Tree Colored See

Nobody & Mystic Chords of Memory

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 25, 2006)
• Original Release Date: March 2, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mush
• ASIN: B000EO0XT0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #93,484 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Tree Colored See is a collaborative effort between renowned L.A. hip hop and electronic producer Nobody (Elvin Estella) and Mystic Chords of Memory (featuring Chris Gunst of The Beachwood Sparks and The Aisler SetÕs Jen Cohen). After swapping successful guest appearances on a few releases, the trio began working on a collaborative project in the spring of 2004. After a year filled with road trips and mailorder-only production efforts, the group hits upon a perfectly crafted blend of psychedelic hip-hop and sunshine folk-rock. A producer/ arranger in the classical sense, Nobody uses his samplebased tool set to create the foundations of the album. Gunst continues to mature as a songwriter and along with partner Cohen, adds wistful vocals and accomplished musicianship. Fans who may have followed these artists throughout their respective careers will be thrilled at how Tree Colored See brings out the best in each.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Your Chocolate Is In My Peanut Butter, June 22, 2008

By	jokamachi (california) - See all my reviews

These guys aren't breaking new ground by wedding two seemingly incompatible genres, but they are succeeding in producing some truly listenable if not compelling music.

I can't remember how I found out about Mystic Chords of Memory [Nobody was unknown to me before this record ;)]. Maybe it was that live broadcast Beachwood Sparks did on KCRW that made me curious about their post break-up stuff. Or maybe it was a resurgence of interest in Eliot Smith that made me go looking for more of this type of music. Who knows. What matters is that I tracked this down the other day with more than pleasant results.

This record is wonderfully ethereal in a way that few records manage to be. And when crossed with the dubbing and beats of Nobody, it takes on exciting dimensions that exceed any dinner napkin plans that otherwise would have suggested failure from the get go.

I'm reminded of Sublime's second (and most creative) record in which ska, acoustic folk, reggae, and punk meet dub. There is a brave blending of styles on this recording that challenges the artist as much as the listener. Ali Gromer Khan's Space Hotel also comes to mind. Tree Colored See defines while simultaneously erasing lines of demarcation. I can't say that it works all the time, but it succeeds more than it fails.

So many influences drift in and out of this record that it's hard to keep track of them all (not that you have to): there's some Beatles here; Elliot Smith there; a touch of country; a dash of Beach Boys; and even the original blenders of country and alternate rock, the Velvet Underground, seem to rear their head from time to time.

Simply put, this is cool music that is unusually soothing and strangely upbeat at the same time.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This really hits home for me, July 9, 2006

By	Jasper Mcworthy (USA) - See all my reviews

I have to slightly disagree with the above review. This is an excellent album and it's perfection is not the question. It creates a luscious soundscape that is very unique. It inhabits certain moods that are like land and water yes but really very moving and extraordinary. I'm probably not as familiar as you with their back catalogue but I think this is a fine album. It really moves quick and gets to things at a very good pace. Maybe if it had been more along the lines of perfection you expect, it would be too long. In my opinion they gave it good measure and it's great from start to finish. Sure tracks stick out but all great albums have the same issue.

5.0 out of 5 stars headphone density, October 3, 2006

By	T. Pryde "running after Devin" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Thank God for the Beachwood Sparks. I was a big fan of those guys and from their ranks I've gotten two of my favorite albums of the past couple of years. First is the highly underrated All Night Radio, a disc I have simply never grown tired of, like the aural version of a sunny Saturday in my youth. And now this album, a collection of music that is both light and thick, a true headphone creation that unfolds in your head like the flowing petals of a digital flower... Me digs it...