‘Amerikana’ EP released today!
(Pic: NKguy.com)
Today I’m releasing my first new studio music in nearly 20 years. It’s called Amerikana, and it’s available ONLY to members of my online fan community, The Flat Earth Society.
I’ve chosen not to make this a full commercial release for various reasons. My plan has always been to put out a series of three digital EPs (taking their names from the 3 sections of my upcoming album A Map Of The Floating City) followed by a physical album with additional tracks. But as I’ve yet to settle on a particular release method for that album – be it self-publishing, a record label, or some new hybrid – I’d prefer not to undermine the album’s commercial appeal by pulling the trigger too early. However, my ‘hardcore’ audience have been following my adventures on my blog and web site as I go through the process of writing and recording these songs, and it’s only natural they would want an early listen to my new music. So I arrived at the idea of releasing the EPs exclusively to FES members. You will only be able to buy it here on my website, and not on iTunes, Amazon etc.
Amerikana is an affectionate look back at the 22 years I lived in the USA before returning to my native Britain three summers ago. While living in the States I became very fond of roots American music. And as it’s music that was always spread and shared by travelers sitting around camp fires, I felt I’d add my traveler’s voice to its ongoing story. Needless to say, I’m no hillbilly or good ol’ country boy, so my own flavour of americana is a bit twisted, a bit mischievous. ‘Road To Reno’ charts the progress of a pair of hapless lovers as their red convertible blazes a trail across the desert in a kind of indie road movie, serenaded by my longtime cohorts the Jazz Mafia Horns. ‘Toad Lickers’ is about a group of crazed eco-hippies in the Welsh mountains who get high on Bufo alvarius and creep into the local town after hours in search of munchies. It has cameos from Imogen Heap on jaw harp, longtime FES member Crackers on accordion, and fiddler Natalie MacMaster.
But the EP’s ‘coup de resistance’ is a 7’38″ epic entitled ’17 Hills’. Very much in the tradition of ‘I Love You Goodbye’ and ‘Budapest By Blimp’, this song weaves a bittersweet tale using words, sounds, textures, and surprising left turns in the arrangement. It features beautiful playing by Mark Knopfler, who graciously allowed me into his private studio as he added some of his signature licks, complimenting my vocal to perfection. Pedal steel player Bruce Kaphan, who produced American Music Club and has toured with David Byrne, adds soaring atmospherics. Natalie MacMaster injects a touch of Cape Breton charm with a mesmerising looped fiddle solo. Radical string quartet Ethel beckon us into the realm of the surreal. And Jeffrey Wash’s pristine fretless seems to channel one of the greatest bass guitar showcases of all time, Joni’s ‘Hejira’.
As I mentioned, Amerikana is only one section of my album, and three of its four songs are represented here. The price, including high-res MP3s and a print-ready digital booklet, is a very affordable $3.00 / E3.00 / £2.00. The subsequent two EPs ‘Oceanea’ and ‘Urbanoia’ – available later in 2010 – have quite different styles, and some may prefer one over another. My albums, as you know, often cover a wide range of genres, because like a novelist I really enjoy exploring a new idiom, instrumentation, time and place; and thankfully my core fanbase has been willing to go along for the ride. So you have options: you can choose to wait for the full album and get all the goodies in one package, or you can plunge in now, and see where you end up! The eventual AMOTFC album will definitely contain at least 3 songs not included on the EPs.
That said, there is a theme running through the EPs that you might want to be aware of. The album has a backstory which is something you will have to dig a bit to uncover. Contained on each EP is a ‘clue’, and you’re going to need to unravel its secret at each stage of the proceedings. I won’t say more than that for now. My recent visit to JJ Abrams’ facility in California might give you a hint about what I’m up to!
Here’s the link to buy the EP. If you’re not already a community member, now’s the time to sign up!
I hope you enjoy Amerikana, and will look forward to hearing your feedback.
TMDR
June 16th, 2010 at 1:32 am
Thomas thanx so much for new music… I think I may have been one of the first to download the Zip!.. guess there are certain benefits to insomnia..Road To Reno almost reminds me of Stan Ridgway’s musical imagery.. very well told story indeed… Toad Lickers is a real hoot & 1/2 as we say down heah in Jawja…17 Hills is definitely music I will be listening to for the rest of my life!!
