http://www.kalinkaland.de/new/index.php?page=news_en

This is the 5th book by notable music writer Mick Mercer who in this edition is covering Gothic artists all over the world. Jo is honored to have been included in this fabulous book.

Please visit the link below to purchase from Cherry Red Books Publishing.

http://www.myspace.com/musictodieforbymickmercer

http://www.adequacy.net/review.php?reviewID=8899

http://www.sepiachord.com/jg.htm

Jo Gabriel: Fools and Orphans

There are moments in Bulldozer, the opening song from Jo Gabriel’s new album, when Stephanie Rearick’s trumpet heralds the words ‘why should I love you’. These brief but beautiful events mark the most striking difference between this album and its more elaborate (if not immediate) predecessor Island. Fools and Orphansdraws away from traditional arrangements to let the songs breathe, and in doing so allows Jo to continue distinguishing herself from the current ’..and piano’ crowd (I like Emm Gryner’s term ‘contemporary nonsensery.’) Few artists have the ability or opportunity to be this daring (mostly down to record label pressures, no doubt) and this successful. Fools and Orphans shines from its own darkness.Kristin Hersh’s The Grotto was an album born out of loss and the resulting reflection on life and relationships. Fools and Orphans is different – its main theme is also loss, but barely offers sanctuary. The Grotto tears me apart and then rebuilds me; Fools and Orphans does the former then leaves a lingering sadness, although it’s more compelling as a result. The open arrangements, often rhythmically fluid and spontaneous are charmingly beautiful and ideal for such stories. It’s up to us to fill in the blanks, to empathise and to draw comparisons with our own lives.

Those who love Island might be surprised by the results – these songs make more sense if you were left breathless by The Amber Sessions. Jo is joined by a brilliant set of musicians who accompany her piano, synthesizer and concertina. There’s no major explosion of fireworks and no ego: Jo’s piano is here to set scenes, mark out rhythms and to dynamically sweep songs through their various emotional phases – you’ll probably end up loving every note she plays. Much of the greatness of the album is in Jo’s interplay with Matt Turner’s cello and Mark Urness’ upright bass, both of which better Andrew Bird’s string performances on The Grotto. Linda Mackley continues her percussion duties, but is barely noticeable such is the subtly of her performance – which is exactly what’s required – and Wendy Schneider occasionally adds guitar and something called ‘the little machine that could drone on.’

Melodies and rhythms often appear where they are least expected, developing their own counterpoints and shifting tempos but the experience and process of knowing each song is reward in itself. A line from Of Love and Ether, “to touch between sensations” perfectly summarises how this works. It’s just as important to delve between and beneath each note. That’s why the live birdsong on that song, and the happenstance rebar chimes on God Grant She Lye Still work their way so coherently into the mix. But it’s no coincidence – by the time these songs begin to appear, halfway out, we’re already trained how to listen to this album. The more you listen, the more you’ll learn the flow of each track.

Jo enthralls me with her unusual delivery of language, compressing or mutating phrases to track against the music, creating its own instrument: on The Habits of Shadows a moaning vocal interlude bridges the verses, later joined by Hannah Fury’s whispers for some shivery layering.Of Love and Ether, a song which epitomises the ephemeral themes of the album, echos this vocal styling. But it’s the climax of God Grant She Lye Still, when the title repeats and shatters, where the vocals have the most dramatic impact.

As is the case with albums that are as intense as this one, it’s difficult to pick out individual tracks for particular noteworthy attention. I should mention that How The Devil Falls In Lovebrings to mind the loneliness of The Cardigan’s 03.45: No Sleep, but adds guilt and frustration, and the final song Poison in the Well is an understated anthem, using strong piano chords where you might expect an avalanche of strings.

Fools and Orphans marks a new phase in Jo Gabriel’s musical career and although I’ve only discovered her music recently I feel privileged to witness her journey. For all its sorrow Fools and Orphans is a glorious creation.

Fools and Orphans has an artist’s limited release from 7 May 2008 through Ephemera and will also be released in Winter 2008 through Kalinkaland.

http://wearsthetrousers.com/2008/07/17/introducing-jo-gabriel/

Coming soon, the long awaited international release of Fools and Orphans through Kalinkaland Records.

http://www.kalinkaland.de/new/index.php

http://groups.google.com/group/fa.music.ecto/browse_thread/thread/db1d86b34a7ff739

http://www.zimbio.com/music/articles/1388/long+2008+most+read+features

So long, the most read features of 2008!

The good sister is very proud of her little joey. She made the wonderful Wears The Trousers most read features of 2008! Thank you Alan Pedder and Wears The Trousers Magazine.

Over the past several months Eppy has given me the honor of playing a few of my tunes on his wonderful radio program.

