«Formed in the summer of 1999, New York City’s Time of Orchids possesses a unique and jarring slant - a wedding of staggered «prog rock» angularity and a sweeping, seductive beauty, informed as much by 1960s Italian film scores as by claustrophobia and deep orbit. Comprised of members Chuck Stern (keyboard, vocals), Eric Fitzgerald (guitar, vocals), Jesse Krakow (bass) and Dave Bodie (drums), the band has shared the stage with the likes of Orthrelm, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Kayo Dot and Blind Idiot God, putting on some cryptic and truly spellbinding live shows.
Time of Orchids is known for its bizarre and varied discography, having released three albums - 2001’s somber, doom-laden Melonwhisper (featuring pianist Marilyn Crispell), 2002’s cruder, far more skeletal Much Too Much Fun (featuring Kate Pierson of The B-52’s) and 2003’s obtuse and enigmatic Early As Seen in Pace, on Epicene Sound - before signing to John Zorn’s Tzadik label in 2005 with the release of the highly-acclaimed Sarcast While (featuring Julee Cruise). Time Out NY praised the album’s «haunted sonic cinematography and elliptical poetry,» adding, «dense and complex, Sarcast While opens up to the listener only gradually… but that’s exactly what makes it such a rich, engrossing experience.»
Now, courtesy of Cuneiform Records, comes the band’s fifth and most dramatic work yet - the epic Namesake Caution - an album that sparkles with a deceptive pop linearity and ventures maniacally into the stark, abyssal realm of wanderlust, coven and austere cybernetics. Be warned: this is romance of a coarse, sonic soothsaying, brimming with only the most treacherous of skullduggery.»
In early 2008 the band announced their disbanding:
After eight and a half years, we have decided to call it a day. We want to thank everyone who supported us and shared their love - fans, friends, labels, etc. We are proud of the work we did and the five albums we recorded. They will stand as testaments to this experience and can probably tell our tale better than any of us can in words. Enjoy them. A major theme in this band has always been that of time and the time has now come to close this chapter.
Chuck Stern will now be working solo under the name Stern. Bodie has been working with Bill Brovold and just joined Kayo Dot. He and Eric Fitzgerald will be starting a project soon, most likely with original ToO drummer Keith Abrams. Jesse Krakow will continue to work with Craig Wedren on his future feature film/soundtrack «WAND,» in addition to playing a few shows in the recently reunited Shudder To Think. He has just released his second solo album, «World Without Nachos» and will be doing a series of solo shows in support of it. This spring, he is recording the second Fast ‘n Bulbous: The Captain Beefheart Project album, to be released on Cuneiform Records, and will be touring next year to promote it. He has been developing a project with vocalist Julee Cruise, along with Jamie Saft and Clifton Hyde, featuring his original compositions, and has recently joined singer/songwriter Amy Miles’ band. He is also writing his musical memoirs under the speculative title, «Rockboy,» which he hopes to have completed later this year.
Footage of our last show (November 24th at The Stone) can be seen here. There are a bunch of clips.
