Papa Woody
Encyclopedia
Papa Woody is the first and only studio album
by Ether Bunny, released on April 18, 1996 through Fifth Colvmn Records
. It is the project of Daniel Vahnke
, who is primarily known for his work in Vampire Rodents
.
recording sessions, intended as Vahnke's personal tribute to cartoon and jazz music.
is still prevalent in the music, the album is notably more influenced by the big bands
of the 1930s and 1940s than anything Vahnke released with Vampire Rodents. The work of Carl Stalling
, a composer of cartoon scores, has been said to be a primary influence on Ether Bunny's sound. The project has also been compared to the work of Foetus and Jack Dangers
, although overall coming across as a more "polite experience". Similar to the Vampire Rodent's discography, Ether Bunny's sound relies heavily on the use of the drum machine to produce dance rhythms, which Vahnke had hoped would help the music reach a younger audience. This decision has been criticized as sounding derivative and two dimensional as well as detracting from the overall song at times.
. Ned Raggett of Allmusic gave it three out of five stars, claiming that "Ether Bunny is onto something throughout its hour-long course" Music critic Piero Scaruffi
called the album an "exuberant tour de force in post-modernist deconstruction that targeted old-time big-band jazz and Caribbean rhythms" although noting that the "drum machine either propels or detracts from the magic of the assembly." He gave the album 6.5 out of 10 and described Vahnke as being a "different kind of scientist." Aiding & Abetting gave it a more positive review, saying that each song is "demanding to be heard again and again" and praising "the artful way Vahnke splices solos and even full compositions into the same song, creating whole new improvisations."
Additional musicians and production
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Ether Bunny, released on April 18, 1996 through Fifth Colvmn Records
Fifth Colvmn Records
Fifth Colvmn Records was a record label based in Washington, DC. Formed in 1990 by nightclub owner and entrepreneur Zalman Fishman, the label's first release was Chemlab's debut EP Ten Ton Pressure...
. It is the project of Daniel Vahnke
Daniel Vahnke
Daniel Vahnke is a Canadian composer and lyricist. He is best known as a co-founding member of Vampire Rodents, a band that integrated elements of classical, ambient, and industrial music into its work...
, who is primarily known for his work in Vampire Rodents
Vampire Rodents
Vampire Rodents was the name of an industrial music and experimental rock band formed in Phoenix, Arizona, although it's core members originally came from Canada. The band was formed by singer, guitarist and composer Daniel Vahnke and keyboardest Victor Wulf. Andrea Akastia joined after the...
.
Recording
The project began in 1993 during the Lullaby LandLullaby Land
-Accolades:-Personnel:Vampire Rodents*Andrea Akastia – cello, violin*Daniel Vahnke – vocals, sampler, guitar*Victor Wulf – pianoAdditional musicians and production*Marc C...
recording sessions, intended as Vahnke's personal tribute to cartoon and jazz music.
Music
Although samplingSampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
is still prevalent in the music, the album is notably more influenced by the big bands
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
of the 1930s and 1940s than anything Vahnke released with Vampire Rodents. The work of Carl Stalling
Carl Stalling
Carl W. Stalling was an American composer and arranger for music in animated films. He is most closely associated with the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts produced by Warner Bros., where he averaged one complete score each week, for 22 years.-Biography:Stalling was born to Ernest and...
, a composer of cartoon scores, has been said to be a primary influence on Ether Bunny's sound. The project has also been compared to the work of Foetus and Jack Dangers
Jack Dangers
Jack Dangers is an electronic musician, DJ, producer, and remixer best known for his work as the primary member of Meat Beat Manifesto. He lives in San Francisco.-Career:...
, although overall coming across as a more "polite experience". Similar to the Vampire Rodent's discography, Ether Bunny's sound relies heavily on the use of the drum machine to produce dance rhythms, which Vahnke had hoped would help the music reach a younger audience. This decision has been criticized as sounding derivative and two dimensional as well as detracting from the overall song at times.
Release and reception
Daniel Vahnke has called Papa Woody his favorite released project, even preferring it over his work in Vampire RodentsVampire Rodents
Vampire Rodents was the name of an industrial music and experimental rock band formed in Phoenix, Arizona, although it's core members originally came from Canada. The band was formed by singer, guitarist and composer Daniel Vahnke and keyboardest Victor Wulf. Andrea Akastia joined after the...
. Ned Raggett of Allmusic gave it three out of five stars, claiming that "Ether Bunny is onto something throughout its hour-long course" Music critic 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...
called the album an "exuberant tour de force in post-modernist deconstruction that targeted old-time big-band jazz and Caribbean rhythms" although noting that the "drum machine either propels or detracts from the magic of the assembly." He gave the album 6.5 out of 10 and described Vahnke as being a "different kind of scientist." Aiding & Abetting gave it a more positive review, saying that each song is "demanding to be heard again and again" and praising "the artful way Vahnke splices solos and even full compositions into the same song, creating whole new improvisations."
Track listing
Personnel
Ether Bunny- Daniel VahnkeDaniel VahnkeDaniel Vahnke is a Canadian composer and lyricist. He is best known as a co-founding member of Vampire Rodents, a band that integrated elements of classical, ambient, and industrial music into its work...
– samplerSampler (musical instrument)A sampler is an electronic musical instrument similar in some respects to a synthesizer but, instead of generating sounds, it uses recordings of sounds that are loaded or recorded into it by the user and then played back by means of a keyboard, sequencer or other triggering device to perform or...
Additional musicians and production
- Zalman Fishman – financial evacuator remora parasitic benefactorRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
- Judson Leach – masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
, mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...