Charalambides
Encyclopedia
Charalambides is an avant garde musical group originally from Houston, Texas
, USA and lately of Austin
, Texas
. Formed in 1991 (under the short-lived name Mutual Admiration Society) by Tom Carter, Christina Carter and Kyle Silfer, they have followed in the footsteps of other Texas
psychedelic music
artists such as the 13th Floor Elevators
, Red Crayola, and Jandek
. Later members include Jason Bill and Heather Leigh Murray, but the band has long considered itself primarily a duo between Tom and Christina Carter.
The name of the band derives from the surname of a customer at the record shop where Tom and Christina met.
Their music contains elements typical of psychedelic music
such as reverb, extended instrumental jamming and the use of found sounds.
In addition to several major releases on labels such as Kranky
, Eclipse Records, and Time-Lag Records
, they have also released many small edition CD-Rs on their own Wholly-Other label, and other small independent labels. Some of which have later been re-issued (Our Bed is Green, and Historic Sixth Ward for example).
Core members Tom Carter and Christina Carter are divorced but remain together as a musical unit. They have also recorded in their own right, releasing albums on Kranky
and Eclipse Records
, as well as several small edition CD-Rs. In addition the two have collaborated with numerous kindred spirits such as Loren Mazzacane Connors
, Yellow Swans
and Robert Horton
.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, USA and lately of Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Formed in 1991 (under the short-lived name Mutual Admiration Society) by Tom Carter, Christina Carter and Kyle Silfer, they have followed in the footsteps of other Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
psychedelic music
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
artists such as the 13th Floor Elevators
13th Floor Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators were an American rock band from Austin, Texas formed by guitarist and vocalist Roky Erickson, electric jug player Tommy Hall, and guitarist Stacy Sutherland, which existed from 1965 to 1969...
, Red Crayola, and Jandek
Jandek
Jandek is the musical project of an anonymous outsider musician who operates out of Houston, Texas. Since 1978, Jandek has self-released over 60 albums of unusual, often emotionally dissolute folk and blues songs without ever granting more than the occasional interview or providing any biographical...
. Later members include Jason Bill and Heather Leigh Murray, but the band has long considered itself primarily a duo between Tom and Christina Carter.
The name of the band derives from the surname of a customer at the record shop where Tom and Christina met.
Their music contains elements typical of psychedelic music
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
such as reverb, extended instrumental jamming and the use of found sounds.
In addition to several major releases on labels such as Kranky
Kranky Records
Kranky is an independent record label, located in Chicago, Illinois. It was started in 1993 by Bruce Adams and Joel Leoschke.The bands it houses are noted for combining experimental and often electronic influences with elements of more traditional rock structures, and many of the artists on Kranky...
, Eclipse Records, and Time-Lag Records
Time-Lag Records
Time-Lag Records is an independent record label based in Portland, Maine.It has released albums by artists such as Phantom Buffalo, Elephant Micah, Fursaxa, MV+EE and the Bummer Road, Death Chants, Six Organs of Admittance, Wooden Wand, Charalambides, Espers, The Tower Recordings, Drona Parva, GHQ,...
, they have also released many small edition CD-Rs on their own Wholly-Other label, and other small independent labels. Some of which have later been re-issued (Our Bed is Green, and Historic Sixth Ward for example).
Core members Tom Carter and Christina Carter are divorced but remain together as a musical unit. They have also recorded in their own right, releasing albums on Kranky
Kranky Records
Kranky is an independent record label, located in Chicago, Illinois. It was started in 1993 by Bruce Adams and Joel Leoschke.The bands it houses are noted for combining experimental and often electronic influences with elements of more traditional rock structures, and many of the artists on Kranky...
and Eclipse Records
Eclipse Records
Eclipse Records is an American indie rock record label based in Butler, New Jersey. The label is known for bringing the Cleveland band Mushroomhead to national attention. The current president of the label is Chris Poland.-History:...
, as well as several small edition CD-Rs. In addition the two have collaborated with numerous kindred spirits such as Loren Mazzacane Connors
Loren Mazzacane Connors
Loren MazzaCane Connors is an American experimental musician who has recorded and performed under several different names: Guitar Roberts, Loren Mazzacane, Loren Mattei, and currently Loren Connors...
, Yellow Swans
Yellow Swans
Yellow Swans were an American experimental electronic noise band from Portland, Oregon. The duo are renowned for their improvisional approach to music, creating a unique experience for each live performance. They describe their music as "a constantly evolving mass of psychedelic noise that is both...
and Robert Horton
Robert Horton
Sir Robert Horton, FRSA is a British businessman. He is a Director of the European Advisory Council and of Emerson Electric Company. He spent 30 years working for BP, formerly British Petroleum. He became Chief Executive and Chairman of the Board of BP in March 1990, but was forced out in 1992...
.
Selected discography
- Our Bed Is Green CS-100 (KrankyKranky RecordsKranky is an independent record label, located in Chicago, Illinois. It was started in 1993 by Bruce Adams and Joel Leoschke.The bands it houses are noted for combining experimental and often electronic influences with elements of more traditional rock structures, and many of the artists on Kranky...
, Reissued as 2CD, 2005) (No Label, 1992) - Union LP (SiltbreezeSiltbreezeSiltbreeze is an American independent record label based out of Philadelphia.-Roster:*1929*A Band*Above Ground*A Handful of Dust*Alan Licht*Alasehir*Alastair Galbraith*Angus Maclise*Ashtabula*Ashtray Navigations*Axemen*Bardo Pond*Blues Control...
, 1993) - Historic 6th Ward CS-90 (No Label, 1994)
- "On the Corner"/"Winning Friends"/"13,14" on Heartland Comp CS-60 (SeagraveSeagraveSeagrave is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. It has a population of around 500. It is north of Sileby and close to Thrussington and Barrow upon Soar....
, 1994) - "Variant"/"Mayflower" on Drilling the Curve Comp LP (Fleece, 1995)
- "Devils"/"Bid You Goodnight" 7" (PlaytimePlaytimePlay Time is French director Jacques Tati's fourth major film, and generally considered to be his most daring film. It was shot in 1964 through 1967 and released in 1967. In Play Time, Tati again plays Monsieur Hulot, a character who had appeared in some of his earlier films, including Mon Oncle...
, 1995) - Market Square 2LP (SiltbreezeSiltbreezeSiltbreeze is an American independent record label based out of Philadelphia.-Roster:*1929*A Band*Above Ground*A Handful of Dust*Alan Licht*Alasehir*Alastair Galbraith*Angus Maclise*Ashtabula*Ashtray Navigations*Axemen*Bardo Pond*Blues Control...
, 1995) - Historic 6th Ward CD (Wholly Other, 1996)
- "Hyetal" on Whump! Comp 7" (Bobby J, 1996)
- "Drop" on Succour Comp 2CD (Woronzow, 1996)
- "Naked in Our Deathskins" on Harmony of the Spheres Comp 3LP (Reissued as 2CD, 1999) (Drunken Fish, 1996)
- Charalambides CD (Wholly Other, 1997)
- Houston CD (SiltbreezeSiltbreezeSiltbreeze is an American independent record label based out of Philadelphia.-Roster:*1929*A Band*Above Ground*A Handful of Dust*Alan Licht*Alasehir*Alastair Galbraith*Angus Maclise*Ashtabula*Ashtray Navigations*Axemen*Bardo Pond*Blues Control...
, 1998) - Internal Eternal CD (Wholly Other, 1999)
- "Rehearsal" on Urban Meadows Comp CD (Broken Face, 2000)
- "Mansfield" on The Nature of Systems Comp CD (Carbon Records, 2000)
- "One Song" on Serotonin Ronin Comp 2CD (Camera ObscuraCamera obscuraThe camera obscura is an optical device that projects an image of its surroundings on a screen. It is used in drawing and for entertainment, and was one of the inventions that led to photography. The device consists of a box or room with a hole in one side...
