The Horse’s Ha
Of The Cathmawr Yards
Out June 9, 2009 on Hidden Agenda
The Horse's Ha was formed in 2002, when British ex-patriot James Elkington and just South of the Mason Dixon ex-patriot, Janet Beveridge Bean met at a Chicago concert and started discussing the concept of playing other people's songs in expensive wine bars for money. A set-list of roughly 20 standards was drawn up and then gradually abandoned over the course of a year as James started to write original songs for Janet to sing. They soon joined forces with stellar Chicago musicians Fred Lonberg-Holm, Nick Macri and Charles Rumback to create a sophisticated and compelling musical hybrid between jazz and folk. Their sound is infused with echoes of the English folk revival, that morph into lulling Bossa Nova rhythms and find their way right back to pure pop, giving the The Horse’s Ha a uniquely enduring edge. The band’s lineage has deep Chicago roots. Janet Bean is a member Chicago's Eleventh Dream Day in addition to her continuing country music partnership with Catherine Irwin, forming the duo, Freakwater. James Elkington was leader of The Zincs and performs solo. Fred LonbergHolm, Chicago’s premier improvisational cello player, has richly contributed to forging the vibrant improvisational jazz scene in Chicago as well as working on recordings by Wilco, Jim O'Rourke and countless others. His masterful playing is underpinned by the rhythm section of bass player Nick Macri, an ex-Zincs member whose wide-ranging history has seen him go from his own band, Euphone, to playing with Mark Eitzel and Jeremy Enigk, and Charles Rumback, a jazz drummer relocated from Kansas who performs with his own band Leaves as well as Chicago groups L'Altra and Via Tania. These players set the stage for James and Janet’s voices, that harmonize throughout, to bring you the first album by The Horse's Ha: Of the Cathmawr Yards. Work began on Of the Cathmawr Yards in January of 2008 and was recorded and mixed by Griffin Rodriguez (who has recorded albums by Beirut and Akron/Family under the name Blue Hawaii) at his south-side Chicago studio, Shape Shoppe. The band recorded in bits and pieces over the next few weeks, surviving parking tickets and foul weather, with additional recording and common sense provided by Mark Greenberg (from the Coctails and 100 varied Chicago bands) at his studio, Mayfair. Of the Cathmawr Yards captures The Horse's Ha in an almost live setting, with all the intimacy and invention of their shows still intact: In “Liberation,” Fred Lonberg-Holm plays a two-minute solo that arcs from plaintive single notes to a fiery frenzy and recalls John Cale's viola-playing at its most possessed. Macri and Rumback remain fluid and responsive throughout, and manage to keep the beat steady while taking the group into uncharted territory in "Asleep In A Waterfall' and the album's closer, “Map Of Stars.” Elkington's deft guitar playing shows a strong English folk influence, but steps out to take a ringing solo worthy of Johnny Marr in “The Piss Choir,” while the massed voices of Janet Bean stop the show in “Heiress.” Martin Wenk, Janet's friend from Calexico, generously recorded some trumpet parts from his home in Germany for the song “Left Hand” to complete the album. “The Cathmawr Yards” is the name of a fictitious graveyard in Wales and is the setting for the Dylan Thomas short story about zombies, entitled “The Horse's Ha.” Although no reference to Thomas or the story are made in the songs on Of The Cathmawr Yards, the lyrics themselves resonate with similarly dark and fantastical themes: talking woodcuts, walking skeletons, and at least 11 references to the moon merge together to form an unsettling yet familiar feeling that forces other than our own are at work in the physical world. A diva digs her own grave in “Asleep In A Waterfall” and modern-day witches are offered a friendly warning in the album's opening lullaby, “Plumb'” "So hold on to old hands, starting with yours / They're softer than leather and harder than oars / And row your rivers of temperance and toil / If you won't float in water, you're bound for the soil.” Elsewhere, mankind is under attack from nature in “The Piss Choir,” and “Map Of Stars” celebrates being lost in the wilderness as being set free from all timely constraints, both real and imagined: "Make kindling from clocks and cinders your watch / You have you no place to be / You're ripped at the roots and willed by the winds / A cloud with four limbs of fire.” The Horse's Ha, driven by Bean's swooning voice, Elkington's finger-picked acoustic guitar, Lonberg-Holm's inspired cello playing and the artful rhythm section of Macri and Rumback, reconcile the new and old to form a unified debut that is Of the Cathmawr Yards.
For more information contact Jessica Linker at Pitch Perfect PR.: jessica@pitchperfectpr.com, 773-784-4335, www.pitchperfectpr.com. www.myspace.com/horsesha.
The Horse’s Ha Tour Dates: Tue. Sep. 15 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle w/ Paul Burch, Jon Langford Sat. Sep. 19 Champaign, IL @ Pygmalion Festival Thu. Oct. 1 Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place Fri. Oct. 2 Montreal, QC @ Club Soda w/ Yo La Tengo Sat. Oct. 3 Toronto, ON @ Opera House w/ Yo La Tengo Fri. Nov. 27 Chicago, IL @ The Old Town School of Folk Music w/ Joseph Arthur Select Press Quotations on The Horse’s Ha’s Of The Cathmawr Yards: “The Horse’s Ha’s debut album, Of The Cathmawr Yards, blends Elkington and Bean’s voices and sensibilities together seamlessly on a set of songs that relies heavily on intricate acoustic guitar plucking, dreamy violin, and a gently melancholy air. . . on songs like ‘Liberation’ and ‘The Piss Choir,’ the percussion taps away madly while Elkington and Bean harmonize like a ’60s sunshine-pop group dosed on downers. The effect is unique and striking, like a bumpy ride through a moonlit country night.” – Noel Murray, The Onion’s A.V. Club (A-) "The songs are moody and cryptic, full of death and moonlight. And with Elkington's deep, resonant voice intertwined with Bean's high, thin one, and his acoustic finger-picking interlaced with Lonberg- Holm's sinuous cello, their mystery is enchanting. It's an eerie and nuanced album, with echoes of Smog, the Mark Lanegan / Isobel Campbell collaborations, and British folk legends Pentangle and John Martyn." -- Steve Klinge, Philadelphia Inquirer “On the disc, the veteran players demonstrate undeniable talent and a unique vision, finding common ground in a somber folk aesthetic and dreamy jazz rhythms. Upright bass and brushed drums glide behind spidery guitar lines and haunting vocals by Bean, while songs like ‘Asleep in a Waterfall’ showcase the band's ability to bring together seemingly disparate styles into a cohesive and beautiful sound.” – NPR’s “World Café” “This is a very weird album, and an ultimately compelling one. . . Horse's Ha, which is really Freakwater's Janet Bean and the Zincs' Jim Elkington with a postmodern jazz trio behind them, sure sounds British, a bit like Pentangle on cough syrup. Elkington's songs have purposefully literary lyrics which on more than a few occasions wander off into a kind of slightly darker version of Donovan-land, but it's the pacing here that draws the ear, with Elkington and Bean's well-defined, tense and sultry vocal harmonies working over languidly flowing rhythms . . .” – Steve Leggett, All Music (4 Stars) “The Horse’s Ha, however, is not one of those band that you listen to apathetically. As musicians, they demand more than that. And one thing the audience will find with a closer listen is this: the Horse’s Ha is delightfully weird. Really paying attention to Of The Cathmawr Yards means noticing Elkington’s masterful guitar work and songwriting, including surprising chord changes and brilliantly sad arpeggios. It also means taking note of the songs’ lyrics, which are invariably dark and literary. These subtly strange qualities become the essence of the album, as it moves stealthily from track to track in way that feels sleepy yet important and all the while incredibly deliberate.” – Michael Schawb, CMJ.com “The five-piece features vocalists James Elkington (the Zincs) and Janet Beveridge Bean (Freakwater) harmonizing in Elkington’s lyrics, within chamberlike settings given vivid hues by Fred Lonberg-Holm’s cello and highly rhythmic acoustic guitar that evokes a touch of Nick Drake. Elkington, however, is a far more surreal lyricist. . . The group’s eponymous debut album is one of the year’s nicer surprises.” – Steve Dollar, Time Out New York “The Horse's Ha are moody and sprawling. The vocal interplay between Bean’s silky melodies and James Elkington’s smoky, Lee Hazlewood-evocative croon is reminiscent of Mark Lanegan and Isobelle Campbell, with rich lyrical imagery to boot. . . The driving, ornate "Asleep in a Waterfall" and freewheeling, orchestral, Califone-esque "Liberation" showcase an ingenuity not found in much modern folk. But it's the fluid, bombastic English folk of "The Piss Choir” where The Horse’s Ha carve their own niche and make Of The Cathmawr Yards worth a listen.” – Michael Powell, Louisville Eccentric Observer “Most of the songs are by Elkington, whose elegant melodies benefit greatly from the band’s warm, roomy arrangements and Bean’s lovely singing. His dry, fragile croon might not seem like a natural fit with her sweet post-Emmylou Harris flutter – their vocals have little in common besides their delicacy – but they find ways to make it work, either trading lines or having Bean shadow Elkington’s quavering voice with honeyed softness. The music rarely gets louder than a whisper, but the loose interplay among the musicians, particularly between Rumback’s spacious drumming and Lonberg-Holm’s sorrowful lines, gives it a kind of weight that doesn’t depend on raw volume or brute force.” – Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader “not only pleasing at first listen, but also well worth those return spins.” – Matthew