78 Plymouth Trailduster. West recently completed a video for the song Losing Fuel, and their song Nevada was included on a promotional disc for www.hellthy.com.
Village Voice:

"Fronted by the brothers Taylor on guitar and bass, West's songs display the kind of cohesiveness that sibling bands can have. With solid shards of guitar nicely counterpoised with classic flowing melodic bass, the smarter side of early british punk-saving grace- era Fall or Wire comes to mind. The riffs are simple and legible, but the tone and feel are rich, the familiar still sounding fresh and satisfying." - Dufresne