Shattered & heavily-treated guitars pound into focus by a primal assault
of beats and shifted tempos. A vocal delivery, honest to its bloody,
shredded core, forces the attention of listeners. Not a moment of pause
prevails; an improvised journey from one song structure to the next
weaves incessantly throughout the live performance.
These are just some of the elements that comprise the Brooklyn-based
"feral & unrelenting" (-Big Takeover Magazine) experimental/noise rock
duo, CINEMA CINEMA.
Established in 2008. Formed by 2 cousins. 1 LP & 2 EP's, each
self-released. 200+ shows. 4 tours with Greg Ginn (SST Records, Black
Flag)
and
a new LP, "MANIC CHILDREN & the SLOW AGGRESSION" (release date: JULY
10, 2012), recorded with legendary producer/engineer Don Zientara,
renowned worldwide for his work with Minor Threat, Fugazi, Bad Brains, &
Bikini Kill among others.
How does a pair of cousins from Brooklyn wind up recording at Inner Ear
Studios or come to tour with the founder of SST Records?
Relentless hard work. DIY ethic. Fearless spirit.
Just some of the basics of what it takes to pursue your art on a serious
level.
The decision to do 100 shows in their 2nd year (2009) would prove
pivotal. Touring that extensively in support of their 2008 debut LP, EXILE
BABY, taught the band countless invaluable lessons. Functioning fully
under
the DIY umbrella helped to further instill a serious minded work ethic.
Ideals that the band has come to be based upon.
EXILE BABY would go on to be one of only two self-released records in
the CMJ TOP 20 New Adds for the Week of April 20, 2009 - ranking at number
17, and cracking the CMJ Top 200. Sans label.
By middle 2010, the duo had crafted almost a double album's worth of
new material. Honing it night in and out on the road, a road that saw
them cross 2 countries as well as 16 of the United States. The only goal
that lay ahead was finding the right person/studio to work on the new
record with. At the top of that list was the legendary tandem of Don
Zientara/Inner Ear Studios. After numerous tour runs through DC which
found the local community embracing the band, they reached out to Don
and a new relationship was born.
The band headed to Arlington, VA to record their new album at the end
of 2010 with big plans. The initial concept was to record 2 separate
bodies of work, or "acts" - 6 interwoven songs each. In order to keep with
the tradition the band had begun on their 1st LP, of recording at least
one
track for the record fully improvised in the studio, they chose to
create an "intermission" track to divide the record into halves. Thus,
"Shiner no.3" was summoned up and recorded on site, live and in the
moment.
Eight days of living in the studio (sleeping in the pantry each night
after marathon 14 hour sessions spent recording to warm and timeless
analog tape) yielded close to 80 minutes of music. The duo chose to
release a 3 song sample EP titled SHOOT THE FREAK in 2011, in order to
prepare the world at large for the opus to come in 2012. They coupled
the release with their usual hard charging push of touring, which
included the band hooking up, again, with Greg Ginn. This time for 3
separate tour runs of the Southwest over the back end of the year. This
followed their initial East Coast run with Ginn in mid 2010.
The relationship with Ginn was another one of the fruits bared along
the way via the two piece's break neck commitment to the road. The band,
with its DIY approach and pay it forward/positive attitude, greatly
broadened the scope of their network by covering states and venues far
and wide. Along the way paths with Ginn were crossed. Something about
the guys, a mixture of CC's sound and it's work ethic, appealed to Ginn
and yet again, a new relationship was born. Summer 2012 tour dates with
Greg are currently being booked and there was also a recording session
with Ginn sitting in on bass done early in 2012 at SST in Texas. Plans for
it's release are yet to determined.
These Brooklyn born and raised cousins have agreed upon one ultimate
goal with the band and that is "to see it through". No plans of slowing
down. No retreat. Full speed ahead. DIY till they die.