Thanx again for all that you do for us fans.. of course this “sneak peek” only whets the appetite for more, more, more so keep ‘em coming as they are finished up..
Count Culo
June 16th, 2010 at 1:46 am
Haven’t been able to download yet as I’m at work, so it’ll have to wait until tonight.
Big congrats to Crackers for getting this gig. Perseverance (or is it long term harassment?) pays off yet again.
June 16th, 2010 at 2:13 am
Hi Thomas, can’t believe it has been 20 years, driving my flatmates insane with non-stop Silk Pyjamas, and blagging posters and cigar boxes from the Virgin press office (good old days!).
Love the new tracks Road To Reno instantly made me and my partner smile over tea this morning with it’s wit and charm. Toad lickers is fun, but just absolutely adoring 17 Hills.
Good choice of bitrate and nice to have proper artwork at good quality and packaged properly, this is a great way of getting your music out to your fanbase.
Thank you for brightening my inbox and morning.
Welcome back.
Stuart. N1.
June 16th, 2010 at 3:01 am
Mr. TMDR,
Thanks for keeping your spirit of experimentation and soulful wit alive. Really enjoy and appreciate your new music!
Greetings from the Left Coast to the North Coast,
Martin
June 16th, 2010 at 3:32 am
Amazing comeback Thomas !!!
I was blown away by “Road to Reno”
Can’t wait to hear more
Jean-christophe (from Paris, France)
June 16th, 2010 at 3:43 am
bought and listened: So far my take is: I really like “17 Hills”. It’s an interesting sound from you, but I’m along for the ride.
June 16th, 2010 at 4:09 am
Love it. “17 Hills” is indeed a classic already and I’ve only had the EP since I got into work this morning. Really looking forward to the next installments and seeing where the musical styles take us next – until then I am off to lick some toads, that way “the clue” may become more apparent to my enlightened mind.
June 16th, 2010 at 4:10 am
I think it’s great. Thanks so much for letting us fans in on this before everyone else. I think it’s very much an evolution of what you were doing on Astronauts and Heretics, but with a more mature angle. It has a rawness and freshness that I suspect is the direction you’re going in at the moment (thinking of the Union Chapel gig in particular). And, as always, has that signature “perfect” Dolby production sound.
Rather expected to see the final version of Love is a Loaded Pistol on here, but I guess we can look forward to that later on
June 16th, 2010 at 5:27 am
Thanks, Thomas! You definitely haven’t lost the ability to surprise me. I had to rush to get it downloaded and burned for my commute to work this morning. I was able to listen to the whole thing three times before I had to park and get out of the truck. Great work! I’ll join the other folk here and say that “17 Hills” is an instant classic. It embodies everything I’ve loved about your music over the years. And thanks, also, for the full artwork for those of us who feel that a release is incomplete without it. Really looking forward to the album now!
June 16th, 2010 at 7:04 am
I’m looking forward to hearing it — are you working on J.J. Abrams’ new show, “Undercover?”
June 16th, 2010 at 7:58 am
TMDR,
Hello. The new releases are all fantastic and I’m already on my fourth time through the songs. Thank you for still producing such amazing music for all of us. While all three songs are new favorites for me, the one that I’m really enjoying is 17 Hills. Incredible stuff, TMDR. Incredible.
I also love Road to Reno, but found one small lyrical “question”. Please don’t smack me with a wet noodle, but wasn’t the Camaro was first produced for the 1967 model year?
Of course it doesn’t detract from the amazing song, but I was just curious.
Thank you for continuing to share your talent with us after all these years.
- Brian
June 16th, 2010 at 8:11 am
Well I guess it was an early Detroit concept car. And it’s pronounced ‘cuh-MEH-ro’ not ‘ca-MAHR-0′, isn’t it.
Never let the truth get in the way of a good rhyme!
June 16th, 2010 at 8:14 am
Toadlickers is simply melodically and rhythmically infectious!
