The multi-instrumentalist recently simultaneously released his fourth and fifth albums, "False Prophets" and "Life After Telescopes," on his own Philistine Records. The former is a low-fi retro rock piece that is "Lush, Beatle-esque" (Boston Globe), and the latter is a more obscure and experimental work.
Why deliberately extend to each end of the spectrum you may ask? "There are two radically different approaches and mindsets going on," notes Nasson. "The Rock recordings explore structured song form, lyrically and musically. The Experimental recordings are where sounds take on their own logic and form, where harmonic centers may exist but aren't always the point. A place where listening experiences become more open and adhere less to expectations."
In addition to self-producing the albums, Arthur also recorded every instrument and vocal on the homemade recordings to an 8-track cassette deck with a couple of 80 dollar microphones at his "Scabby Road" Massachusetts basement studio - all while raising two sons, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, viewing Spongebob and pulling his proverbial Cain off of Abel.
Nasson affirms his choice to take it all on himself. "I get to paint my pictures however I want, in a vibrant world of limitless creativity without distraction, and experience the joy of creation coupled with absolute freedom. Well... Until my kids get home from school."
Arthur started banging away at the Piano at age four, and by seven announced to great laughter that he wanted to write his own music. The blending of disparate cultural ideas: Rock, Jazz, Boogie Woogie, Blues, Stride, Pop, Classical & Noise fascinated Nasson from the start.
From playing piano and singing, to picking up drums, guitar and bass, Arthur went on to form crappy bands in High School, playing shows and even getting local radio stations to play some of the rough recordings.
The world of mediocre gigs, unctuous record executives and crushing poverty followed, which only galvanized the fact that Arthur was going to have to write his own script.
Arthur Nasson's basement works have already made an enormous impression through organic channels and without the luxury of a huge promotion team. Harp Magazine calls the music "Genre-bounding, funny, and endlessly inventive� Arthur Nasson is beautifully all over the map." Americana U.K. equates him to "An unhinged Dylan, hammering a jazz piano, Nasson has a great ear for a tune and seems willing to try anything once in order to make one, resulting in a fine aural burst of entertainment."
He's already licensed two entire albums to MTV's "Made" and "My Super Sweet Sixteen" and over 200 radio stations are currently playing his music, with more being added every week. Nasson has already been featured on NPR's "Here and Now" and KALX's "The Next Big Thing" w/ Marshall Stax and plans to tour the North East with his son on drums this fall and well into 2010.
Arthur Nasson's "False Prophets" and "Life After Telescopes" are currently available via his own Philistine Records.
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