Dakota Suite
The loosely configured lineup of Leeds-based Dakota Suite is centered around the group's talented frontman, singer/guitarist Chris Hooson; the only other firm member of the group is producer Richard Formby -- formerly a collaborator with Spaceman 3, the Telescopes, and Jazz Butcher -- who handles occasional guitar chores and various other instrumentation, including harmonium, Fender Rhodes, lap steel, bowed double bass, and tape effects. Various other members have included David Buxton on bass guitar and pedal steel; John Sheppard on drums; Peter Haslam on piano; and Colin Dunkley, who also plays the piano, provides the strings, and co-writes much of the group's instrumentals. Hooson -- whose vocal style is often compared to Red House Painters' Mark Kozelek, Spain's Josh Haden, and Mark Eitzel -- often bases his songs on haunting personal experiences; he attempted suicide in late 1995 (taking to his bed, he tried to will himself to stop living). Hooson has also worked at in a hospice for terminal alcoholics, witnessing first-hand the despair and psychic pain that infuses his languid and somewhat sad country-flecked songs, which are highlighted by simply-strummed acoustic guitars, brushed drums, brittle horns, keening lap steel, soulful electric piano, and the occasional cellos and violins. The group also perform chamber orchestra music.
In late 1996, Hooson and Formby first met, when Hooson was recording his first demos. Later, Formby and the owner of a Leeds-based record shop set up the Amos label to release these recordings as three Dakota Suite EPs, in late 1996 and early 1997; they've since been compiled as Alone With Everybody, a CD released in 1998 with additional unreleased material. Mostly positive press and word-of-mouth raves about subsequent 7" and split-7" singles on various labels led to a more formal arrangement with the Glitterhouse label, who issued Dakota Suite's Songs for a Barbed Wire Fence in 1998 (Hooson's original choice for the CD's title was "Bereavement and Loss"). When it came time to play live, Formby volunteered his services, and the band continued touring for nearly a year while Hooson held down his hospice job. Hooson and a variety of additional musicians continued recording at Formby's house or used old churches for the grand acoustics. Hooson ultimately forfeited his sole opportunity to sign to a major label (stating he enjoys his job too much), choosing instead to release Dakota Suite's albums via the German-based Glitterhouse independent label; in turn, they have been licensed by Hooson for release in the U.K. via Loose Recordings, the U.S. via Badman, and Japan via the Tokyo-based Painted Sky Records.
Hooson's wife Johanna's photographs -- bleak, starkly black-and-white compositions used as cover art -- perfectly reflect the music to be found inside. Navigator's Yard -- instrumental pieces for piano and assorted instruments -- was released in 1999, followed by Signal Hill (2000) and Morning Lake Forever (2001). The Way I Am Sick, instrumental pieces for a chamber orchestra, was released in 2002; Painted Sky Records has also issued this CD with the non-Navigator's Yard instrumental pieces from the other albums as an extra bonus disc. A two-CD/LP compilation of the first two Dakota Suite albums was also issued as Blown About a Moon. This River Only Brings Poison was recorded in San Francisco with Bruce Kaphan and Tim Mooney (ex-American Music Club), and in Nashville with Derri Daugherty (the Choir).
© Bryan Thomas /TiVo
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Discografía
19 álbum(es) • Ordenado por Mejores ventas
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This River Only Brings Poison (20th Anniversary Edition)
Rock - Editado por Navigators Yard Records el 23 nov. 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
This Drowning Light
Rock - Editado por Navigators Yard el 30 nov. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vallisa (live in Vallisa)
Dakota Suite, Quentin Sirjacq, David Darling
Electrónica - Editado por Navigators Yard el 21 nov. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Waiting for the Dawn to Crawl Through and Take Away Your Life
Rock - Editado por Navigators Yard el 21 nov. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Language of Abandoned Lives
Rock - Editado por Navigators Yard el 22 nov. 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Navigators Yard
Ambientes - Editado por Navigators Yard el 21 nov. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Side of Her Inexhaustible Heart
Electrónica - Editado por Navigators Yard el 21 nov. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Alone With Everybody
Rock - Editado por Navigators Yard el 21 nov. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Songs For A Barbed Wire Fence
Rock - Editado por Navigators Yard Records el 20 nov. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Accompanying Music From Other Rooms
Rock - Editado por Navigators Yard el 22 nov. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Forever Breathes the Lonely Word (Demos)
Rock - Editado por Navigators Yard el 21 nov. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Way I Am Sick
Electrónica - Editado por Navigators Yard el 21 nov. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Morning Lake Forever
Rock - Editado por Navigators Yard el 21 nov. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
What Matters Most
Dakota Suite, Dag Rosenqvist, Emanuele Errante
Ambientes - Editado por Karaoke Kalk el 14 sept. 2018
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Hearts Of Empty
Ambientes - Editado por Karaoke Kalk el 3 jun. 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Sea Is Never Full
Ambientes - Editado por Karaoke Kalk el 23 sept. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
There Is Calm To Be Done
Folk - Editado por Karaoke Kalk el 11 jul. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo