Caroliner

Caroliner
Background information
Origin San Francisco, United States
Genres Experimental, noise, industrial, bluegrass
Years active 1983–present
Labels Subterranean Records 'Nuf Sed BullsHit
Members Unknown

Caroliner, a group formed in 1983[1] in San Francisco, is an industrial bluegrass–experimental–Noise conceptual art band that uses instruments from bluegrass and rock traditions, as well as homemade electronics and other modified instruments. In their live performances, band members play characters in an other-worldly pageantry, wearing elaborate homemade costumes and performing on a stage decorated with drawings and set pieces, all covered in day-glo paint. The band has toured Europe,[2] Japan,[3] and North America.[4]

Band Membership

Caroliner's members are, for all public intents and purposes, anonymous. The band itself has never officially disclosed any of its identities. Instead, nonsensical aliases are used, like Obsidian Skeleton, The Sickwood Adventure, and Cottypearile Weddingforke.[5] The aliases are only used during interviews with the band; no credits appear on any Caroliner records.

Band Name

The Caroliner band name changes from album to album, and tour to tour. For instance, the band's name on their 1990 album I'm Armed With Quarts of Blood is Caroliner Rainbow Stewed Angel Skins, whereas on 1995's Sell Heal Holler the band is called Caroliner Rainbow Customary Relaxation Of The Shale. The reason for this is unknown but could be connected to personnel changes within the band.

When referring to the band as a whole, the Caroliner name stands alone (rather than the oft-used 'Caroliner Rainbow').

Press

Jamie Rake, in Sound Choice, described Caroliner's music as follows:

"Caroliner is the sound of atrophy, the noise of salvation and damnation's collision in a parallel dimension to purgatory, the random rumbling of the bowels of the universe turned inside out to become a semblance of music complete with lyrical vantage points so convolutedly arcane to make comprehending them impossible, save for the few gnostically inclined aspirants bent in similar psychic permutations." [6]

Alex Ross of The New Yorker noted:

"On top of the visual extravagance, Caroliner has somehow forged an original musical style. The songs typically fuse together a grinding, relentless bass line, country-ish banjo strummings, spastic vocals ranging across several octaves, a wheezing organ drone, and screeching violin tremolos. Despite the splintered aesthetic, a lumbering grandeur gathers ...... Space does not permit a description of the lyrics, which purport to interpret the prophecies of a 19th-century Wisconsin cow." [7]

In May, 2011, the band received notice on the Fox network cable program "Red Eye," where the host, Greg Gutfeld, lauded the group's work (between 9 and 13 minutes into the clip cited), calling it "brilliant" and "violently obscure."[8]

Discography

To date the band has released 13 full-length albums. Their first two albums were released and/or distributed by Subterranean Records. The following five albums were released by Nuf Sed. Since 1995, all of Caroliner's albums have been self-released by BullsHit. Caroliner's music has also appeared on various 7" singles, EPs, split releases, and compilations.

Caroliner's album covers are assembled by hand. Drawings and calligraphy are screen-printed or photocopied onto various materials, which are then glued onto a makeshift record sleeve. Sleeve materials vary (two copies of the same record will seldom be identical), and have included fabric, diaper disposal bags, old record sleeves (spray-painted beyond recognition) and pizza boxes.

Studio Albums

7" Singles

References

  1. ↑ Simonini, Ross. "Singing bulls and Day-Glo tapestry: The spectacle of Caroliner Rainbow". SF Weekly. Retrieved Aug 10, 2011.
  2. ↑ Weddingforke, Cottypearile. "The tour was in Europe 1803 (some of the missives)". MySpace. Retrieved Oct 9, 2011.
  3. ↑ Higashiseto, Satoru. "Augen/Horen Catalog". Retrieved Oct 9, 2011.
  4. ↑ Weddingforke, Cottypearile. "Caroliner on tour in the United States". Yahoo Groups. Retrieved Oct 9, 2011.
  5. ↑ Identity Theory: Random Truths About Caroliner
  6. ↑ Jaime Rake: Record Review
  7. ↑ Alex Ross: The Rest Is Noise Archived November 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zvu9BM3bFY
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