Major Organ & the Adding Machine (2001), 1st Imaginary Symphony for Nomad (1999), For Clouds and Tornadoes (2008)

3 albums in one day?! What?!

Well, I figured since I keep forgetting to update, I'll put up a few at once. Today I have for you kids a few albums from the Elephant 6 Collective. Yeah, yeah, I know... when you hear "Elephant 6" you probably think of stuff like the Apples in Stereo and of Montreal. Though these albums share some of the same musicians, they're way weirder, and in my opinion, much more interesting than a lot of what is put out by the collective. (Though I guess that would be debatable... I know a lot of people who hate these releases, but personally, I'm a fan.)

The first record is by the group Major Organ and the Adding Machine. No one is completely sure who exactly was involved in the recording of this album, except for the obvious contributors, Jeff Mangum and Julian Koster. The record is one of the strangest albums I have heard in recent years. Though, it does feature a few things which could probably be considered straight forward pop songs, most of it is just bizarre experiments and freak outs. During the Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise tour (which I had the pleasure of witnessing) a film entitled Major Organ and the Adding Machine was screened. It was basically a short piece featuring no dialogue, but songs from the album.



The next two albums I'll have up are both by the Music Tapes. The Music Tapes were a group fronted by Julian Koster of Neutral Milk Hotel and Chocolate USA. The first album released was entitled 1st Imaginary Symphony for Nomad. It was a strange album featuring instruments that Julian Koster is most often associated with, such as the singing saw and banjo. The record was recorded on vintage equipment, and took over 4 years to create. The result is a bizarre recording featuring songs about the power of television.



Nine years later, The Music Tapes released their second album, For Clouds and Tornadoes. This album has a much different feel than 1st Imaginary Symphony. It features more straight forward songs that don't utilize musique-concrete recordings. To me, the album seems to have a much more polished sound than the first record.





Major Organ and the Adding Machine
1. When Father Was Away On Business 2:06
2. His Mister's Pet Whistles 2:18
3. Kissing Behind the Rubbery Grinder 0:46
4. Un, Deux, Trois 3:57
5. Your Moonpie Eye 1:17
6. Madam Truffle 2:50
7. The Fireman's Guitar 0:49
8. Moonpie Eye Sensation 3:35
9. Swimming, Laughing, Playing :049
10. Barry's Lung 1:51
11. Water Dripping on Bread Makes Bread Not So Tasty 2:09
12. Walking in the Sun 1:19
13. Transmission 2:21
14. Abe Lincoln's Moustache 0:48
15. The Snack Bar 1:00
16. Fransisco's Victory 0:58
17. Powdered Abe Lincoln 0:34
18. Do the Moonpie Eye 1:27
19. Life Form (Transmission Recieved) 4:25

listen

1st Imaginary Symphony For Nomad
1. Song for Soon to be Sailor 2:16
2. 1st Imaginary Symphony for Vaccume Cleaner 1:00
3. Song of the Nomad Lost 2:34
4. "Pulled Out to Sea..." 1:34
5. March of the Father Fists 2:35
6. Nomad Tell Us
7. Aliens 2:32
8. Song of 100 Castles 0:55
9. What the Single Made the Needle Sing 4:02
10. The Clapping Hands 4:12
11. Sea's Song for Sailor 0:33
12. The Television Tells Us 4:34
13. An Orchestration's Overture 1:53
14. Song for the Death of Parents 4:02
15. A Warning! 1:30
16. Fanfare for the Speeding Bullet 2:13
17. Wishing Well at Casper's End 2:04

listen

For Clouds and Tornadoes
1. Saw Ping Pong and Orchestra 1:21
2. Schedrevka 0:54
3. Freeing Song for Reindeer 2:59
4. Majesty 2:44
5. Nimbus Stratus Cirrus 2:45
6. Freeing Song by Reindeer 3:13
7. Tornado Longing for Freedom 3:57
8. Song for Oceans Falling 6:04
9. Kolyada No. 1 0:53
10. The Minister of Longitude 4:46
11. Manifest Destiny 3:37
12. Kolyada No. 2 1:00
13. Cumulonibus 4:47
14. Julian and Grandpa 0:31
15. In an Ice Palace 3:39

listen