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The Blue Sunrays, from Detroit, MI, are touting the recent release of their new 5-song EP, entitled ‘The Sugar Bowl,’ which features a taste of material from their LP in progress, ‘The El Patio Motel,’ as well as two previously unrecorded songs. With a sound that ranges from the explosive to the ethereal, the sublime to the blistering, The Blue Sunrays have spent the last several years merging a brand of hard-edged rock with indie elements of space, pop and psychedelia. Refining that sound in the gritty bars and clubs of Detroit, from the now-closed Lili's 21 to The Old Miami to The Detroit Art Space, the band has complimented and added a unique twist to the city's ever-developing music scene. The Blue Sunrays
are led by Christian Muller, whose feverish vocals, eccentric songwriting, and
constant pursuit of the unexpected has kept the band moving towards the
experimental and decisively away from the typical. Besides attending a Jimi
Hendrix concert in utero, Mr. Muller has played in such notable bands as Juicy,
the Sturgeon Generals, One Bad Apple, and Beastulax. Ambient textures,
noise-laden samples, rock'n'roll riffs, and occasional vocals are furnished by
multi-instrumentalist, Bryan Foreman, who can be seen bouncing from sampler to
keyboard to guitar during live shows. Mr.
Foreman's ambidextrous approach supplies the band with a well-rounded sound both
live and on tape. He is also
currently playing guitar for Detroit soul-rockers, The Come Ons. Rodolfo Rivera,
the band's drummer, recently relocated to Detroit from Chicago where he spent
six years involved in the indie music scene.
There Mr. Rivera played and toured with such bands as Jupiter Down, Fall
of Rome, and Audible Life Stream, and recorded with Bob Weston at Steve Albini's
Electrical Audio. Mr. Rivera has
been playing and recording with The Blue Sunrays since the spring of 2003, his
powerful attack and intricate style adding considerable potency to the band’s
sound. Having joined up
with Mr. Muller during the formation of the now-defunct Juicy, Cris Nugent is
currently The Blue Sunrays' bassist and back-up singer.
Making up the other half of the formidable rhythm section, Mr. Nugent
provides the foundation upon which even the most erratic of band's sounds can
ride, and does so with a flair for the 60's and 70's Brit Rock that informs and
influences his playing. ‘The Sugar
Bowl’ EP typifies the eclectic stylings of the band’s soundscape. ‘Katy Bugs in
the Sugar Bowl’ is a new song, the first written by the group as a whole.
It encapsulates the band’s latest offerings – an indie-oriented,
spacey romp thru several musical transitions, full of energy, and featuring a
killer duet between Mr. Muller and Mr. Foreman. ‘Polly
Ethelline’ is a song featured on the band’s first self-titled EP and is
slated to appear on the ‘The El Patio Motel.’
This latest version presents a commanding performance by Mr. Rivera, who
infuses the song with new intensity. Mr.
Nugent makes a memorable appearance on this track, adding his unique vocal
approach at the end of the song. ‘Sybil
Starvoid,’ both written and sung by Mr. Foreman, will also appear on ‘The El
Patio Motel.’ Based on a concept
by Mr. Nugent, it’s an epic song, penned in the tradition of British Glam
power ballads, with a tenuous start working towards a smoldering finish. ‘Reflections of
Pandora and the Chubby Red Auto’ brings attention to Mr. Muller’s more
anomalous and whimsical writing style. The song is loaded with strange sonic
textures, laid on top of a solid rock foundation.
This track will make another appearance on the full-length LP. Finally,
‘Electro!’ is a song resurrected from one of Mr. Muller’s previous bands,
which has found new life with The Blue Sunrays.
It’s a meaty and moody rocker, both disturbing and powerful.
This remake includes the excellent vocals of Betty Rumble. After the release
of ‘The Sugar Bowl,’ the band will continue working on their first
full-length album, ‘The El Patio Motel,’ recording at their home studio as
well as at Harmonie Park Studios, located in the heart of Detroit.
The album will consist of a cycle of songs exploring the nature of
personality, and will feature many fine guest musicians.
They are also scheduling shows in the Metro Detroit area and beyond. For booking
information, please contact: the Detroit Space Command 439 Seldon Ave. Apt. 311 Detroit, MI 48201 248.981.1036 |
