Album Notes

Following on the heels of their debut CD, "LUMINIFEROUS ETHER," Chicago-based independent recording group, Zip Tang, has announced details of its second CD, enigmatically titled, "PANK."

"PANK" takes the prog quartet deeper into the dark woods of musical exploration but retains an underlying sense of humor. In fact, "You Call This Art," begins and ends with rhythmic laughter, suggesting that we're all in on the joke. But ZT's new music is anything but a joke.

Their extraordinary musicianship has taken another step up with “PANK.” The group uncovers a new sense of maturity and cohesion that permeates songs like the mystical, "It's In My Head" and the soul searching "The Years." Yet, in other songs on the release like "Deitrich Crashed My Enzo" and "Katy" exposes the band's fun and mischievous side. But it is the laconic sense of loss and longing in "Leaving Nothing" and the percussive opener, "Footprints” that leaves the listener lingering in the song long after the last note.

What about the title song "Pank?" The instrumental title track showcases ZT's raucous and lively side much like "Beta" did on their first CD. "Pank" encompasses odd time changes, rigorous counterpoint and a devilish descent into madness culminating in a larger-than-life rock and roll finale that ends in German. Fünf!

The closing song, "Goodbye" reveals many of ZT's earliest influences including Led Zeppelin, Santana and the Beatles. By paying homage to these "musical echoes" the band is actually weaving familiar sounds into a rich musical tapestry for the future.

ZT leaves plenty of room for solos in its music. Perry Merritt (guitar) can tear your heart out (The Years) or dazzle your mind (Pank, Cicada Jam) using an amazing array of inventive sounds and heartbreaking soul. Marcus Padgett (keys/sax) uses his saxophone to create wild nightmarish effects (Katy) or beautifully haunting sweetness (One Last Beautiful Motion). Merritt and Padgett often trade solos back and forth revealing deeper and broader musical layers that take the listener to far off and magical places.

The rhythm section of Richard Wolfe (bass) and Fred Faller (drums) are locked even tighter than they were on "LUMINIFEROIUS ETHER" if that was possible. Wolfe gets inventive with right-hand tapping and harmonics that rumble your floorboards (Leaving Nothing). Faller starts“PANK” with a pulsing rhythmic melody (Footprints), moves to a driving pulse (the spontaneous Cicada Jam) and deftly masters a sensitive, understated groove (One Last Beautiful Motion).

"PANK" was recorded at the same location as their first CD, (now ZiTi Studio) with Merritt mixing and mastering.

It would be remiss to neglect the CD's artwork. The haunting elfish, mushroom-land, otherworldliness of "PANK's" imagery is absolutely captivating. The artist, Jess Rossi a young freelancer from Toronto, and has generously offered to share her artwork with Zip Tang.

You call this art? I think so! Zip Tang is maturing into a fine red wine, deep in color and full of intoxicating flavor.

For more information about Zip Tang, visit the band's official website, www.ziptang.net, or, www.myspace.com/ziptangrock.

Zip Tang is: Fred Faller - drums | Perry Merritt - vocals, guitar | Marcus Padgett - vocals, saxophone, keyboards | Richard Wolfe - vocals, bass