Tono-Bungay:
Bob Bannister-guitar, noises
Robert Dennis-guitar, noises
Tony Cenicola-drums, noises
Tono-Bungay create improvised rock that follows the paths laid
down by the Velvet Underground, Suicide, Crystalised Movements,
etc. Bannister and Dennis both played in the late 80's band
Fire in the Kitchen, which reaped loads of critical acclaim,
but failed to survive. TB's all instrumental attack evolved
out of the longtime togetherness of Bannister and Dennis, who
meld minds with a telepathic oneness. Cenicola lays down the
Moe Tucker beats, and the band strolls mightily through the
ether.
Tower Recordings:
S. Freyer, esq.
PG Six
Spanish Wolfman
Helen Rush
MV
The Tower Recordings have operated out of their base in Port
Chester, NY for several years. It's a bit difficult to describe
what they're up to, exactly, but the original Sebadoh sound
is certainly a reference point, as well as free jazz, modern
classical and late 60's psychedelic rock.
This record is a 'collaboration' between the two bands. The
record includes tracks completed individually by each band,
but instead of alternating sides, as you might usually do on
a split record, the bands alternate songs. The track listing
and band:
Side 1
Cut 1. Drawings in the Gatefold Sleeve Come to Life When it
is Closed - Tono-Bungay
Cut 2. Spider Hotel - Tower Recordings
Cut 3. Confectioner Zed - Tower Recordings
Cut 4. Vortex Burger, Medium Rare - Tono-Bungay
Cut 5. Discount Autosodomy - Tower Recordings
Cut 6. We Cut Glass - Tono-Bungay
Cut 7. Tedium House Punks - Tower Recordings
Side 2
Cut 1. Swarm Cha-Cha - Tower Recordings
Cut 1.5 Tell the Bees -Tono-Bungay
(According to Robert Dennis of TB: "Swarm Cha-cha was crossfaded
during mastering into 'Tell the Bees'; the two appear in a single
band on side 2, which is as close to interband collaboration
as R.O.T. comes. Ain't we li'l stinkers?")
Cut 2. Wee Tam & the Parasomnia Major - Tower Recordings
Also, the cover artwork was a real collaborative effort as
well. Dennis again: "The drawing on the front came my way as
"found art" - a b/w line drawing on the front cover of a _Loompanics_
catalog a few years back. Loved it, Saved it. That image is
signed "G.G M." someplace on it and s/he is thanked in the liner
notes. When time came to put _R.o.T._ together I suggested to
E.A. Simon my idea that, wouldn't it be great if that image
was actually a venus paradise color-by-number picture. She really
didn't think so, but was game to try it. I scanned the line
drawing and dropped in the little aqua numbers pretty randomly.
E.A. Simon drew the lines and did the partial coloring-in (the
"paradise effect" as referred to in the notes); and made the
beautiful collage which serves as a background for both the
front & rear panels (the leaf and the one-missing- picture-corner
are both pure E.A.) Matt Valentine did the liner notes on the
rear panel and I'm just about 100% positive that the back cover
illustration is by Helen Rush. Matt told me that the entire
liner-notes design is a riff from some famous psych or folk
or folk-psych record that I have no idea what he's talking about."
$5.00 postpaid.
