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WOOLGATHER

Crossover Prog • United States


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Woolgather biography
US band WOOLGATHER was formed in 2006, initially consisting of Casey Tipton (vocals, guitars), Matt Eads (drums) and Corey Young (bass). When Young decided to leave Tipton advertised for a bassist as well as a keyboardist for the band, and Eric Stephens (bass) and Rodrigo Lloreda (keyboards) subsequently joined the band.

2007 saw this new act release the 3-track EP Disenchantment, and also saw the band actively gigging to build up a stable fan base.

In 2009 they hit the studio again, and recorded enough material for two full albums. The first half of the material was mixed and produced for the CD Programmes: Vol. I - The Pleasure Principle which was issued in September 2009, while the second half of this material is planned for release sometime in the second half of 2010. The working title for this forthcoming production is Programmes: Vol. II - The Reality Principle

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WOOLGATHER discography


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WOOLGATHER top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.21 | 5 ratings
Programmes Vol. I: The Pleasure Principle
2009
2.67 | 3 ratings
Programmes Vol II - The Reality Principle
2011

WOOLGATHER Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

WOOLGATHER Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

WOOLGATHER Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

WOOLGATHER Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

3.00 | 1 ratings
Disenchantment
2007

WOOLGATHER Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Programmes Vol. I: The Pleasure Principle by WOOLGATHER album cover Studio Album, 2009
3.21 | 5 ratings

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Programmes Vol. I: The Pleasure Principle
Woolgather Crossover Prog

Review by Makntak

3 stars From the first track, I thought this might be a sweet album. Woolgather begin it with the stirring and passionate 'Sticks And Stones' which kind of sets the tone. The song is carried on a lovely balance of analogue warmth in the shape of acoustic guitar and piano, with weighty electric guitar and swirling ambient keys providing a range of moods and dynamics. Fundamentally, this is the palatte that Woolgather employ for the whole album. Central to the sound is vocalist, Casey Tipton who has the angst-ridden cry of Michael Stipe (REM) and alternates his delivery between cracked and fragile, clean, and soaring, full-throated, tragic wailing. I didn't like his voice when he hits this slightly screechy singing mode, it seemed strained rather than controlled, but he brings enormous character, energy, mood and feeling to the music.

All of the tracks move from downtempo to steady, rarely racing the pulse but combining a blend of pressing weight and sensitivity of touch that suggests a comforting stroke offered to the grieving. This is not happy music, it's quite morose, haunting and despondent. Occasionally it rises to anger, but it's that frustrated anger of failing to overcome insurmountable odds no matter how hard or earnestly you try. I actively dislike this and frequently wanted to figuratively slap the band and tell them to cheer the hell up. Nevertheless, I can't deny that, melodically, these are darkly beautiful tunes that demonstrate substantial craft in their composition. There's a pioneering spirit in the progressive song structures that seeks to redefine what's possible within an alternative, prog-pop framework by being both accessible and experimental. Mix the alternative aesthetic of [b]Wintersleep[/b] with the singular invention of [b]Dredg[/b], then make it devastatingly bleak and I think you'll be someway to imagining how Woolgather come across.

There's a lyric in [i]P.S. (I Confess)[/i], that uses the adjunct 'grace and mystery'. I misheard this and thought at first that Tipton was saying 'grace and misery'. My version is actually a moment of pinpoint precision, perfect to sum up the tone of the album.

It hasn't shaken my world, but it's virtues are self-evident. It's definitely a work of considerable love and if you fancy cuddling yourself into a state of miserable abandon, then I'll recommend it to you.

Thanks to windhawk for the artist addition.

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