Summary: "He's got the pipes; they've got the chops; Alta Mira has got the goods."

http://sputnikmusic.com/review_34854  

written by Bryan Lee Madden

Two years ago a relatively unknown band from New York's upstate Capitol Region released a modest five-track EP on the Albany based Indian Ledge Records label, entitled Fables and Fabrications. A rich soiree of sound, constructed with intricate, yet understated guitar work over a timely rhythm section, all making way for the voice of Joe D. Michon-Huneau, who provides a steady stream of emotionally heavy lyrical outpourings. With that release, Alta Mira managed to cram as much substance into five songs as many bands sometimes put into twelve. It would be a long two years before we'd hear from them again, but Alta Mira has returned, having culled from the music bin a solid collection of densely textured, skillfully crafted aural devices that operate like clockwork, yet still leave room to breath. The talent, art and production are all here, and they are each of the highest caliber. The songwriting is meticulous and flowing, sometimes slithering around unforeseen corners, but always maintaining defined parameters throughout the album's lengthy venture.

A tambourine rattle draws the opening strings as Hunter Sagehorn's delicate guitar begins to wind a bed of song with which to lay Michon-Huneau's soft narrative across; all before giving way to the bottled rage of “Tambourine's” heavy chorus. A strong opening statement, “Tambourine” gives a good idea of the kind of things to come. Like a slowly unraveling sonic ball of yarn, “Din and Drone” rolls the sound established in the opener into a deeper realm of introspection, placing the vibe on a warm, peaceful plane before unloading one of the album’s strongest melodies into the chorus. “The End of My” begins with a crisp, opening guitar riff, setting up one of the most finely crafted pieces of musicianship featured on the album, eventually giving way to a layered vocal finale, drowning the listener in rich, layered melody. An album highlight is found in its sixth track and lead single, “Slumberjack.” With the most original instrumentation on the album, the track captivates from the get-go with a thick, tugging bassline, which serves as a focal point throughout the song. A continuously escalating piece of music, “Slumberjack” is the album’s most essential piece of listening material. “Buglight” displays the group’s cohesive sound as well as any track on the album while it chugs ahead with a thick, bass-driven groove, affixed with one of the finest vocal performances on the release. Where album falls a bit short of the mark is in its tendency to follow a somewhat narrow path that, while explored fully, is not traveled far beyond, causing deviations, like “Slumberjack” , to stand out for being a bit different and unexpected.

If wandering guitars, introspective lyrical pondering and laid back indie-rock grooves aren't in your wheelhouse, this album is less likely to penetrate your psyche. If you are inclined to swing in such musical circles, while keeping an open, curious mind at all times, Alta Mira is a fulfilling journey, loaded with treasures to unearth through repeated listens. Not every track on Alta Mira is going to reveal its intricacies upon first listen - and this is part of what makes the album a success. A great deal of time and effort when into molding, shaping and smoothing these songs into the polished pieces that they are; just like cracking them open and revealing the beauty within requires time and effort on the part of the listener. Those who seek shall be rewarded with a wealth of quality listening material with which to fill their sonic bellies - while those unwilling to hunt for their musical sustenance could be left unfulfilled.

Alta Mira is... Joe D. Michon-Huneau, Vocals Hunter Sagehorn, Guitar August Sagehorn, Bass Tommy Krebs, Drums

We think The Chase Factory Killed this video!!

Alta Mira set to release new album

Long recording saga took place in studio with “creepy” history

Recording a debut album has been a bit of an adventure for Albany-based rock quartet Alta Mira. The group's self-titled effort on local indie label Indian Ledge has been in the works for approximately two years, and follows 2007's “Fables and Fabrications” EP. While total recording time only added up
to about two weeks, the group's members commuted to Barefoot Studios in Brighton, Mass., near Boston, whenever they had time, eventually amassing the album’s 12 songs.
And the studio itself, a former insane asylum with roughly 500 band practice rooms now housed within, provided its own challenges. In fact, the “creepy” atmosphere in the building helped lend a hand in
creating the album's dark moods.

