echelon artists: christopher (andrew) stelloh

Land Pirate Lullabies isn't necessarily a country record, or a blues record, or a folk record... Plain and simple, it is a CHICAGO record. Christopher (Andrew) Stelloh, a veteran of hardcore punk bands from the Washington DC metro area, didn't really know a damn thing about any of the afforementioned sounds before abandoning the District for the midwest in 2005. Since 1957, Chicago has been home to the Old Town School of Folk Music. As far back as the 1940's, the pickers and strummers of the Mississippi delta began migrating to Chicago to make the blues electric. Most recently, 'insurgent' country acts like those found on the Chicago imprint, Bloodshot, have spat at the bubblegum-laden shine of Nashville and have put acoustic guitars back in the hands of outlaws. A town so rich with musical diversity is bound to get under your skin, no matter where you come from (or how much you love Fugazi).

Written and recorded over the course of nine months, Land Pirate Lullabies is overloaded with Christopher and his cohorts (most of whom are transplant Chicagoans as well) churning out old-timey, folk, country and blues inflected pop tunes. Tracks such as "When The Pumps Run Dry" and "Dead Men" showcase the talents of Chicago locals The Jai-Alai Savant and The Armor Class, just to name a few. Maggie Kubley adds a touch of polish with her vocals on "Dolcezza" and Christopher's version of The Throwing Muses gem "Not Too Soon" - making a stark contrast to his voice, which owes as much to nicotine as it does to artists like Tom Waits and Nick Cave. The District's own Harry Dixon (aka Harry Hotter of The Ruling Class and producer of the duo Oblique Brown) turned "Two Wheels and Righteous", a scathing critique of bicycle activism (cleverly disguised as the blues), into his own brand of dubbed-out drums 'n drone. Land Pirate Lullabies is a country record for punk kids. It is a blues album for styled hipsters. It is folk music for laptop-heads. There is something universally appealing that shines through the layers of acoustic guitar, accordion, harmonica and trombone. Fact is, these are damn good songs - no matter where you come from.

on mySpace: http://www.myspace.com/christopherandrewstelloh

EPRO011: Land Pirate Lullabies

Written and recorded over the course of nine months, "Land Pirate Lullabies" is overloaded with Christopher and his cohorts (most of whom are transplant Chicagoans as well) churning out old-timey, folk, country and blues inflected pop tunes. Tracks such as "When The Pumps Run Dry" and "Dead Men" showcase the talents of Chicago locals The Jai-Alai Savant and The Armor Class, just to name a few. Maggie Kubley adds a touch of polish with her vocals on "Dolcezza" and Christopher's version of The Throwing Muses gem "Not Too Soon" - making a stark contrast to his voice, which owes as much to nicotine as it does to artists like Tom Waits and Nick Cave. The District's own Harry Dixon (aka Harry Hotter of The Ruling Class and producer of the duo Oblique Brown) turned "Two Wheels and Righteous", a scathing critique of bicycle activism (cleverly disguised as the blues), into his own brand of dubbed-out drums 'n drone. Land Pirate Lullabies is a country record for punk kids. It is a blues album for styled hipsters. It is folk music for laptop-heads. There is something universally appealing that shines through the layers of acoustic guitar, accordion, harmonica and trombone. Fact is, these are damn good songs - no matter where you come from.

Tracklisting & mp3s

1. Hello, Ladies and Gentlemen
2. Fairfax County Stomp
3. Dolcezza
4. The Grand Bargain
5. Mirrors at the Rainbo
6. Dead Men
7. Two Wheels and Righteous
8. Not Too Soon
9. True Love, Good Aim
10. When the Pumps Run Dry
11. Fursan Ghost Train
12. Please Turn Out The Light
13. Two Wheels (Dub Remix)

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LAND PIRATE LULLABIES EPRO011