I passed the EP release info to all my friends!!!
June 16th, 2010 at 8:15 am
Just given the Amerikana EP it’s first listen and it is absolutely superb. Can’t wait to hear the rest of the album. Well done, Thomas.
June 16th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Thomas,
Just trying to acces the download page, is the user name and pasword different to the one I use when posting on the blog?
Peter
June 16th, 2010 at 8:36 am
Dear Thomas.
What a delight it was to find that link in my inbox. I must congratulate you on this EP (how I have salivated in Pavlovian manner for new TMDR) and I absolutely love the sound. It was nice to see Boll Bottrell’s name there as well; I am a sucker for a magnificent soundscape and the both of you made my decade. I await the next release! Allons-y!
Lee Michael
June 16th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Thomas-
Congrats on the new release! It’s such a pleasure to be listening to new music from you. Whenever you immerse yourself in new styles, you make them your own and give us a whole new way to experience them. Your story-telling skills have only continued to mature and the worlds you created in these three tunes are absolutely 3-D !!
Give yourself a pat on the back. A job well done.
Beech
June 16th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Speaking as someone who’s been following your career since GAOW and has literally grown up with your music, I have to say that every time you release a new song, whether it’s in your original electronic style or using a new musical direction; I’ve listened and loved every note and every lyric in each of the songs.
These 3 new songs are no exception and really push the boundaries (yet again!) I should always remember to park my preconceptions at the door when you put out new music. For the record, I haven’t stopped playing 17 Hills since I downloaded this morning.
18 years was a long time to wait Thomas, and I for one will be there for the next 2 EP’s and the new album once it’s whole and complete. Thanks for sharing.
Terry
June 16th, 2010 at 11:09 am
TMDR: Oh yeah, the 64 detroit concept car, the ‘cuh-MEH-ro’ . Now I remember, and can’t believe I forgot that one.
It is really a great tune and I’ve been listening nonstop on repeat since downloading the songs about 4.5 hours ago. Even many repeats later I’m still loving the new material. Really, really great stuff, TMDR.
Cheers.
- Brian
June 16th, 2010 at 11:33 am
Wow!
I feel like I just stole from Thomas only paying a measly $3!
Amerikana just became one of my top ten reasons for being born on this planet
Thank you!
June 16th, 2010 at 11:50 am
finaldemand:
Yes, you need to be a member of the online forum, or his fan email list, I think!
June 16th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
So, who’s the old Jewish man yelling at the Toad Lickers before the song begins??
June 16th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Love Love Love it!! Please keep them coming!!!!
June 16th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
First Impression after giving the trio a listen…..
Road To Reno-love the Herb Alpert inspired horns and the tempo, great story there, but will need to read the insert
Toad Lickers- fun, but my least favorite, but I know it will grow on me
17 Hills- goddamned brilliant, what i waited 20 years for, you continue to be the soundtrack of my life. Is this about Los Angeles?
June 16th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Thomas, goddamn!!!!
17 Hills.
I’m sobbing like a child!!
June 16th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Woohoo! Will download tonight when i get home.
June 16th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Excellent work Mr. D.
As a fellow musician and someone who “sweats the details” on arrangements, mixes, mastering, artwork etc. on my own project, I can only say I hope you can afford yourself a moments reflection on work well done.
Nice to see someone still has attention to detail in terms of delivering a product of real quality, regardless of the medium of delivery. I think this may be the finest “digital” product I have purchased. Well worth the $3 invested.
It still tickles me the thought of how instant this process has become now. The artist (that be you) puts the files online and then we communicate with you directly about what we did, or didn’t like about it. Consider the system well and truly circumnavigated. I also love the fact that hopefully, you see a lot more of this $3 than used to happen in the Golden Age of record companies! My hope is that this will help to support the work you have already done, and will continue to do on this release – but may also convince some smart entity that there is a very viable product and artist here, and help them get behind this release.
A tip of the hat to you sir – thanks for the fine work, both here and in the past. Wish you continued success and very much looking forward to where you will take us next.
June 16th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
I love these times, when finally the barriers are being brought down between the Gods and their worshipers.
