Alt. music band THE KIN is not unfamiliar to those who read this blog. If you haven’t been checking out the www.LA-Story.com , hit the search bar for the “:back stories” on the band.
Following the “rise” of the Brothers Koren– Thorry and Isaac, from their Australian roots with their band the Harlequin who spent a lot of time selling out music locations on the east coast and making records. Changing up their presentation from the Harlequin to THE KIN, Thorry and Issac have narrowed their band to the bare essentials– themselves on CD and infused their music with a passion and depth of lyricism and music arrangements that are sure to catch your ear as easily as these guys catch your eyes. (c’mon chiquitas.. we all know they are eye candy!)
Catching them on the road, they add killer drummer Shakerleg (not seen him play? Check him out on myspace.com/shakerleg) for a sound that’s so enticiing, enthralling because Shakerleg plays sans sticks and uses only his hands. His percussion keeps the beat and the guys rock on from there. It’s worth the time, $$ and effort to go see them live. The CD is serious musical food– but watching them live is like seeing a wall of music that’s full of energy and passion that few performers offer.
The release of a RISE AND FALL from The KIN is one of those CD’s that grows on you– to the point perhaps of being an obsesion. This CD is a journey– it takes you places you might not have been or will have you feeling things you might not have felt or see things from a different perspective- every time you listen to it. Thorry and Isaac play all the instruments except the violin and cello and it is their arrangements you hear on their record label Aletheia Entertainment. They worked hard with producer Nic Harden to create the unique recording done in an old farmhouse in Bucks County, PA where the house and barns resonate with the echoes of men long dead and feel like you have stepped back a couple centuries. For The KIN it’s that historical musical references that fill their music and give it strength of sound while they wind their instruments and voices around the the ancient rhythms and then bring them into the present and future with their guitar, Rhodes piano and their harmonies.
In their musical and lyrical writing, consider them two halves of the same coin.. or so symbiotically linked because they are brothers in life and music that they know instinctively what works and how to up the musical quotient to create one of the most unique and different CDs released in a long time.
This is a CD that has almost an orchestral feel to it. The sounds and songs are all created by the brothers and they have seamlessly integrated the flow from the first song, Nowhere to Now Here , a song that is about the evolution of life and how one can change from being “no where ” to ” now here” — through love. The strings add a lot to the music and it gives it a resonance and depth that make it rich and powerful.
It opens slowly but swiftly cranks up to a full blown song that has full on passion. As it drops off, the drums resonate and then build slowly into a snare drum that signals the next song Together which is as much about falling into love as it is about “tripping over your shadow”. It’s about taking a chance on being together and risking it all. This is a killer tune and makes a great follow-up to the first song.
Title Track , Rise and Fall talks about the flow of life and how it rises and falls and it’s not only about life but Life, Culture, Society and how one needs to be alert and aware that there is a rise and fall to life and society. The song has an interesting premise and they use the alot of literary and biblical references in this song as well as others.
Song 4 is an interlude called Photograph–which is a shorter song than the rest but interesting in musical presentation. The echoing is not a studio produced sound– but Thorry performing it.
New Day is The KIN’s elegy to SAVE DARFUR and is a revverized video on another blog post. (Check out this video on another post for the revverized version)
Great Divide is a huge anthem of a song that can be personal or it can be more global in its intent– it’s all about how you interpret it. Sharply set with a great piano opening, it’s filled with great lyrics, fab strings backing them up and even better vocal performances.
Abraham has distinct biblical references but also refers to the global brotherhood of man. It’s a more acoustic presentation with a back up of strings. It’s got a great interchange of harmony and vocals between the brothers.
See is a song that begs description but shows off a powerful set of lyrics and a unique presentation. Not the newest song to the band but it’s new to this CD — added to the original Rise and Fall– and it’s got a political flavor and commentary and something that still rocks your seriously well. The harmonies here make it work exceedingly well in creating a rich flavor that sucks you into their musical universe.
Romeo is often the most requested song because it’s clearly a fun song about life, love for a young man and how it can burn but how we love the fire!
Interlude Waiting is a quick capture of Thorry playing a bit on a piano unaware that he was being recorded. It’s definitely showing off a great skill at the piano and also lyrics off the cuff. Wish there was more of this one– it’s like a taste of something that you wish you had the rest to hear.
The One is one of my favorite songs because it blends so much of their update side and gives you hope that love is still there. The drums are snare and the strings back up the song with a touch of sweetness. Their harmonies are just as sweet and they give the song such feeling, romance and attention.
Blue on Blue is a new tune. I heard the original version in the garage in spring 2007 when the band was playing at the Hotel Cafe. The version I heard on the day they had written it is quite different from this version and this one has infinitely more power and meaning than the one I heard– simply because of the arrangement. This one is wistful and heartwrenching. It’s a gorgeous tune with a real feeling that might make a great song for lovers and yet works for those who aren’t there. It’s painting with words and the integration of the voices of the two singers as one stops and the other picks up seamlessly and then in sync that makes one swoon. The rhythms here are amazing.
Save Us— a new tune that I am still wrapping my head around. It’s very cool. Very strong in the conviction that the lyrics share and it’s an evolution from some of the earlier tunes. It’s really cool.. but I need more time to assimilate it.