HAUNTING QUALITY
“I've been told that it has sort of a haunting quality to it, and I can definitely see that on a couple of tunes,” said vocalist Joe D. Michon-Huneau from a coffee shop in Albany. “I don't think it was ever
really intention, but being in that atmosphere, it was pretty interesting.”
“We used to walk out of the studio in the hallways, and there were 30 bands playing in different rooms,” added bassist August Sagehorn. “It was like walking through the gates of Hell.”
The resulting album blends influences ranging from Radiohead to The Beatles to Tool, switching from pensive verses to full-throttle walls of distortion at the drop of a hat. It will be released at Revolution Hall on Saturday night at a performance featuring Railbird, Mathew Loiacono and Matt Durfee (who will also help Alta Mira fill out its sound during the show).
In keeping with the band's experimental tendencies, the release show itself is being dubbed an “experiment”. Along with performances, the hall will play host to installation artwork by Nick Reinert, and the band has teamed up with iPIX to record the show in 3D and make the video available online at a later date.
“We don't even know what it's going to look like; we haven't even been shown the technology yet, but from what Nick Cosimano [head of Indian Ledge] says, it's pretty mind-blowing,” Michon-Huneau said. “He said the only way he can describe it is that it sort of feels like you're expanding your peripheral vision.”
The band – featuring Sagehorn's brother Hunter on guitar and Tommy Krebs on drums – first came together in 2004, Michon-Huneau, at the time playing guitar in an acoustic duo, tried out as vocalist for the then three-piece band, which at the time was also acoustic. “We didn't have very good equipment at all,” Michon-Huneau explained.
The band's initial funk-driven sound presented a challenge to him vocally. “I wasn't really used to that style, but I was like 'Oh, I'll give it a shot,'” he said. “I never really tried to get outside of my range before. These guys constantly push me to do different things with my voice that I didn't think I could do with it.”
Soon the groups began gigging at coffee shops in the area. “We used to play Caffe Lena's a lot – I think they were sick of us after a while,” Michon-Huneau said.
By the release of the band's first EP, the music had gone completely electric. The self-titled debut continues in the vein, with songs such as “The End of My” built around multiple guitar lines and
rich vocal harmonies.

RECENT SONGS
Roughly half the songs on the album were written only this year, although others such as “To Clear the Moon” have been in the band's repertoire for some time now. The group's members filled out the album's sound with piano, mandolin and guitar effects that were found in the studio.
“Taylor [Barefoot, studio owner] has just a wall of guitars and a floor's worth of effects pedals that we were able to screw around with at will,” Michon-Huneau said. “He had, I think, two different, or
three different rooms that we would try to record different parts in. I know I did vocals in four different areas.”

- Brian McElhiney

Daily Gazette, 12.3.09

Night and Day
Alta Mira CD Release Experiment

As we recently suggested in a review of their eponymous debut LP, Alta Mira dole out their rock in dramatic proportions. It should come as no surprise, then, that the Albany band couldn’t simply settle for some namby-pampy CD release “party.” What precisely the thesis is for this “experiment,” we can’t say, but expect that, perfectionists as they are, the scientific method will be strictly adhered to.

Some variables are known: Joining Alta Mira will be fellow area musicians Railbird, Matthew Loiacono, and Indian Ledge Records labelmate Matt Durfee. Both the second and third dimensions will be plumbed with the help of video and installation artists. And, to make sure any and all findings pass the test of peer review, admission comes complete with a copy of Alta Mira’s new record.

The Alta Mira CD Release Experiment happens at Revolution Hall (425 River St., Troy) on Saturday (Dec. 5) at 7 PM. Tickets are $10. Call 274-0553 for more info.

http://metroland.net/night_and_day.html

from a blog post by Andrew Gregory on December 3, 2009 at 9:00

Pre-Show: There were a good number of new faces and old friends mingling and checking out the table displays. Tern Rounders had a tambourine filled with copies of their debut cd, “A Different Land”. Next to them, Three Quarter North – December’s CRUMBS Nite Out musical act – had “North by Northeast” available. Rob Jonas noted that a Belgian roots-rock webzine (www.rootstime.be) had requested copies of his cd “Take Me Anywhere”; we’ll be interested to hear what comes of that!

Nick Cosimano, CEO of Indian Ledge Records, set a display promoting Alta Mira’s forthcoming self-titled full length debut cd. Freshly minted copies were available, well in advance of the official release event on December 5th at Revolution Hall. As described by Nick, it will be one hell of a release party, the likes of which no local band (that I’m aware of) has ever attempted before.

In the spotlight
December 3, 2009 Alta Mira

Capital Region up-and-comer Alta Mira is throwing a party Saturday night to celebrate the release of its new self-titled CD, but it's not all about Alta Mira. This show features a number of prominent artists; Railbird, Matthew Loiacono and Matt Durfee.

In fact, the event is billed as "the Alta Mira CD Release Experiment."

There will be cutting-edge 360-degree video being filmed, and large-scale sculpture and light-based installations will be interspersed throughout the venue. Collaboration will be the underlying theme of the evening.

That and music. Recorded at Barefoot Studios in Massachusetts over a two-year period, the new album shows that the band -- Tommy Krebs (drums, mandolin, piano, vocals) Hunter Sagehorn (guitar, banjo, slide, piano vocals) August Sagehorn (bass, vocals) and Joe Michon-Huneau (vocals) -- have taken it up a level since 2007's "Fables and Fabrications."