He’s got extraordinarily eclectic tastes and I am so thrilled that he has include me in his Best of 2008 Show

Please give a listen to some of his other picks and tune into his podcast whenever possible!

cheers~to yet another good friend across the pond!

joey

http://epilepticgibbon.wordpress.com/

Interesting what you find being sold on Amazon these days. I wonder if I’ll get a cut and where this rare gem hails from.

Thanks for the support bub~

jo gabriel

http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000P02Z9Y

Mick Mercer’s wonderful webzine is offering a lovely little conversation piece for your holiday enjoyment. He has asked some of us musicians he’s reviewed and interviewed to contribute their commentary on Christmas Past, Present, Future and a cheeky Ghost Story just to titillate you around the fireplace whilst you’re drinking you spiked egg nog.

Extra rum in mine please!

Merry Christmas, Merry Solstice and Happy New Year to all

With much peace, joy and love

joey

http://www.mickmercer.com/themick.html

http://www.heathenharvest.com/article.php?story=20081214034805809

Review By ChAwech

Watch Out has made Amazon’s list presently at #37 of the TOP 100 Art House DVD’s chart!Right behind Fellini’s ROMA and 8 1/2).

The Stop Turning Me On world tour is nearing an end although they have lined up new ‘encore’ dates in several cities and WATCH OUT is invited to some great upcoming festivals.

Jo is very excited to be a part of this memorably provocative film! Please visit Amazon and get yourselves a copy!

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=59772358&blogID=447604586

Sepiachord

FirNov 9 2008 11:14 AM

Playlist for the Week Ending 11/9

Neko Case: Deep Red Bells
Reverend Horton Heat: In Your Wildest Dreams
Boca Chica:Beasts
Marco Fernandez: Apple Gone Sour
Zen Hussies: Kecker-Rocker
The Dad Horse Experience: Gates of Heaven
Squeeze-bot: Between the Bars
Reverend Glasseye: Blood o’ Lambs
What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?: March of the Hares
Vandals: Rico
Midge Crickett: The Menstrosity
Katzenjammer Kabarett: Hidden & Sick
Walter Sickert & THe ARmy of BRoken TOys: Revenge of the Rats
James Gang: Hoofer
Warren Jackson Hearne & the Merrie Murdre of Gloomadeers: Tales of the Bathroom Battles
Toucan Pirates: The Pirate’s Hornpipe
Herman Gauche: Careful with that Shovel, Slim!
Plaid Tongued Devils: Wait
Voltaire: Out of Reach
Bad Luck City: Accident
Buddy Nutt: Day Ten
Wovenhand: Horsetail
C. Strøm: A Wearied Bum Come Hiking
Abney Park: The Secret Life of Dr Calgori
Thomas Nola et son Orchestre: Bel Mir Bist du Schon
Grandma Men: Blotion
Cassettes: Sway Along
Hunter Robertson: Ol’ Virginee
Peculiar Pretzelmen: Undertaker
Piñataland: The Settlers
Before you Die…: Silver Fish
Sassparilla: Mountain Song
Melora Creager: Warbots
Unextraordinary Gentlemen: Chaser
The Scarring Party: Left Hand Tied
Larkin Grimm: Blond & Golden Johns
Jeff Zentner: The Serpent King
Lobster Quadrille: The Crystal Spring
Bone Orchard: Snakeoil Salesman
Marie-Josee Houle: That Off Key Blonde
Jo Gabriel: Firefly
Pinebox Serenade: Darkness Falls
Scarlet Room: The Machine
Creech Holler: Plague of Frogs
Erin Jordan & the Whiskey Romance: Jane
Lux Interna: Distance

Once again, Heathen Harvest has given me the honor of writing about my little pagan serenade dressed up in lo-fi attire . You can read what they say below ~

Blessed Be~JG

http://www.heathenharvest.com/article.php?story=2008101505074656

From across the pond Poison In The Well  which is the last track off of Fools and Orphans gets some airplay at Eppy Gibbons wonderful radio show!

Please stop by and listen to his deliciously eclectic taste in music~

Cheers to all my pals and fans across the pond~Joey

http://www.epilepticgibbon.co.uk/

http://highermusic.wordpress.com/

Matt Riddlehoover’s blog~ great news for the upcoming film Watch Out~

The Stop Turning Me On Tour is on the move!

http://bulletins.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=bulletin.read&authorID=50416881&messageID=6087316102&MyToken=96e5c090-4622-41ce-9fb1-54207305c031

Coming soon, what promises to be one of the most provocative contemporary indie cult films Watch Out by director Steve Balderson adapted from Joseph Suglia’s best selling novel. Watch a little interview with Steve about his work as a film making and his own company Dikenga! 

