For Milking [Explicit Lyrics]

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Dope Smoothie is a Seattle based alternative rock band. Their style is best described by Amber Richman of the University of Colorado’s The Scribe, as "…a soundscape where the mystic dreaminess of The Bends (Radiohead) meets the raw grit of The Pixies, creating a dynamic tension eased only by the ballistic humor of Ween."

Dope Smoothie recently completed their 16-track debut album, For Milking, on Elitist Low Brow Records. While recording at Egg Studios in Seattle, the band acquired the help of producer Johnny Sangster (The Makers, The Posies, Dear John Letters). The band spent the summer of 2002 on the road and is now back home in Seattle building on their local following. Currently the band is planning a West Coast tour in support of the debut album, For Milking, and a follow-up LP.

The band is Eddie Baté on guitar and lead vocals, Jack Lament on bass, and Ian Underson on drums and percussion. In 1994, Eddie and Jack started the band at the University of Colorado where they established a dedicated following. From the beginning, Eddie wrote strong, sophisticated melodies and engaging lyrics that became the core of the songs. Jack’s nimble jazz-funk bass style provided the counterpoint. When Ian took over the drums in 1998, his driving style accentuated the animated nature of the music.

For Milking, the band’s first full-length record, was officially released in July 2002 on Elitist Low Brow Records. Marc Huebert of the Colorado Springs Independent comments that For Milking impresses upon him an "infusion of the Sonic Youthee (sic) along with the phantastic commitment to skillyness." Dope Smoothie is currently making plans for a follow-up LP, a west-coast tour, and is enjoying continued success with building a strong and dedicated fan base in and around the Seattle, WA area.

Album Description
"…a soundscape where the mystic dreaminess of The Bends (Radiohead) meets the raw grit of The Pixies, creating a dynamic tension eased only by the ballistic humor of Ween." ... an "infusion of the Sonic Youthee (sic) along with the phantastic commitment to skillyness."

Tracks:

Castle Kelly
She Moved Through The Fair
May Morning Dew
Fairy Queen
Arraon Boat Song (Trad. Scots)
Twisting Of The Rope
Buttonhole
Limerick's Lamentation
Carolan's Cup
L'heritiere De Keroulez (Trad. Breton)
Farwell To The Land Of Mist (Trad. Scots)

Album Description

In 1983, Patrick Ball released the first record in his Celtic Harp series. Now, ten years and five releases later, he has completed his most personal work to date. Fiona is a collection of traditional songs that includes some of the most beautiful and haunting tunes of the Celtic world - and is named after Patrick Ball's new daughter, Fiona.

For many years, the Celtic harp, with its unique resonance and clear, bell-like sound was an important part of Celtic life, especially in Ireland and in France's Celtic province, Brittany. The few harps which survived into the 20th century, did so as museum pieces, and their incredibly large and varied repertoire began to sink into obscurity, too. Naturally, as musicians and listeners have rediscovered the beauty of these instruments, the old songs and laments have been rediscovered as well.

On Fiona, Ball includes two of Ireland's most enduring and memorable folk songs: She Moved Through the Fair, an oft recorded classic which can now finally be heard in its original form, and Brian Boru's March, an ancient tune marking the brief unification of Ireland in the 11th century. Traditional songs from Scotland and Brittany also appear, along with a work by Turlough O'Carolan, whose popular music has been a feature of each of Patrick Ball's six recordings for Celestial Harmonies/Fortuna. Ball's wire-strung harp is the focus of this recording, but the traditional Irish pipes, whistles, and fiddle provide an occasional complement on several pieces.