Empty Space Orchestra: Exit Strategy

Judging from the live videos I've seen and their new self-titled album, I'm going to bet Empty Space Orchestra is worth checking out.  It's actually very cool to see some down-to-earth progressive music.  ESO seems to play with little or no arrogance or academically cold ingenuity.  Here's a live clip of the band playing "Exit Strategy."

The band is touring with Minus The Bear.

All info provided by Us/Them Group.



Empty Space Orchestra launch dates supporting Minus The Bear, Midwest headlining tour



"They rock in an In the Court of the Crimson King-era King Crimson kind of way but with a sound all their own. These guys (and gal) have a kind of talent rarely seen outside of jam-band/festival circles." -- SSG Music

"Part jazz, part The Mars Volta bizarro world, part stoner/spacey rock, part post-rock, Empty Space Orchestra is a band that don't want to pigeonhole themselves into anything, so instead they encompass everything -- and they do that on display in quite a loud fashion." -- Redefine Magazine

"This band could be considered The Mars Volta of their ilk. They mesh and meld everything so well that it ends up sounding like something special in and of itself." -- Delusions of Adequacy

Empty Space Orchestra hit the road once again today, this time supporting Minus The Bear in the Pacific NW. Shortly thereafter, the Bend, OR quintet of impeccable musicians bring their symphonic, melodic sound throughout the Midwest in July. Please see complete dates below.

Empty Space Orchestra unleashed the impressive instrumental heft of its new Robert Cheek (RX Bandits, Deftones) engineered, Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Pearl Jam, ISIS) mixed self-titled album back in May.

ALARM Press premiered a new MP3 from the album, "Exit Strategy" which is available HERE. Check out additional album tracks, "Intergalactic Battle Cruiser" HERE and "El Viento" HERE. The band's musicianship must be seen live -- watch videos for "Exit Strategy" HERE, "Brainjar" HERE and "El Viento" HERE.

Their 9-song, 50-minute self-titled album is a hook-laden marriage of heft and harmony that veers far away from the navel-gazing jamming often associated with music of such explorative origins. Elements of The Mars Volta's most frenetic moments merge with soaring post-rock of Russian Circles, as well as hints of King Crimson, Deftones, Dub Trio and lilting chamber pop all colliding in brilliant synergy from one song to the next.

The group of classically-trained musicians is anchored by the stunning power and precision of drummer Lindsey Elias -- clearly a musician soon to hold rank amongst her most celebrated male counterparts. Guitarist Shane Thomas and bassist Patrick Pearsall provide a balance of head-bobbing riffs interspersed with tasteful and inventive lines that weave like musical narrative throughout. Meanwhile, multi-instrumentalists Keith O'Dell (keyboards, piano, lap steel) and Graham Jacobs (saxophone, flute, synths) add myriad melodic layers and cinematic moods that often deftly counterbalance heavy riffs with glissando piano melodies and swaggering horns.

EMPTY SPACE ORCHESTRA LIVE:
06/17 Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom *
06/18 Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory *
07/07 Denver, CO @ Cervantes' Other Side
07/09 Des Moines, IA @ Bombay Bicycle Club
07/12 Minneapolis, MN @ TBA
07/13 Madison, WI @ The Frequency
07/15 Chicago, IL @ Martyrs'
07/16 Ft. Wayne, IN @ TBA
07/31 Bend, OR @ Century Center
08/19 Tidewater, OR @ Prindell Creek Farms (Mountain Stomp festival)

* w/ Minus The Bear 



Artist: Empty Space Orchestra
Album: Empty Space Orchestra
Label: Empty Space Unlimited
Release Date: May 10th, 2011

01. Brainjar (VIDEO)
02. Exit Strategy (MP3) (VIDEO)
03. Intergalactic Battle Cruiser (MP3 ) (STREAM)
04. El Viento ( MP3) (STREAM) (VIDEO)
05. Get Some
06. Tiger Puss
07. Tennessee Red
08. The Hangar
09. Clouds

On the Web:
www.emptyspaceorchestra.com
facebook.com/emptyspaceorchestra
emptyspaceorchestra.bandcamp.com

Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead

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