Cerberus Shoal
Encyclopedia
Cerberus Shoal was a United States
rock band formed in 1994 in Boston
but largely based in Portland, Maine
. They split up in the mid-2000s with some members going on to form Fire on Fire.
had written in 1893. This name indirectly references an underwater feature in the Block Island Sound
. After their first, self-titled release in 1995, Kristen Hedges replaced Ogden on guitar and vocals, and David Mulder was added on keyboards and percussion. The new line-up released two Lighthouse in Athens EPs in 1996 and the album ...and Farewell to Hightide in 1997, now having abandoned their earlier punk/psychedelic rock style for a more progressive rock sound that was described as "soundtrack-rock", and "quite simple [arrangements], featuring subtle percussion, occasional horns, and layers of guitars and keyboards". Hedges left in late 1997, and Mulder left the following year. Thomas Kovacevic then joined on guitar, quena, oud, zamponas and vocals, Eric Laperna on percussion and vocals and Tim Harbeson on keyboards, accordion, flute, shakuachi and trumpet, all three concurrently of the band Tarpigh. Their 1998 album Elements of Structure/Permanence comprised two long tracks originally intended as soundtracks to short films by Tim Folland, and improvised and recorded while watching the films. Piero Scaruffi
described Hightide and Elements as sounding "like Grateful Dead
's Dark Star performed by a chamber ensemble". Homb was released in 1999, showing another stylistic shift towards more atmospheric music, drawing comparisons with early Pink Floyd
, Popol Vuh
, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor
. This continued through Crash My Moon Yacht in 2000 (on which they introduced East European instrumentation), and Mr. Boy Dog in 2002. Their 2003 album Chaiming the Knoblessone incorporated influences from around the world and has been described as "a slithering, buzzing cacophony of avant-garde folk insanity", and as "a surreal head trip". The band's latest album is 2005's The Land We All Believe In, described by one reviewer as "a magnanimous, comic investigation into realities both political and otherwise", and as sounding "like a wagonload of circus performers being trampled by an endless stream of rhinos, with horns, accordions and banjos squeaking at random and Eastern European blood running thick on the ground" by another.
The band split up in the mid-2000s with Sutherland and other members resurfacing as acoustic group Fire on Fire, Sutherland also performing solo.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock band formed in 1994 in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
but largely based in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
. They split up in the mid-2000s with some members going on to form Fire on Fire.
History
The band's initial line-up was Caleb Mulkerin (guitar), Josh Ogden (guitar), Chriss Sutherland (bass guitar, vocals), and Tom Rogers (drums). They took their name from an old book of poems that students at Brown UniversityBrown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
had written in 1893. This name indirectly references an underwater feature in the Block Island Sound
Block Island Sound
Block Island Sound is a strait in the open Atlantic Ocean, approximately wide, separating Block Island from the coast of Rhode Island in the United States...
. After their first, self-titled release in 1995, Kristen Hedges replaced Ogden on guitar and vocals, and David Mulder was added on keyboards and percussion. The new line-up released two Lighthouse in Athens EPs in 1996 and the album ...and Farewell to Hightide in 1997, now having abandoned their earlier punk/psychedelic rock style for a more progressive rock sound that was described as "soundtrack-rock", and "quite simple [arrangements], featuring subtle percussion, occasional horns, and layers of guitars and keyboards". Hedges left in late 1997, and Mulder left the following year. Thomas Kovacevic then joined on guitar, quena, oud, zamponas and vocals, Eric Laperna on percussion and vocals and Tim Harbeson on keyboards, accordion, flute, shakuachi and trumpet, all three concurrently of the band Tarpigh. Their 1998 album Elements of Structure/Permanence comprised two long tracks originally intended as soundtracks to short films by Tim Folland, and improvised and recorded while watching the films. Piero Scaruffi
Piero Scaruffi
Piero Scaruffi received a degree in Mathematics in 1982 from University of Turin, where he did work on the General Theory of Relativity. For a number of years he was the head of the Artificial Intelligence Center at Olivetti, based in Cupertino, California. He has been a visiting scholar at...
described Hightide and Elements as sounding "like Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
's Dark Star performed by a chamber ensemble". Homb was released in 1999, showing another stylistic shift towards more atmospheric music, drawing comparisons with early Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, Popol Vuh
Popol Vuh
Popol Vuh is a corpus of mytho-historical narratives of the Post Classic Quiché kingdom in Guatemala's western highlands. The title translates as "Book of the Community," "Book of Counsel," or more literally as "Book of the People."...
, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a Canadian post-rock band which originated from Montreal, Quebec in 1994...
. This continued through Crash My Moon Yacht in 2000 (on which they introduced East European instrumentation), and Mr. Boy Dog in 2002. Their 2003 album Chaiming the Knoblessone incorporated influences from around the world and has been described as "a slithering, buzzing cacophony of avant-garde folk insanity", and as "a surreal head trip". The band's latest album is 2005's The Land We All Believe In, described by one reviewer as "a magnanimous, comic investigation into realities both political and otherwise", and as sounding "like a wagonload of circus performers being trampled by an endless stream of rhinos, with horns, accordions and banjos squeaking at random and Eastern European blood running thick on the ground" by another.
The band split up in the mid-2000s with Sutherland and other members resurfacing as acoustic group Fire on Fire, Sutherland also performing solo.
Albums
- Cerberus Shoal (mini-LP) (1995), Stella White
- ...and Farewell to Hightide (1997), Tree
- Elements of Structure/Permanence (1998), A.I.P.
- Homb (1999), Temporary Residence
- Crash My Moon Yacht (2000), Pandemonium
- Mr. Boy Dog (2002), Temporary Residence
- Chaiming the Knoblessone (2003), North East Indie
- Bastion of Itchy Preeves (2004), North East Indie
- Cerberus Shoal (2004), North East Indie
- The Land We All Believe In (2005), North East Indie
- An Ongoing DING (2010), iscollagecollective
Singles, EPs
- Lighthouse in Athens Part One EP (1996), Tree
- Lighthouse in Athens Part Two EP (1996), Tree
- "Breathing Machine" (1997)
- "Garden Fly, Drip Eye" (2001), North East Indie
- Travels in Constants vol. 10Travels in ConstantsTravels in Constants is a limited edition collection of 23 EPs issued by American record label Temporary Residence Limited. The label issued one CD from each artist involved in the project, which ran from 1999 until 2007...
EP (2001), Temporary Residence
Split releases
- The Whys and the Hows of Herman Düne & Cerberus Shoal (2002), North East Indie - split with Herman DüneHerman DüneHerman Düne is a French duo, formed in 1999. Originally a trio, the band now consists of David-Ivar Herman Düne and Néman Herman Düne . Néman, who is from Switzerland, replaced former drummer Omé in early 2001...
- The Ducks and Drakes of... (2003), North Eastern Digital - split with GuapoGuapo (band)Guapo is a British experimental rock/art rock band formed in the mid 1990s by drummer/percussionist Dave Smith and guitarist/vocalist Matt Thompson...
- The Vim and Vigour of Alvarius B and Cerberus Shoal (2003), North East Indie - split with Alvarius B
- The Life and Times Of... (2004), North Eastern Digital - split with Magic Carpathians