Kaspar Hauser - Sons [CD]

PRESS for The Sons: 'Comerford and his current bandmates--bassist Matthew Seifert, drummer Steve Kiraly, and fellow guitarist Stephen Howard (Pinebender, Tight Phantomz)--place their faith in the kind of rock-solid attack that relies on an intimate and innate rapport between band members ... Considering how often Kaspar Hauser's lineup has changed over the years, the accomplishment is all the more impressive. The twin guitars burn and surge, moving precisely within the lean grooves.' --Peter Margasak, Post No Bills/Chicago Reader 'Despite the life-altering events that spurned it, 'The Sons,' recorded over the course of a year in a basement studio in Logan Square, remains joyously unvarnished. Songs such as 'Mark of Cain' and 'Macbeth II (In the Morning)' are loaded with ragged blues riffs and drummer Steve Kiraly's loose-limbed kit-work.' --Andy Downing, Chicago Tribune ''The Sons' is a testament to the concept of long-players - records you listen to from end to end, soaking in each and every note, coda and phrase.' --Matthew R. Perrine, Duluth Budgeteer News Description: Shortly after the release of 2007's Quixotic/Taxidermy, KH frontman Thomas Comerford set about writing songs for a follow up. Using the more bluesy, rock-oriented material on Q/T as a starting point, Comerford crafted a song cycle that explores old mythologies, Americana and some new yarns regarding family and ancestry/progeny. Themes of loyalty, rift, isolation and sometimes hope recur across a set of narrators who would be at home in a Flannery O'Connor novel. The thundering rocker, "Mark of Cain," reinvents the Biblical tale as a confession of sadistic cruelty and self-loathing, injecting an unexpected, sighing chorus -- "You won't save me/you won't want to save me ..." -- into the proceedings. "Prodigal Son," another Biblical nod with stinging slide guitar work and a Reed-y vocal, offers the perspective of the parent confronting the wayward son. The Lennon-ish "MacBeth II," perhaps the record's catchiest tune, descends into the delusions of grandeur and raging insecurity of a hipster dude who, out all night, foresees begging his partner to "let me stay" upon his return home in the morning. Overall, the nine songs on The Sons manage musical and lyrical twists and turns, weaving together old tales and revisionist legends that are at once familiar and new. To record The Sons, Comerford (on voice and guitars) drew on the rhythm section he played with over a number of shows in 2007: Steve Kiraly (Reagan National Crash Diet) on drums and Matt Seifert (Stanley Ross, Cool Devices) on bass. In order to up the rock ante, he recruited Stephen "the Kid" Howard (Pinebender, Tight Phantomz, Ambulette) to play a large portion of the lead guitar. A number of spot guest appearances also highlight the record, including Tatsu Aoki (Miyumi Project) on upright bass, Kent Lambert (Roommate) on keyboards and Laura Watral (Coupleskate) on keyboards, to name a few. Comerford also worked closely with longtime friend and collaborator, Kris Poulin (Love Story in Blood Red, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Pinback), to produce the record.