I am extremely thrilled to have contributed two pieces of original music I am Lovely and If Not to his upcoming film!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EouCltpsVo

I just discovered Heathen Harvest’s great review of The Last Drive In. What pleased me most was the fact that they not only recognized my love of horror film ( in particular classical horror ) but they were able to invoke my work in the same breath as Jorg Buttgereit’s Nekromantik and Joe D’Amato disemboweling someone in a Victorian castle

These specific examples might not have been the films that I had visualized while manifesting this work,but all the same, it’s a rare tribute when people can be as creative as to envision “Aren’t You His Mother Rosemary” underscoring such provocative film making! The contrast of this particularly gentle haunting melody aligned with graphic disturbing imagery is actually something that I’ve often thought would make for an exquisite interpretive counterpoint blending of the two mediums, these two contrasting themes. I’ve seen this technique used for example in Narciso Ibanez Serrador’s 1969 Gothic masterpiece The House That Screamed. John Moulder Brown’s slow motion attack on an innocent maiden set in dark hazy, muted tones as a beautifully poignant melody supports the violence of the scene. It serves as a very dramatic and arousing agent.

Bravo Heathen Harvest, you honor me!

http://www.heathenharvest.com/article.php?story=20080811063830375

Jo Gabriel aka Monster Girl read my blog here:http://monstergirl.wordpress.com/

http://wonderfulwoodenreasons.homestead.com/reviewsGtoI.html

Aug 10, 2008 1:02 PM

Playlist for the Week Ending 8.10.08

Vermillion Lies: Global Warming
Walter Sickert & THe ARmy of BRoken TOys: The Changeling
Firewater: Borneo
Melora Creager: Warbots
Jo Gabriel: Fable Honey
Desar: Memories of a Different Life
This Bike is a Pipe Bomb: Trains and Cops
Marie MacGillis & the Model Millionaires: There’ll Be Changes Made
Sterilize Stereo: Give it a Rest
Dresden Dolls: The Perfect Fit
Christian Williams: Back in the Morning
Sixteen Horsepower: Coal Black Horses (live)
Bad Luck City: The Widow Francis Colver
Nouvelle Vague: Sorry for Laughing
127: Mellato Sarfaraz
Decemberists: O Valencia!
Curtis Eller’s American Circus: Daisy Josephine
Nathan Wade & the Dark Pioneers: Sweat Through
Demonika and the Darklings: New Year’s Rain
Mohlavyr: Mr Grey
Esmerelda Strange: Chila Bici
Pinebox Serenade: The Faithful
Snake Suspenderz: Slow Boat to China

http://www.myspace.com/radioinferno

Jo has finally contributed some of her thoughts to her The Last Drive In blog as MonsterGirl... The name she was given as the little bullied girl who because of her love of horror, suspense and Sci-Fi found a way to escape the everyday madness of growing up a strange, sensitive and creative soul.

She’s written a series of essays most recently about Boris Karloff’s Television Anthology series Thriller. This is just the beginning of the various subjects MonsterGirl will cover in the weeks ahead.

Please stay tuned and journey to The Last Drive In if you should feel the urge!

SWEET DREAMS ALL…and don’t forget to look under the bed!

http://monstergirl.wordpress.com/

Jo’s long time friend and collaborator Mike Fazio contributes a stunning piece “Waning Moon Over Sunless Sea”  for Textura’s new Kubla Khan project 

http://www.textura.org/

TRACK LISTING

1. The Retail Sectors: “Precarious Awakening” (5:51)
2. Alexander Turnquist: “Fragments Vaulted Like Rebounding Hail” (17:25)
3. Ryan Francesconi: “Parables” (5:41)
4. Ryan Francesconi & Lili De La Mora: “Green To Red” (3:10)
5. Ryan Francesconi: “Deep Rivers Run Quiet” (4:13)
6. orchestramaxfieldparrish: “Waning Moon Over Sunless Sea” (18:44)
7. The Retail Sectors: “The Ever-Changing Scene” (6:46)

Despite the artists’ stylistic differences, Kubla Khan’s admittedly disparate parts coalesce to deliver a resplendent listening experience that feels immensely satisfying and whole.

orchestramaxfieldparrish
Since 1999, Mike Fazio has issued solo material under the orchestramaxfieldparrish guise and since 2005 been active as one-half of the experimental ambient-industrial outfit Gods of Electricity. Fazio’s symphonic sculpting of electric guitar- and pedal steel guitar-generated sounds is heard to marvelous effect on the frozen vistas of orchestral sweep comprising his recent release The Silent Breath of Emptiness. Drifting chords and sustained tones coalesce into metallic soundscapes of lyrical beauty during the work’s five connecting parts.

http://www.gothtronic.com/?page=23&reviews=5092