Thank you Thomas for all the greatness received over the years. These three are already playing on high rotation on my iTunes.
Awesome mix, too. The Great Bottrell again captured that true Americana sound.
Can’t wait for more.
Loyally Yours,
Karel
June 16th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Simply beautiful work, and well worth the wait! For best effect, I listened to the songs first, before reading the lyrics. This led to an oh-my-god moment in “Road to Reno” when I was just starting to digest the softly sung gravity of the brassiere saleslady’s death, and then the perky horns introduced an upward key change! This stroke of brilliance came quite unexpected.
17 Hills is gorgeous, and the one I’m most likely to repeat-play at home. But the infectious “Toad Lickers” will get much play while I am driving.
As a crossword buff keen on coincidences, I couldn’t help notice: When Eurythmics re-formed after a very long absence, the title of their first cut was also the number 17 followed by a single five-letter word. What are the odds?
Thank you for creating this beautiful music, and for making it available so early and so affordably!
~~Brian B.
June 16th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Thomas, it’s so good to hear you again. Thanks for doing what you do. 17 Hills is unbelievable. Can’t wait for next EP.
June 16th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
No idea how to articulate my excitement… new Thomas Dolby music: not all that long ago, I wondered if that was an obsolete/impossible idea.
Like the others here, Mr. Dolby, I thank you for sharing what you do with all of us. These three tracks are just great. In one way they’re nothing like what one might expect… and in that, they’re exactly what your fans do expect from you. Wow…
Curious: will the tracks from the EPs, when collated into an album, run in the same order? The feel of these three tracks just sits so well when I listen to all in one sitting.
Again, thanks… for the music, for sharing in this very cool way, and for what’s still to come. Cheers!
-Donald Kyle
June 16th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
I love the hooks,they’re infectious.I love the chord changes.I love the lyrics. I love the melding of old Thomas Dolby with the new Thomas Dolby. I love the playing.I’m having a grand old time listening.I want more. Can I have a job?
June 17th, 2010 at 7:38 am
Thomas, your DNA is infused in these new songs! It doesn’t matter if it’s a bubbling analog synth, an icy pad, a banjo lick, or a horn line, it is so you! What beautiful songs and arrangements and performances! And Bill is just an amazing talent at the board, I love the sound he gets in the final mix, just right.
My highlights:
Road To Reno: F#m9,11 chord at the end of the bridge into a surprise modulation
Toad Lickers: the stealthy analog synth in the verses (with a delay?)
17 Hills: the fretless bass and those beautiful strings
And your voice in all of it. And a wonderful digital release with so much care and attention.
Bravo Thomas!
June 17th, 2010 at 9:38 am
Thomas
It is an absolute joy to hear you again. It’s a shame it’s taken you 20 or so years (how did that happen?) but this release has shown your music and talent have matured like a fine wine, bursting with sharp wit, infectious melodies and your unique view of the world.
These three tracks are fantastic, melodic, atmospheric, and I can’t wait for the next stage of the road trip.
Thank you
Mazza
June 17th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Hi Thomas
At the union chapel gig you promised us new Dolby, and you have delivered….Look forward to hearing the rest when released.
June 17th, 2010 at 10:44 am
I am just stunned, Thomas. Amerikana was worth the wait. I am going to have to listen to the tracks a couple or 150 more times to solidify my thoughts, but I can safely say from the start that this is the best I have heard your voice sound. There is plenty of fodder for themes, dark and otherwise, so I am intrigued with what the next clues might be.
Nice work.
Doug
June 18th, 2010 at 10:28 am
[...] http://blog.thomasdolby.com/?p=1127 Leave a comment Name (required) Email (required) Website « OS X supports 5D II and 7D tethering • Dictionary only Articles only Subscribe to new entries (RSS). All content copyright © 2000-2008 NK Guy. Blog powered by WordPress. [...]
June 21st, 2010 at 9:52 am
“Amerikana” makes me smile; it’s really good to hear new music from TMDR, and the format/delivery system is a great way to get the material out in a hurry to those who care. Even though I’m certain to buy the CD when it appears, it’s very cool to experience the “rushes”, so to speak. Looking forward to the next installments!
