Earsplit Distro To Carry Vinyl Exclusively For
The US
[photo by Albert Mojica]
It
is with extreme pleasure for Germany's Exile On Mainstream to announce the
label's next priority release, with the second collaborative album by one of
the most strikingly natural singer/songwriter duos of these troubled modern
times, SCOTT "WINO" WEINRICH and CONNY OCHS.
To
backtrack a bit, the union of these two gritty, passionate musicians took place
in 2010, as American doom/rock legend, WINO (Saint Vitus, The
Obsessed, Spirit Caravan, The Hidden Hand) was touring Europe on his own first
full solo album, Adrift, which had just been released by Exile On
Mainstream. Simultaneously, contemporary German solo vocalist/guitarist, CONNY
OCHS, was preparing to release his debut solo album, Raw Love Songs,
through the same label which saw the two artists billed together on this
European trek. From there, an instant bond was formed, both as musicians as
well as just like-minded humans. Instantaneously, musical ideas formed within
this new brotherhood, which quickly grew into a courageous collaborative full-length
studio album entitled Heavy Kingdom, released by Exile On
Mainstream in 2012. The album showcased the organic songwriting skills through
an incredibly passionate delivery. Heavy Kingdom elevated both
artists as top-notch contemporary singer/songwriters in the eyes of the media
and fans alike, and saw the duo taking their songcraft to the road heavily
across Europe as well as North America.
That
was just the beginning, as, since Heavy Kingdom was just
seeing release, the pair had already began talking about "what was to
come" in reference to new material they'd began plotting together. The
time is now, as the second chapter from WINO & CONNY OCHS has
recently been completed, the project actually having remained virtually
unannounced and taking place behind closed doors over the past few years. With
the artists being based on two different continents and remaining busy with
their own solo endeavors, an opportune time to convene for some songwriting
time never arrived, and the pair began trading ideas via email. This was not
something that at all brought forth the magic and mastery which took place the
first time, and after months of writing, the idea was scrapped, and last year,WINO voyaged
back to Berlin to rendezvous with OCHS.
Recorded
again at Kabumm Studio with producer Thommy Krawallo, as was their Heavy
Kingdom LP, the newest collection of ambitious, harrowing and
beautiful music created by WINO & CONNY OCHSnot only brings
forth the same quality of organically conceived folk/rock fans of the previous
album should expect, it simply excels in every imaginable aspect, and now
awaits release in early 2015 through their trusted alliance with Exile On
Mainstream. Bearing the title Freedom Conspiracy, the record was
written and recorded entirely with WINO & CONNY OCHS performing
all instruments together, the approach slightly different from Heavy
Kingdom as it has been created in a much more organic way with
rudimentary ideas brought in by each and then carved into songs by both
together. Fusing acoustic and electric guitars and with both artists' standout
vocal styles searing through these thirteen well-crafted brand new hymns, the
initial recordings of the album date back to over a year ago, but even though
the songs were done and recorded, these protagonists felt it had been rushed a
bit in the end and final touches couldn't be made with both together in the
same room for reasons of other obligations. So it was put to rest and matured
several months. Earlier in 2014 both went back in and basically stripped
everything down to the bare bones, started from scratch, arranging the tracks
differently and all of a sudden it clicked and brought forth forty-five minutes
of some of the most refined, dynamic and unforgettable folk/rock music in
years.
When
asked what the album meant to the artists themselves, CONNY OCHS states:
"Freedom Conspiracy means companionship. It means to have each
other's back. This album is about losing and finding belief. And fighting for
it." Adds WINO on the album: "Shits changin' fast.
With war on every corner, political theatre becoming increasingly more
offensive, and Big Brother and the Globalists intensifying their slow takeover,
we offer sounds and vibrations of love, death, happiness and pain! With this
music and verse we hope the songs will inspire and uplift, and hopefully unite
our searching spirits."
With
cover art by WINO & CONNY OCHS, Freedom Conspiracy will
see deliverance on CD, LP and digital download in the US on March 31st,
2015, both LP and CD versions to be available from Earsplit Distro for wholesale and retail purchase (the
LP exclusively) The release will be followed by international touring from the
duo to be announced throughout the year. Fans of Woodie Guthrie, Townes Van
Zandt, Steve Earle, Bob Dylan, The Black Crowes, Scott Kelly, Mike Scheidt and
the like should make sure this duo is on your radar.
Stand
by for audio samples and further release/tour info from WINO &
CONNY OCHS' Freedom Conspiracy campaign all year.
Freedom
Conspiracy Track Listing:
1.
Drain
2.
Sound Of Blue
3.
Foundation Chaos
4.
Crystal Madonna
5.
Shards
6.
Time Out Blackout
7.
Timeless Spirit
8.
Freedom Conspiracy
9.
Dirt Floor
10.
Heavy Heart
11.
Forever Gone
12.
Invisible Bullets
13.
The Great Destroyer
Source:
Earsplit PR
