Theo Angell & the Tabernacle Hillside Singers "Auraplinth" $12

What can I say about Theo Angell? He's an artist, a musician, a filmmaker, a shaman. He lives and works in New York City, but plies his trade all over the country. Angell is perhaps best known for his work in Hall of Fame (with Samara Lubelski) and Jackie-O Motherfucker.. But with the release of "Auraplinth," all that will change. This is Theo Angell's opus. This is his masterwork. It finds him at his absolute peak and delivers an album unlike anything else. He uses his voice to etch out a detailed map of the stars, made up of dirt and bone, proving the organic nature of the cosmos.

"Auraplinth" is an amalgamation and invention, joining foundation with the ether. Both of these forces are constantly at work throughout these 15 tracks. His voice is molded into every possible form. At times it reverberates above a river of folk-inspired melodies, while at other moments, he creates a bed of sound with wordless vocal moans. That voice is the glue that holds this great document together.

On “Auraplinth,” Theo is once again joined by the evolving cast of characters known as the Tabernacle Hillside Singers. This time it includes Cynthia Nelson (Ruby Falls), Dan Brown (Hall of Fame), & Josh Stevenson (Magneticring).

Packaged in full-color, heavy duty gatefold jackets with original artwork by Christian Holstad (the front cover image is actually from a Victorian death mask of Theo himself), complete with full lyric sheet. The album is mastered by Yellow Swans' Pete Swanson.

tracklist
1. in about a half an hour
2. crows landing
3. on the willow
4. stuttgart summertime
5. bountfling
6. have u seen the birds lately?
7. written with the word
8. apparently someone tried to
9. flurdid mourning
10. is the worst ever best?
11. the golden hour
12. gardenfull
13. aurelia
14. she king
15. forward with the veil

more clips HERE and HERE

Press for Theo Angell’s past work:
"A dispatch from the wilder, more primitive end of the free folk spectrum, this excellent disc showcases the Hall of Fame founder’s deep roots in folk, blues and spiritual music." - Jennifer Kelly, Pop Matters

“A slight departure from his other musings, this is a dusty blues-folk album creaking on the floorboards in an Appalachian hideout ... this record is not to be missed.” - Raven Sings the Blues

“Solo record from Hall of Fame member that provided my favorite song of the year "Thread of Grace," a very melt in your mind not on my hands kind of song. The rest of the record is also worth listening to. A great church record if church were the kind of place you could enjoy the sacrament of your choice instead of the bland tasteless cardboard dipped in cheap wine that passes for a piece of God in those cold, dark places.” - WFMU