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Not content with providing a special remix of U2's
"Elevation", for the TOMB RAIDER soundtrack, Chris Vrenna,
former Nine Inch Nails drummer/programmer, has written
and produced the 'Tweaker' album, 'The Attraction to
All Things Uncertain', an account of virtual everyman,
Elliot and his own anxious and dislocated journey through
life.
He’s on his own, a little bit scared, and doing just
fine.
Inspired by a JOE SORREN painting entitled 'Elliot’s
Attraction to All Things Uncertain' (and featured as
the album’s cover) the album is perhaps conceptually
in the same vein as Radiohead's KidA, and OK Computer.
The album is said to offer us a story of 'disillusionment'
and 'post-disillusionment' - an ' identity on the skids'.
Early spins of the album here in the Crud office suggest
that this album is hot, hot, hot with a capital 'OUCH!'
An album that effortlessly curls from the minuate of
electronica to the eruptive heights of guitar mania.
I said you'd go OUCH!
But 'Dissillusionment'? 'Post-disillutionment'? I guess
that means no songs about all-singing, all-dancing penguins
then...
In view of the above, it is then hardly surprising to
learn that Chris Vrenna is no stranger to collosal sonic
concepts such as' The Attraction to..' , having only
recently penned the original music to ELECTRONIC ART'S
’ Alice in Wonderland-themed video game, AMERICAN MCGEES
ALICE. USA TODAY called the album "gorgeous and
creepy". And who would argue? Sampling from a variety
of defunct children’s toys and games, Vrenna’s creation
takes us through the mysterious, otherworldly soundscapes
of Lewis Carroll’s eerie fantasyland, giving us a slightly
skewed, alternate take on the rather conventional and
unremarkable story of Alice.
Playing the "role" of ELLIOTT on the new album and breathing
life into his character are guest vocalists, DAVID SYLVIAN,
Shudder to Think’s CRAIG WEDREN, and Will Oldham. DJ
SWAMP even lends his scratching talents to the record
on "Turned".
And to think it all started with the painting on the
cover of the album.
Chris Vrenna's credits are pretty impossible to believe:
DAVID BOWIE, SMASHING PUMPKINS, MARILYN MANSON, GREEN
DAY, WALLFLOWERS and even SNOOP DOG.
In one month alone, Chris provided U2 with their "Elevation
(Tomb Raider Mix)" for the summer blockbuster Tomb Raider,
and provided remixes for Nelly Furtado, Weezer and Poe.
In addition, he produced the recent album for Cold,
whose CD is nearing gold status.
The 50-minute EP of "Linoleum," the first single from
tweaker, features remixes of the David Sylvian track
from Josh Wink, Wamdue Project, King Britt, Teargas
& Plate Glass and Paul Leary of the Butthole Surfers,
along with rare non-LP tracks. The 12" vinyl contains
remixes from Josh Wink, Wamdue Project and King Britt.
Relevant Sites:
http://www.podboy.net
http://www.tweaker.net
http://www.waxploitation.com
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