From the riveting "Tambourine," soothing "Sinker/Or," sinister "Slumberjack" and the layered "Harder The Fall," as a unit Alta Mira has grown far more compelling and intriguing, as singer Michon-Huneau has come into his own with his impassioned delivery and conviction.

At a recession-friendly $10, this could be the party of the year. Don't miss it.

When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Revolution Hall, 425 River St., Troy
Tickets: $10
Info: 274-0553; http://www.revolutionhall.com/

-David Malachowski

Alta Mira and Indian Ledge Records in conjunction with Guthrie/Bell Productions are working with filmmakers, friends, musicians, maniacs, and artists to present a truly unique experience that is being dubbed “The Alta Mira CD Release Experiment”. The event will present collaboration on a grand scale and feature an eclectic mix of music from Alta Mira, Railbird, Matthew Loiacono, and Matt Durfee. The Revolution Hall in Troy, NY will be transformed into a space that excites your ears, your eyes, your taste buds, and your touch. Oh, and it will be a great place to party too! The fun kicks off at 7PM, and $10 will get you into the show, and a copy of the new Alta Mira CD! There will be plenty of contests and surprises awaiting participants that night too.

The experiment doesn’t stop with basic procedures… everyone in attendance can play a part in the operation. We are excited to be working with IPIX, a company from Cohoes, NY that has patented some extremely unique technology. IPIX will be filming 360 degree video of the release experiment. We intend to compile the footage into an interactive documentary of the affair. Viewers will be able to revisit the experience as an engaging film where one can zoom in and out, walk around onstage, and turn around on the screen with the click of a mouse, essentially creating a different experience every time you “participate” in the video.

Large scale sculptural and light based installations will convert the Revolution Hall into a venue for the delight of your senses. Melanie O’Malley and Alta Mira will be the masterminds behind the installations and have been concocting objects and working at the drawing board to create a visually and sonically pleasing environment. Melanie recently had a hand in the wildly enjoyable “Paper Girl” project in downtown Albany where enthusiastic artists hand delivered art to an unsuspecting public via bicycle. Melanie also participated in the Flux event at St. Joseph’s church in Albany. At the Rev Hall, Alta Mira’s contributions will take the form of a radiant stage design, and their choices of exceptional musicians to share the stage truly complement and accentuate the collaborative night. You may want to bring your sunglasses. Ok no more hints for now.

Musically we can only say that you are sure to hear some beautiful folk, intricate rock, wacky psychedelia, acoustic finger picking, mandolin, banjo, keys, harmonica, sing-alongs, tambourines, and a whole slew of other music-making devices. There will be poetry galore in the form of delicate vocals and some primal, emotionally charged wailing. The only thing we know for sure is that the bands will deliver something new and exciting.
The Alta Mira CD Release Experiment is a follow up to the release event for the Alta Mira “Fables and Fabrication EP” in late 2007. If you were lucky enough to get into that sold out show at Red Square you will remember how exciting the event was for both the ears and the eyes. December 5th is going to be even bigger and better. Indian Ledge Records believes the release of a great CD requires a grand kickoff to celebrate all the hard work that has gone into making the music. You won’t want to miss it.

IPIX is a super cool company that creates 360 degree interactive video. The technology is really just astounding. Basically viewers are able to navigate around the video screen and zoom into areas you want to investigate further, turn around and check out a different section of the room. So in actuality if you wanted to see what kind of shoes Tommy wears behind that drum kit you can zoom right in and walk right up to him.

IPIX is going to be shooting 360 degree video on December 5th at the Revolution Hall for the Alta Mira CD Release Experiment. If everything goes as planned we hope to come away with some awesome documented footage of all the acts and shenanigans from all in attendance. We are very excited IPIX is going to film the experiment!

Howdy All,

We have been pushing the bus into high gear as we get closer to releasing the new Alta Mira album. If you are interested in spending sleepness night typing to friends, or years talking to people around town you may be perfect for helping us promote the upcoming CD Release Experiment. You can help online with your newfangled social networks, requesting us on the radio (you may even win some goodies), or by handing out flyers at shows and all over town.

Drop us an email or hit us up on twitter... twitter.com/indianledge. In exchange for your tireless help and affection we can hook you up with a ticket to the event and if you are a super lover we may be able to hook you up with some other goodies such as t-shirts, and maybe even bake you some brownies or buy you some tasty brown's beers... or tequila if that's your thing.

See ya soon.

Delmar, NY – Over the past few years Indian Ledge Records has been cultivating an internal shift in structure and mission while reacting to
the major changes in the music industry. Nick Cosimano remains Chief
Executive Officer of Indian Ledge Records and has been making a strong push to develop the right team with a diverse yet cohesive set of skills.