The final tune, Desert Rose , is really nifty. It’s part acoustic and yet the Rhodes piano is crucial because of it’s bell like sound. Isaac and Thorry exchange sections and blend together as they talk about how the relationship can never be more than friendship.. yet the other person always is ensnared by trying to attain the approval of the singer. It’s an interesting song and quite different from the song of the same name by another singer. This song builds to an amazing finale that creates a powerful climax to the entire CD.
Why take the time to write all this out? Because I have spent hours listenting to this CD and there will be podcast clips of interview with Thorry and Isaac Koren about this CD and the songs and the whys and hows of how they put it each song together — along with the meaning– which is generally left up to you to provide.
The RISE and FALL CD drops today Tuesday 10/9 and is available online and in stores. Also note down below the remaining tour dates of THE KIN who are touring with Josh Kelley (check out his about to be launched podcast with me) and Pat McGee Band.
Buy Rise and Fall at the following locations
Amazon.com
Amoeba Music (California)
Awarestore
Dearborn Music (Michigan)
Disc & Dat
Disc Exchange (Tennessee)
Ear X-Tacy (Kentucky)
Easy Street Records (Seattle, WA)
Electric Fetus
E-Music
Exclusive Company (Wisconsin)
Fingerprints (Long Beach, CA)
Grateful Records (Colorado)
Grimey’s (Nashville, TN)
Hastings Entertainment
Homer’s (Nebraska)
Independent Records (Colorado)
J&R Music World (New York)
Jack’s Music Shoppe (New Jersey)
Kim’s Video & Music (New York)
Lou’s Records (Los Angeles, CA)
Melody Records (Washington, DC)
Music Millennium (Portland, OR)
Newbury Comics (Massachusetts/Maine)
Olsson’s (Virginia/Washinton, DC)
Painted Smiles (New York)
Permanent Records (Chicago, IL)
Plan 9 (Virginia)
Princeton Record Exchange
Rasputin Music (San Francisco, CA)
Salzer’s Records (Ventura, CA)
Silver Platters (Washington)
Transcontinent Record Sales (New York)
Virgin Megastore
Waterloo Records (Austin, TX)
Zia (Arizona/New Mexico)
TOUR Information
Upcoming Gigs
10/02/07 Ferndale, MI @ The Magic Bag
w. Josh Kelley & Pat McGee Band, 8:30 PM, Ages 18+, Tickets
$18 advance/$20 day of show
10/04/07 Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
w. Josh Kelley & Pat McGee Band, 8:30 PM, Ages 18+, Tickets
$23 advance/$25.50 day of show
10/05/07 Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
w. Josh Kelley & Pat McGee Band, 8:00 PM, All Ages, $16.50
GA, $25 Reserved, $2 upcharge day of show
10/06/07 Des Moines, IA @ People’s Court
w. Josh Kelley & Pat McGee Band, 9:00 PM, Ages 21+, Tickets
$15 advance, $20 GA
10/07/07 Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
w. Pat McGee Band only, 6:30 PM, Ages 18+, Tickets $13 GA,
$63 reserved table
10/09/07 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre
w. Josh Kelley & Pat McGee Band, 8:00 PM, Ages 18+, Tickets
$20 advance, $22 day of show
10/11/07 Seattle, WA @ High Dive
w. Josh Kelley & Pat McGee Band, 8:30 PM, Ages 21+, Tickets $20 GA
10/12/07 Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater
w. Josh Kelley & Pat McGee Band, 8:00 PM, All Ages, $17.50
advance/$19 day of show
10/15/07 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
w. Josh Kelley & Pat McGee Band, 8:00 PM, Ages 21+, $18
advance/$20 day of show
10/16/07 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
w. Josh Kelley & Pat McGee Band, 8:30 PM, All Ages, $15
10/18/07 Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern
w. Josh Kelley & Pat McGee Band, 8:00 PM, All Ages, $15
advance/$17 day of show
10/19/07 Phoenix, AZ @ Martini Ranch
w. Josh Kelley & Pat McGee Band, 7:00 PM, Ages 21+, $18
adavance/$22 dayof show
10/23/07 Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse
w. Pete Kilpatrick, 7:00 PM, All Ages, $10 advance/$13 day of show
10/25/07 Boston, MA @ Paradise Lounge
w. Pete Kilpatrick & Jealousy Curve, 8:00 PM, Ages 18+, $10
10/30/07 Vienna, VA @ Jammin Java
w. Ken Oak Band & Winterpills, 7:00 PM, $10
11/21/07 New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom
431 W 16th St between 9th and 10th Ave New York, NY 10011 (212) 414-5994
Support TBD; 8:00 PM, Ages 16+, $12 in advance/$15 day of show
HIt the Highline Ballroom’s website for tickets ASAP because they WILL SELL OUT!
SPECIAL EVENT
Vintage Vinyl In-Store Appearance and Performance!
Isaac, Thorry, and Shakerleg will be making a special appearance at Vintage Vinyl in
51 Lafayette Rd. Fords, NJ 08863 (732)-225-7717
Tuesday, November 20th @ 7:00 PM
They will be performing and signing autographs- all to be streamed on YeboTV!
So get into your cars and head over to Vintage Vinyl and be part of the video crowd!!
Hit www.amazon.com to buy this amazing new CD
Stevie Wilson
Nice Site!
http://google.com