Whelihan, Cleveland Scene “The Horse’s Ha, made up of veterans of Chicago’s folk scene (including, ahem, a band called Freakwater), provides a ready remedy for scene-torn ears. The group performs pretty acoustic folk free of tribal mutterings, amateur banjo, and new-age mumbo-jumbo, and its recent debut, Of The Cathmawr Yards, is airy and delicate, replete with ‘60s pop harmonies and jazzy guitar.” – Paul Caine, The Onion’s Decider “The Horse’s Ha is one of those bands that you may need to spend a bit of time with, but it's an investment well-worth making. . . The band plays refined, classy, violin-heavy songs that sound like the soundtrack to a movie that takes place in the woods; you get both an inviting and foreboding sense.” – David Malitz, WashingtonPost.com “[James Elkington’s] resonant baritone and dry delivery most closely mirror his Zincs effort with the cool jazz and selfdeprecating prose of ‘Left Hand.’ The rumble and buzz of Nick Macri's upright bass and a downcast trumpet solo worthy of Burt Bacharach (courtesy of Calexico's Martin Wenk) transport listeners to the corner booth of a dimly lit cocktail bar. The album's moonlit blend of acoustic sounds is slow and sophisticated, though improvisational cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm creaks and groans his way through a rollicking story of mother nature's revenge called ‘The Piss Choir.’ The undulating rhythm of 'Map of Stars’ also throws off sparks. If there's a secret ingredient to the band's recipe, it's Charles Rumback's drumming, influenced more by post-bop greats like Elvin Jones than anyone on today's indie-rock scene.” – Jeff Elbel, Chicago Sun-Times
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event: The Mekons + The Horse’s Ha event: The Mekons + Megan Reilly + The Horse’s Ha
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Since eons before Radiohead, the Leeds-gone-Chicago, postpunks-gone-honky-tonkin’ Mekons have been the rock band of choice for a certain brand of T-shirted and sneakered middle-aged music critic. Yet it’s not merely that the loose-limbed (and even looser-lipped) outfit has yet to bust out of the club circuit in its 30-plus years, thereby remaining a purist’s fancy—not unlike grumpier fellow U.K. northerner Mark E. Smith of the Fall. It’s also that the Mekons are a model of sustained fervor and creative spark, even as they reprise endless bits of catalog: songs that may weld Karl Marx and Waylon Jennings and a hot melodica solo, between jocular frontman Jon Langford’s wicked (and beery) social commentary. (The Welshman’s barbed wit and blackly comic pop-historical analogies make The Colbert Report seem toothless.) They don’t come around often anymore, so any reunion is a must. The Horse’s Ha makes these shows an all-Chicago affair. The five-piece features vocalists James Elkington (the Zincs) and Janet Beveridge Bean (Freakwater) harmonizing in Elkington’s lyrics, within chamberlike settings given vivid hues by Fred Lonberg-Holm’s cello and highly rhythmic acoustic guitar that evokes a touch of Nick Drake. Elkington, however, is a far more surreal lyricist. “The zeppelins slide through the night sky like slovenly cows,” goes one line, transformed into an utterly logical observation by twinned voices that pair up like strong black coffee and Bailey’s Irish Cream. The group’s eponymous debut album is one of the year’s nicer surprises.—Steve Dollar See more recommended shows
Time Out New York / Issue 722 : Jul 30–Aug 5, 2009
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wednesday, july 29, 2009
My Morning Download 7/29/09 - The Horse's Ha
Music blog for XPN.org and the on-air and programming staff of WXPN 88.5 FM - Philadelphia.
general manager roger lamay's radio video vlog Radio Video #33 - The 2009 NonCOMMvention Radio Video #32 - The 2009 Spring Fund Drive Radio Video #31 - SXSW 2009 Radio Video #30 - 3rd Annual Beggar's Banquet Radio Video #29 - 2009 Musicians on Call Benefit Radio Video #28 - Greetings and Wishes for 2009 Radio Video #27 - 2008 members Halloween costume party Radio Video #26 - Buddy Guy on World Cafe Radio Video #25 - The Kooks busking at UPenn campus Radio Video #24 - The 2008 XPoNential Music Festival Radio Video #23 - The Blues show 30th Anninversary Radio Video #22 - AAA NON COM vention 2008 Radio Video #21 - XPN Local CD release Radio Video #20 - Beggars Banquet 2008 posted by Bruce @ 6:12 AM From Chicago, The Horse's Ha are British ex-pat James Elkington and Janet Beveridge Bean who is a member of Eleventh Dream Day and with Catherine Irwin, a member of the alt-country group Freakwater. Together as The Horse's Ha, they've created a collection of sophisticated songs that balance jazz and folk with rootsy warmth. The band was featured recently as a World Cafe: Next artist, and is playing Johnny Brenda's tonight (Wednesday July 29th) in support of their wonderful new album Of The Cathmawr Yards. One of our favorite local bands Illinois is also performing.
Asleep In A Waterfall - The Horse's Ha
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