Of the three, so far my fave is “17 Hills”, b/c I’m a sucker for the introspective, melancholy Dolby vibe a la “Suitcase”, “Beauty of a Dream”, or “Airwaves”. That may change of course, and usually I find favorite songs running through my head when I’m not aware it’s happening!
June 21st, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Dear TMDR,
First of all, what a fantastic recording. I’m just learning the ropes of computer recording myself (Mac + Logic), and really appreciate what you’ve done here.
As for the music, it seems loaded with the surprises that have always made me a fan. At its best (17 Hills for sure!), it seems hard to imagine you are using the same notes as the rest of us… And these songs seem to continue your journey around the world (first Europe, then L.A, New Orleans, now San Francisco…Nashville?!!
Anyway, there’s a new Dolby album out and I feel like a kid again! Please don’t make me wait another 20 years.
See you somewhere on the road, I hope. (Every place is just the same, isn’t it?)
Tim P.
P.S. Always wanted to ask….. Gary Numan is also having a renaissance with his last couple of excellent releases. Had you ever met or considered working with him, back in your more electronic days?
June 21st, 2010 at 11:27 pm
What a beautiful songwriter you are.
June 22nd, 2010 at 10:35 pm
May I ask how many “copies” of ‘Amerikana’ has been bought so far?
June 23rd, 2010 at 4:05 am
Thank you for the history lesson on TOTP and also for this wonderful EP. I love both the music and the lyrics. Really looking forward to the next installments.
June 24th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
and he blew them both away…to the mountains of the moon…………….BAP BAP BADAHHHH!
June 24th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Brilliant! 17 Hills is a masterpiece on a grand scale–Road To Reno is another on a smaller but still poignantly human scale–and Toad Lickers is the one that I can’t stop humming!
I have to ask, though, is this 17 Hills vocal track A or B? Since no one else is asking, maybe you already answered that, but I missed it if so.
June 26th, 2010 at 10:00 am
Please Thomas, offer 96K or better yet 192K flac files. I love the idea of digital downloads, and I’d pay a premium for the higher res files. Quiet a few labels offer this, and if you did offer it, I would agree to promote the availability on some of the forums that discuss hi res audio. You obviously put a lot of hard work into sculpting the sound of this fabulous EP. Why not allow us hear your current work in all it’s glory?
And I think we downloaders should also have the chance to downloads the bonus tracks, when available.
June 28th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Love 17 Hills. Thanks.
June 30th, 2010 at 8:33 am
Love the new songs, even though C&W isn’t really my thing.
17 Hills is reminiscent of your earlier work, heart-breaking lyrics too… brilliant. And Toad-lickers shows your sense of humour hasn’t dimmed over the decades!
Love the cover artwork and Indian shots too – kind of steam-punk-ish.
Great to hear some new music from you again!
Come out to New Zealand for a show or two!
July 7th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
My only criticism would be that it all sounds rather studied.I’m not sure if that’s down to tempo mapping or not.The more I listen the more I’m expecting a burst of energy to uplift the songs further.I still love them though.
July 7th, 2010 at 11:42 pm
There is no tempo mapping, Sherlock. The songs were all played with no click, on bass drums guitar and piano. Glad you like them despite the mysterious lack of uplifting bursty energy!
July 10th, 2010 at 1:02 am
Ouch! maybe studied was the wrong word.Restrained then? I’m just jealous I’m not playing on them. Anyway I can’t stop playing them and am collaring everyone I know your way.
July 17th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
I love Ian’s comment above regarding “steam punk”! The last steam punk album in my memory was XTC’s “Big Express” around 1984! This has mild relevance in that TMDR used XTC’s Andy Partridge on harmonica on the 1st album, yes?
July 23rd, 2010 at 8:58 am
Just got around to downloading now. 17 Hills is being filed under my must-listen non-stop list on iTunes, (of course sharing time with I Love You Goodbye and Eastern Bloc). Looking forward to even more this summer. (Also great to see Matthew back on bass for two of the songs.)