Spatula
Matt Gocke-drums, etc.
Chuck Johnson-guitar, etc.
Chris Eubank-cello,
etc.
Influenced by modern classical composition, but
with their feet still planted on indie rock terra firma, Spatula developed
a modern sound that shared some similarities
with Cul De Sac, June of '44, Tortoise or Rachel's.
This intrepid trio from Chapel Hill, NC started
out back in 1993 with a split 7" which came with a copy of Stay
Free! magazine, and added another in 1994 with a 7" for the (then)
Durham-based label the Now Sound. They've continued to expand
their sound from those modest beginnings to the present point,
where they're now getting lumped in with the cream of the US experimental
rock crop. Prior to Under the Veil of Health they released
two excellent records on the Jesus Christ label. The songs on
Veil came out of the sessions that produced their last
full length for JC, Medium Planers and Matchers, and has
been augmented by some four track recordings.
Despina By Land was recorded in July of 1997
at Overdub Lane Studios in Durham, NC, and 'balance engineered'
by Bob Weston, producer to the stars. The band works through an
incredible variety of material, including klezmer-esque pieces,
a Captain Beefheart tribute and epic guitar-stroked compositions.
There are even a couple of vocal tracks on the record. Guests
include Dave Brylawski of Polvo.
"Spatula are a band on the seashore staring in
towards the traumatized, brooding, rain-sodden postwar landscape,
a group struck mute by the awfulness of it all who can only interpret
what they see through colourful, cavernous rhythmic structures,
every chord a fractal raindrop, every melody a fluttering retreat".-Phil
McMullen, Ptolemaic Terrascope.
Matt once played bass for another Chapel Hill band,
81 Mulberry.
Chuck operates his own tape label, Cirrus Oxide,
and also performs under the name Ivanovich. He has several solo
recordings planned for release in the future. Cirrus Oxide has
a cool new site at http://bullfightparty.org/cirox.
Chris is also a member of Shark Quest, as well
as having played with Polycarp, Bicentennial Quarters and every
other band in North Carolina at one point or another. Check out
our extensive interview with him in the Spring
1999 edition of Fantastic Life!
Despina By Land CD $5 postpaid. *NEW LOW PRICE*
To order the Despina By Land CD click here.
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