Howlin Wuelf Media :: MV & EE ::

Still harvesting and sustaining in the deep woods of Vermont , MV & EE (Matt “MV” Valentine, once the brawn of the Tower Recordings, and Erika “EE” Elder, CEO of Heroine Celestial Agriculture and The MV & EE Medicine Show) are following their 2008 release Drone Trailer with their feature-film-for-the-blind "Barn Nova", which marks their return to the Ecstatic Peace! label.

MV & EE aspire to the sort of beautifully rewarding standard in their documented output that Sun Ra or The Grateful Dead achieved. It is with Ecstatic Peace! that their most consistent works have been born and continue reach fans with The Golden Road, their most constant band. Together with Doc Dunn (pedal steel, rhythm guitar, vocals, drums) and Mike Smith (Rickenbacker 4001, vocals) who appeared on Drone Trailer as well as J Mascis (drums, guitar, plate reverb) and Woods’ Jeremy Earl (vocal, drums) they take you on the ride now known as Barn Nova and here they jam. Justin Pizzoferrato also appears contributing percussion, space echo and aiding once again at the controls. This album was recorded at MV & EE's own home studio "Maximum Arousal Farm" as well as their current local New England rooms of choice, "Bank Row" (an old mid 1900's bank) and J's home studio "Bisquiteen."

These kindred spirits share a wealth of ideas including a serious reverence and desire to upgrade/expand the classic-rock idiom. Barn Nova marks the return of "Spectrasound," MV's production technique that places tones dancing all around the stereo sound field: it has to be heard to be believed. This effect is all the more impressive that the majority of it was created recording live, rather than conjured through studio post-production during mixing. Especially potent on the A side-ending stomp "Summer Magic" where Erika's economical leads go head-to-head with J’s on a particularly mind-blowing live-in-studio effort; It brings to mind the vibe of "Green Blues", "Mother Of Thousands" and even an electric "Moon Jook" with matured songwriting.

Inspired by the likes of Jerry Garcia, John Cipollina and Tom Verlaine, Matt Valentine displays an insatiable appetite to play in various idioms with constant exploration and development. Meanwhile, Elder's harmony leads recall the glorious twinned guitar lines of Canned Heat’s Al Wilson & Henry Vestine at their most potent.

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Matt 'mv' Valentine hails from the green collar/blues dirt as a guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer, also known for his explorations on the bantar (a banjo/sitar hybrid he invented). His debut as a leader was released as "Glorious Group Therapy" (with assistance from Erika Elder, Tim Barnes, Dean Roberts) on the cassette format in 1998 by the Polyamory label under the sobriquet 'Matthew Dell'. The oxide was reissued soon after on LP under his proper name by Byron Coley and Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Yod.

Prior to that release as a 'solo' stringman, he began cutting his big teeth on guitar excursions in the mid 90's when he co-founded 'The Tower Recordings' fusing experimental acoustic songform with noise and other disparate avant garde techniques. That ensemble released 8 proper albums alongside various singles, 10-inches, cassettes and compilation appearances. During this time his bands played shows with John Fahey, Sandy Bull, Loren Mazzacane, Bert Jansch, Pearls Before Swine, Rudolph Grey, Borbetomagus, Arthur Doyle, Pavement, The Scissor Girls...as well as a tour with Cat Power. These experiences inspired MV & EE to establish their 'Child Of Microtones' label in 1999 which has been devoted ever since to issuing exploratory music in small editions of the highest quality form. To date they have 34 releases, and the COM subsidary 'Heroine Celestial Agriculture' numbering equal, if not unknown, catalog depth. the 'Heroine' label is run by Erika, along with her "MV & EE Medicine Show".

Erika 'ee' Elder hails from the Forest and is a singer, lap steel guitarist, designer and a zen wrangler on a 'mini' firebird (a four stringed single humbucking pickup 'mandolin', but more "stoned age man" than Ernest Stoneman). She has been making music alongside MV since his solo debut, and has a composition as a group leader of "the Lady E Quartet" on the critically acclaimed U-Sound compilation. She is currently working on a duo LP with Nels Cline in tribute to John Fahey.

Barn Nova is their 4th major release after a decade’s worth of recordings issued by their own "Child Of Microtones" label, (an imprint striving to follow in the footsteps of Takoma, Gate 5, Semina and Saturn) as well as additional releases through some of the most respected boutique labels in the world: Time-Lag, Three Lobed, Spirit Of Orr, The Great Pop Supplement, Golden Lab, Qbico, Audible Hiss, Siltbreeze, Blackest Rainbow, Communion, Dicristina, Ecstatic Yod and Honest Jons).

www.myspace.com/mveebummerroad

http://www.ecstaticpeace.com/kits/barnnova_kit.html

1. Feelin' Fine
2. Get Right Church
3. Snapperhead
4. Summer Magic
5. Wandering Nomad
6. Bedroom Eyes
7. Fully Tanked
8. You Feel