WINO & CONNY OCHS: Exile On Mainstream Confirms Details For Second Collaborative LP From Iconic Singer/Songwriter Duo Earsplit Distro To Carry Vinyl Exclusively For The US
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[photo by Albert Mojica]
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It
is with extreme pleasure for Germany's Exile On Mainstream to announce
the label's next priority release, with the second collaborative album
by one of the most strikingly natural singer/songwriter duos of these
troubled modern times, SCOTT "WINO" WEINRICH and CONNY OCHS.
To backtrack a bit, the union of these two gritty, passionate musicians took place in 2010, as American doom/rock legend, WINO (Saint Vitus, The Obsessed, Spirit Caravan, The Hidden Hand) was touring Europe on his own first full solo album, Adrift, which had just been released by Exile On Mainstream. Simultaneously, contemporary German solo vocalist/guitarist, CONNY OCHS, was preparing to release his debut solo album, Raw Love Songs,
through the same label which saw the two artists billed together on
this European trek. From there, an instant bond was formed, both as
musicians as well as just like-minded humans. Instantaneously, musical
ideas formed within this new brotherhood, which quickly grew into a
courageous collaborative full-length studio album entitled Heavy Kingdom,
released by Exile On Mainstream in 2012. The album showcased the
organic songwriting skills through an incredibly passionate delivery. Heavy Kingdom elevated
both artists as top-notch contemporary singer/songwriters in the eyes
of the media and fans alike, and saw the duo taking their songcraft to
the road heavily across Europe as well as North America.
That was just the beginning, as, since Heavy Kingdom
was just seeing release, the pair had already began talking about "what
was to come" in reference to new material they'd began plotting
together. The time is now, as the second chapter from WINO & CONNY OCHS has
recently been completed, the project actually having remained virtually
unannounced and taking place behind closed doors over the past few
years. With the artists being based on two different continents and
remaining busy with their own solo endeavors, an opportune time to
convene for some songwriting time never arrived, and the pair began
trading ideas via email. This was not something that at all brought
forth the magic and mastery which took place the first time, and after
months of writing, the idea was scrapped, and last year, WINO voyaged back to Berlin to rendezvous with OCHS.
Recorded again at Kabumm Studio with producer Thommy Krawallo, as was their Heavy Kingdom LP, the newest collection of ambitious, harrowing and beautiful music created by WINO & CONNY OCHS
not only brings forth the same quality of organically conceived
folk/rock fans of the previous album should expect, it simply excels in
every imaginable aspect, and now awaits release in early 2015 through
their trusted alliance with Exile On Mainstream. Bearing the title Freedom Conspiracy, the record was written and recorded entirely with WINO & CONNY OCHS performing all instruments together, the approach slightly different from Heavy Kingdom
as it has been created in a much more organic way with rudimentary
ideas brought in by each and then carved into songs by both together.
Fusing acoustic and electric guitars and with both artists' standout
vocal styles searing through these thirteen well-crafted brand new
hymns, the initial recordings of the album date back to over a year ago,
but even though the songs were done and recorded, these protagonists
felt it had been rushed a bit in the end and final touches couldn't be
made with both together in the same room for reasons of other
obligations. So it was put to rest and matured several months. Earlier
in 2014 both went back in and basically stripped everything down to the
bare bones, started from scratch, arranging the tracks differently and
all of a sudden it clicked and brought forth forty-five minutes of some
of the most refined, dynamic and unforgettable folk/rock music in years.
When asked what the album meant to the artists themselves, CONNY OCHS states: "Freedom Conspiracy
means companionship. It means to have each other's back. This album is
about losing and finding belief. And fighting for it." Adds WINO
on the album: "Shits changin' fast. With war on every corner, political
theatre becoming increasingly more offensive, and Big Brother and the
Globalists intensifying their slow takeover, we offer sounds and
vibrations of love, death, happiness and pain! With this music and verse
we hope the songs will inspire and uplift, and hopefully unite our
searching spirits."
With cover art by WINO & CONNY OCHS, Freedom Conspiracy
will see deliverance on CD, LP and digital download in the US on March
31st, 2015, both LP and CD versions to be available from Earsplit Distro
for wholesale and retail purchase (the LP exclusively) The release will
be followed by international touring from the duo to be announced
throughout the year. Fans of Woodie Guthrie, Townes Van Zandt, Steve
Earle, Bob Dylan, The Black Crowes, Scott Kelly, Mike Scheidt and the
like should make sure this duo is on your radar.
Stand by for audio samples and further release/tour info from WINO & CONNY OCHS' Freedom Conspiracy campaign all year.
Freedom Conspiracy Track Listing:
1. Drain
2. Sound Of Blue
3. Foundation Chaos
4. Crystal Madonna
5. Shards
6. Time Out Blackout
7. Timeless Spirit
8. Freedom Conspiracy
9. Dirt Floor
10. Heavy Heart
11. Forever Gone
12. Invisible Bullets
13. The Great Destroyer
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