, 2000) - Sticks CD-R (Wholly Other, 2000)
- Home CD-R (Wholly Other, 2000)
- Branches Lathe LP (EclipseEclipse RecordsEclipse Records is an American indie rock record label based in Butler, New Jersey. The label is known for bringing the Cleveland band Mushroomhead to national attention. The current president of the label is Chris Poland.-History:...
, 2001) - Water CD-R (Wholly Other, 2001)
- YIH CD-R (CarbonCarbonCarbon is the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds...
, 2001) - "Second Rehearsal" on Songs From the Entopic Garden Volume 2 Split LP (with Six Organs of AdmittanceSix Organs of AdmittanceSix Organs of Admittance is the primary musical project of guitarist Ben Chasny. Chasny's music is largely guitar-based and is often considered new folk, however it includes obvious influences, marked by the use of drones, chimes, and eclectic percussive elements...
) (Timelag, 2001) - Historic 6th Ward 2 LP (Timelag, 2002)
- Untitled CD-R (with Scorces) (Wholly Other, 2002)
- Being As Is CD-R (Crucial Blast, 2002)
- Untitled track on Intersect 4 Comp CD (Pale-Disk, 2002)
- "Spring Leaves Fall"/"Sun or Wind" 7" (Timelag, 2002)
- CHT CD-R (Wholly Other, 2002)
- Live Hand Held CD-R (Wholly Other, 2002)
- "Song for Always" on Ptolemaic Terrascope #32 comp CD (P.T., 2002)
- IN CR EA SE 2LP (EclipseEclipse RecordsEclipse Records is an American indie rock record label based in Butler, New Jersey. The label is known for bringing the Cleveland band Mushroomhead to national attention. The current president of the label is Chris Poland.-History:...
, 2002) - Ana/Kata 10" EP (Beta Lactam Ring, 2002)
- Unknown Spin CD (KrankyKranky RecordsKranky is an independent record label, located in Chicago, Illinois. It was started in 1993 by Bruce Adams and Joel Leoschke.The bands it houses are noted for combining experimental and often electronic influences with elements of more traditional rock structures, and many of the artists on Kranky...
, 2002) - Joy Shapes LP/CD (KrankyKranky RecordsKranky is an independent record label, located in Chicago, Illinois. It was started in 1993 by Bruce Adams and Joel Leoschke.The bands it houses are noted for combining experimental and often electronic influences with elements of more traditional rock structures, and many of the artists on Kranky...
, 2004) - Live/Dead CD-R (Wholly Other, 2005)
- Dead/Live CD-R (Wholly Other, 2005)
- A Vintage Burden (KrankyKranky RecordsKranky is an independent record label, located in Chicago, Illinois. It was started in 1993 by Bruce Adams and Joel Leoschke.The bands it houses are noted for combining experimental and often electronic influences with elements of more traditional rock structures, and many of the artists on Kranky...
, 2006) - Emerald Message CD-R (Wholly Other, 2006)
- Glowing Raw CD-R (Wholly Other, 2006)
- Strangle The Wretched Heavens CD-R (Wholly Other, 2007)
- Electricity Ghost CD (Wholly Other, 2007)
- Likeness CD (KrankyKranky RecordsKranky is an independent record label, located in Chicago, Illinois. It was started in 1993 by Bruce Adams and Joel Leoschke.The bands it houses are noted for combining experimental and often electronic influences with elements of more traditional rock structures, and many of the artists on Kranky...
, 2007)
External links
- Wholly-Other http://www.wholly-other.com/
- Kranky Records http://www.kranky.net/artists/charalambides.html
- Eclipse Records http://www.eclipse-records.com/
- Fleece Records http://soundexchangehouston.com/fleece/
- Interview with the band http://www.worshipguitars.org/Interviews/charalambides/index.html
- Concert photos by Laurent Orseau
- Everything is Magic interview with the band in ascent magazine
- Charalambides group on Last.FM http://www.last.fm/group/Charalambides