High Castle Teleorkestra – The Egg That Never Opened (Deluxe Edition) (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 04:25:32 minutes | 2,93 GB | Genre: Art Rock, Progressive Rock, World Fusion
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Art as Catharsis
Art As Catharsis is proud to announce the release of High Castle Teleorkestra’s debut record, The Egg That Never Opened – a mind-melting record fusing everything from Eastern European folk, swing jazz, technical metal and much more.
Assembled remotely by a roster of acclaimed international musicians, High Castle Teleorkestra (HCT) compensates for unlikely touring chances by turning out enigmatic, immaculately produced recordings. Comprised of members from ground-breaking acts including Estradasphere, Mr. Bungle, Farmers Market, Umlaut and more, HCT’s prodigious musical talent is matched only by their compositional finesse.
The unorthodox sonic landscape traversed on this 48-minute musical odyssey is not entirely unexpected from a roster with this collective musical résumé. Yet it is somehow fresh, vibrant, and, dare we say, mature in its eclectic cadence. HCT makes music that is experimental but catchy; intense yet fun without being sophomoric, and deftly avoids the pitfalls of uber-technical progressive music.
On The Egg That Never Opened, listeners will be treated to densely layered orchestrations, starkly unrelated genre superimposition, tasteful and energetic virtuosity, a narrative based on the book Radio Free Albemuth by Philip K. Dick, Eastern European folk music set to polyrhythmic death metal, innovative use of odd meters, 50’s-style surf guitar ballads, the unmistakable nod to the Beach Boys Smile-era, stunning string sections, a kooky and morphing assortment of oddball synths & lo-fi keyboards from asynchronous eras, final mixes mastered from ¼ inch tape, other-worldly productions of astounding density and intrigue a variety of composition and arrangement styles, and so much more. High Castle Teleorkestra takes the listener on a blustering ride across the universe atop the pink beam of an ancient satellite.
“Tim, Timba, and Dave have a history of making innovative music that incorporated disparate genres,” begins guitarist and co-producer Chris Bogen”. “So it is only natural that High Castle would explore similar territory and push those boundaries even further.”
High Castle Teleorkestra’s premier single and video, Mutual Hazard is an intense fusion of Romanian folk, polyrhythmic metal, and an other-worldly string arrangement.
“This tune is in the 7/8 time signature, not uncommon in progressive and certain folk musics, but played at a blazing 300 BPM, making it very difficult to count and feel,” adds chief producer and bassist Tim Smolens.
“Timba Harris (Estradasphere, Probosci) put together a very unique, multi-timbral string section for this tune that adds an almost sci-fi element, something clearly not found in traditional Romanian Folk music! Drummer Dave Murray played a pivotal role in the arrangement and added interesting polyrhythmic metal concepts that make the timing even harder to count. All of this is played atop a more traditional foundation of warp speed accordion, ornamented solo violin, galloping cimbalom, and slapped upright bass. Although Estradasphere has explored a similar amalgamation of styles, there is something magical and new about the way it has come together in this particular rendition.”
Gently playful in certain places, exhilarating in others, and even teetering on the brink of cacophony at times, High Castle Teleorkestra’s The Egg That Never Opened is truly a dynamic and engaging listening experience for lovers of avant-garde, experimental and progressive music of all shapes and sizes. Witness and listen as dignified chaos is unleashed upon the world in the Mutual Hazard single and video.
