Howlin Wuelf Media :: Moore Brothers ::

Aptos is the fifth full-length release from genetically-linked Oakland natives, The Moore Brothers. Aptos was recorded by their friend and mutual fan Kelley Stoltz and Kevin Ink at the Studio That Time Forgot and later with Stoltz alone at Dead Chuffed Studios, both located in San Francisco. Special guests include Joanna Newsom on harp and Ben Parke on backing vocals. The album is being released on the Berkley-based American Dust label.

Aptos differs subtly but significantly from its predecessor Murdered By The Moore Brothers. It’s more produced with Greg and Thom Moore being joined by the rhythm section of Neal Morgan on drums and bassist Jun Ohnuki though still very understated. Their signature tight vocal harmonies, rich acoustic guitar work and fine, weird and quirky writing remain the music’s defining characteristics. The striking CD booklet artwork was created by William Stout who was the illustrator of the “Trademark of Quality” bootleg LPS released in the late ‘60’s (williamstout.com). Brother Thom got to know him when working as babysitter to the young Stouts in the late ‘80s.

Although they can be described as "singer/songwriters" The Moore Brothers are unique among that genre. The Moore Brothers make heavily acoustic flavored pop and past efforts featured little more than their harmonizing and a single acoustic guitar;" a quick comparison might be the Walker Brothers, but the lyrics and tunes are more upbeat at times, more twisted at others -- so Big Star or Incredible String Band would also be good reference points. Their harmony singing bears an uncanny resemblance to Simon & Garfunkel in their prime. They’re the kind of artists that Jac Holzman would have signed to Elektra Records during its 1960's heyday.

Growing up in Altadena, California, Greg and Thom Moore shared a room for 15 years, in which they amassed a tiny collection of LP's stolen from their parents. Over time, the Cowsills, Bee Gees, and the Beatles gave way to Kate Bush, The Throwing Muses and and Joni Mitchell.

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After they moved to Oakland, they were discovered in the early 00’s by Scott Kannberg of Pavement fame, who released two Moore Brothers CDs on his own Amazing Grease label. Their first two albums featured the production team and rhythm section of producer Jon Erickson, who supplied the bass while Andrew Borger (Norah Jones, Preston School of Industry, Tom Waits) played drums. Both Colossal Small and its successor On and Out featured the Brothers’ trademark blend of folkie harmonies, weird words, strong melodicism and simple acoustic-driven instrumentation. They immediately drew favorable attention form the press and the NME described them as "a crashing, sighing slice of neo-folk imbued with the innocence of The Monkees and the melodic sense of Simon & Garfunkel. Sweet."

The Moore Brothers have also released side projects on Kill Rock Stars. 2003 saw the release of Owl and the Pussycat, a collaboration between Greg and Lois Maffeo, and in 2004, “Nedelle and Thom" released their debut. Greg has also released solo albums under the moniker “Sandycoates.” In 2005, Thom curated the first domestic CD release of the first two album of avant-folk icon Biff Rose which earned high praise from the likes of Entertainment Weekly, Arthur and Paste magazines.

Moving to Plain Recordings, Thom and Greg Moore returned to the studio to create Now Is The Time For Love armed with their best songs they’d written over the course of the past few years armed with just one acoustic guitar between them and their lush vocals. When released this album drew more critical praise including Magnet Magazine which opined: "Their music seems much too hopeful, too naively lovely, to have their dreams shattered by the painful reality of the public firing squad they must face if they persist in making this kind of beautiful music" Murdered By The Moore Brothers represented further development of their strikingly austere yet unashamedly melodic style of writing and performing.

Since releasing Murdered By The Moore Brothers (2006) The Moore Brothers continue to perform for their small but ever increasing following in the California Bay Area. Luckily an assortment of more successful artists began introducing the Moore’s to a broader audience. In December 2006, Kristin Hersh hand-picked The Moore Brothers to open for a Throwing Muses reunion concert at the Great American Music Hall. In the Summer of 2007, Joanna Newsom invited the brothers to appear with her at a string of European venues, including a night at the Royal Albert Hall warming the crowd for Joanna and legendary British folkie Roy Harper. Recently, Thom and Greg relocated to Grass Valley, CA, where they are busy writing songs for their sixth release, tentatively titled Who Are The Moore Brothers? They live in a big old house from the 1890s which they rent for pretty cheap.

http://www.themoorebros.com

http://www.myspace.com/themoorebros