Tracklist:
01. High Castle Teleorkestra – The Egg That Never Opened (05:16)
02. High Castle Teleorkestra – Ich Bin’s (03:39)
03. High Castle Teleorkestra – The Aramchek Accusation (03:25)
04. High Castle Teleorkestra – Valisystem A (05:08)
05. High Castle Teleorkestra – At Last He Will (05:40)
06. High Castle Teleorkestra – The Days of Blue Jeans Were Gone (04:04)
07. High Castle Teleorkestra – Diagnosing Johnny (07:54)
08. High Castle Teleorkestra – Placentia (03:55)
09. High Castle Teleorkestra – Klawpeels: Mission Checkup (03:33)
10. High Castle Teleorkestra – Mutual Hazard (05:40)
11. High Castle Teleorkestra – Egg (Telegraph Ave. remix) (05:18)
12. High Castle Teleorkestra – Ich Bin’s (Magnavox cassette copy) (03:38)
13. High Castle Teleorkestra – Aramchek (F.F. Fremont redaction) (03:57)
14. High Castle Teleorkestra – Valisystem A (appeal version) (05:08)
15. High Castle Teleorkestra – At Last He Will (vestigial grip sketch) (05:21)
16. High Castle Teleorkestra – Blue Jeans (listening booth #3 in 8-bit) (04:04)
17. High Castle Teleorkestra – Diagnosing Johnny (undisturbed variation) (07:55)
18. High Castle Teleorkestra – Placentia (tyrant’s birthplace edition) (03:57)
19. High Castle Teleorkestra – Klawpeels (FAP cassette B-side) (03:37)
20. High Castle Teleorkestra – Mutual Hazard (1st rift adaptation) (05:02)
21. High Castle Teleorkestra – Egg (isolated morsels) (05:51)
22. High Castle Teleorkestra – Ich Bin’s (solo accordion by the fireside) (03:06)
23. High Castle Teleorkestra – Aramchek (original 4-track demo) (03:34)
24. High Castle Teleorkestra – Valisystem A (isolated morsels) (05:12)
25. High Castle Teleorkestra – At Last He Will (isolated morsels) (05:31)
26. High Castle Teleorkestra – Blue Jeans (original midi demo) (02:14)
27. High Castle Teleorkestra – Diagnosing Johnny (“a capella” version) (07:24)
28. High Castle Teleorkestra – Placentia (analog tape master) (03:57)
29. High Castle Teleorkestra – Klawpeels (isolated morsels) (03:34)
30. High Castle Teleorkestra – Mutual Hazard (heavy duty metal mix) (05:41)
31. High Castle Teleorkestra – Valisystem A (strings only) (04:55)
32. High Castle Teleorkestra – Diagnosing Johnny (isolated morsels) (07:53)
33. High Castle Teleorkestra – Klawpeels (alt mix) (03:36)
34. High Castle Teleorkestra – RFA1 Teaser Trailer (08:05)
35. High Castle Teleorkestra – Valisystem A (4-track demo) (05:09)
36. High Castle Teleorkestra – Diagnosing Johnny (original piano demo) (09:18)
37. High Castle Teleorkestra – Ich Bin’s (no metal mix) (03:42)
38. High Castle Teleorkestra – Valisystem A (cruddy cassette mix) (05:09)
39. High Castle Teleorkestra – Blue Jeans (rhythm section only) (04:09)
40. High Castle Teleorkestra – Diagnosing Johnny (dual mono duel) (07:58)
41. High Castle Teleorkestra – Diagnosing Johnny (uncompensated instrumental) (07:57)
42. High Castle Teleorkestra – Klawpeels (rhythm section only) (03:38)
43. High Castle Teleorkestra – Placentia (cruddy cassette mix) (03:59)
44. High Castle Teleorkestra – Placentia (demo excerpt) (02:39)
45. High Castle Teleorkestra – Egg (analog tape master) (05:19)
46. High Castle Teleorkestra – Ich Bin’s (digital master) (03:42)
47. High Castle Teleorkestra – Aramchek (digital master) (03:26)
48. High Castle Teleorkestra – Valisystem A (digital master) (05:11)
49. High Castle Teleorkestra – At Last He Will (digital master) (05:43)
50. High Castle Teleorkestra – Blue Jeans (digital master) (04:08)
51. High Castle Teleorkestra – Diagnosing Johnny (digital Master) (07:59)
52. High Castle Teleorkestra – Klawpeels (digital master) (03:35)
53. High Castle Teleorkestra – Mutual Hazard (analog tape master) (05:42)
