Ahleuchatistas

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Ahleuchatistas is an American band from Asheville (NC). Forming in February 2003, the band is still quite young, but holding the steady line-up of Shane Perlowin (guitar), Sean Dail (drums), Derek Poteat (bass) have release three albums. While opting towards the simplistic formula of guitar, bass, drums line-up, their influences draw from vast spectrum's of music. Choosing to avoid sonic enhancements in their music, the band radiates a raw and streamline sound. With the palette clean from enhancements, the bands inventiveness sets out in full stride. Leaving a free vehicle in which the band experiments with numerous techniques to mimic the absurd and zany noises which infiltrating their albums.
.........says the official PA biography. I got in touch with Shane for the full story.
_--------------------------------_

Ahleuchatistas
were formed in February 2003 and consists of of Shane Perlowin (guitar), Sean
Dail (drums), Derek Poteat (bass). Please tell us more about the band name.
What does it means ?

 That
was the original lineup of the band, which lasted until early 2008... the
current lineup (2010) is a duo, consisting of Shane Perlowin (guitar) and Ryan
Oslance (drums)...

The band name is made up from two words: "Ah Leu
Cha", a Charlie Parker song, which means "to struggle", and
"-tistas", like from Zapatistas, a Mexican peoples’ movement... the
name reflects my sentiments and interests at the time of forming the band,
radical music and social justice.  These are still guiding principles for
the project.

On
your albums, please give me your (long or brief) thoughts and lowdowns on the
following releases.......

On The
Culture Industry from 2003

First album, recorded in a friend's living room.  The
title comes from a chapter in Adorno and Horkheimer's Dialectic of
Enlightenment...  About how mass media dominates our thoughts and
decisions.  It was written as mass media was on the rise in 1947.  We were really unaware of a lot of the
music that we would later be compared to.  I had never heard the term
"math rock" before releasing this record.  It was great to be exposed to all the music that people
compared this record to.

The
Same and the Other from 2004

A very agitated record, reacting very much to the invasion
of Iraq.   Reissued by Tzadik in 2008. 

What
You Will from 2006

First album we released on Cuneiform Records... We were
sort of evolving along our own idiosyncratic path at this point, on our own
map, and we are fortunate to have been able to document this process for an
international audience over the years.

Even
In The Midst... from 2007 

This is a transitional record, more improvised music, more
interest in textures starting to creep into the mix, as opposed to nimble
hyper-thru-composed songs.  It was
original drummer Sean Dail's final recording with the project.  A strange and beautiful album.

Of the Body
Prone from 2009

This
is the first album with Ryan Oslance on drums... another transitional record of
sorts (I guess we are always in transition, which is kind of the point), with
compositions reminiscent of earlier Ahleuchatistas, but also pieces
catering towards Ryan's natural inclinations and our changing musical attitudes
and abilities.  You have to compose for the musicians at hand for it to
work best.  Plus, I am not the same
guitarist and composer I was when I was 24 years old.  And to go through the motions of what people expect from the
band would be dishonest, and, frankly, boring for us.  The conceptual continuity of the band remains in the
“anything goes” ethos, and following the muse wherever it may lead.  There are no rules for this band.  Of the Body Prone was our second
release for Tzadik.  It was also
Derek Poteat’s final recording with the project, before we would become a
duo. 

How is
the distribution of your albums ?

the first one is out of print... the rest are available
easily through mail order, online, and record stores... and, as we speak,
hundreds of people are torrenting the albums for free... 

I would
claim that Ahleuchatistas is a typical product of the Millenium generation with
it's chaotic, disharmonic sound and approach. But how would you describe
Ahleuchatistas, your music and which bands would you compare yourself with?

The music reacts to our musical and political environment
globally.  Bands that are big
influences are Fugazi, Captain Beefheart, and Autechre.  This list could go on and on…  We like classical music and African
music, too.

USA is
in the middle of a war again like it was when the music scene exploded in
creativity back in the end of the 1960s. I think it is fair to say that
Ahleuchatistas reflects the current war generation. Do you think there is any
similarities between the Iraq generation and the Vietnam generation when it
comes to musical creativity?

I think musicians who feel deeply and are concerned about
our global crises, will naturally make music in response to that, whether as a
lament or criticism or escapism.  I
think it is unavoidable.  Music is
a social product.

What
has been the reaction to your albums so far ?

Mixed.  Some
people love it, some hate it, and some are indifferent.  It is nice to have any reaction at all.

How is
the live situation for Ahleuchatistas?

The music is probably most intensely experienced at our
shows.  It is performed a little
differently every time.

What is
the latest update on Ahleuchatistas ? What is your plans for this year and
where do you want to take this band ?

We just released a new song on Vinyl on the French record
label Gaffer Records.  We are
recording a new album presently of all the new material we have been performing
as a duo.  

Just to
wrap this interview up; do you have any regrets in your music career?

No regrets… 

What is
your five alltime favourite albums?

Bach’s Goldberg Variations – Glenn Gould 1983

Trout Mask Replica – Captain Beefheart

Repeater
– Fugazi

Lumpy
Gravy – Frank Zappa

TI -
King

Anything
you want to add to this interview ?

Thanks
very much!! 

Thank you very much to Shane for this interview. 
Their PA profile is here and their Myspace page is here. There is also tonnes of Ahleuchatistas live videos on Yotube too. 

Edited by toroddfuglesteg - December 20 2010 at 02:37

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toroddfuglesteg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Retired Joined: March 04 2008 Location: Retirement Home Status: Offline Points: 3658	Topic: Ahleuchatistas Posted: May 24 2010 at 08:49
	Ahleuchatistas is an American band from Asheville (NC). Forming in February 2003, the band is still quite young, but holding the steady line-up of Shane Perlowin (guitar), Sean Dail (drums), Derek Poteat (bass) have release three albums. While opting towards the simplistic formula of guitar, bass, drums line-up, their influences draw from vast spectrum's of music. Choosing to avoid sonic enhancements in their music, the band radiates a raw and streamline sound. With the palette clean from enhancements, the bands inventiveness sets out in full stride. Leaving a free vehicle in which the band experiments with numerous techniques to mimic the absurd and zany noises which infiltrating their albums. .........says the official PA biography. I got in touch with Shane for the full story. _--------------------------------_ Ahleuchatistas were formed in February 2003 and consists of of Shane Perlowin (guitar), Sean Dail (drums), Derek Poteat (bass). Please tell us more about the band name. What does it means ? That was the original lineup of the band, which lasted until early 2008... the current lineup (2010) is a duo, consisting of Shane Perlowin (guitar) and Ryan Oslance (drums)... The band name is made up from two words: "Ah Leu Cha", a Charlie Parker song, which means "to struggle", and "-tistas", like from Zapatistas, a Mexican peoples’ movement... the name reflects my sentiments and interests at the time of forming the band, radical music and social justice. These are still guiding principles for the project. On your albums, please give me your (long or brief) thoughts and lowdowns on the following releases....... On The Culture Industry from 2003 First album, recorded in a friend's living room. The title comes from a chapter in Adorno and Horkheimer's Dialectic of Enlightenment... About how mass media dominates our thoughts and decisions. It was written as mass media was on the rise in 1947. We were really unaware of a lot of the music that we would later be compared to. I had never heard the term "math rock" before releasing this record. It was great to be exposed to all the music that people compared this record to. The Same and the Other from 2004 A very agitated record, reacting very much to the invasion of Iraq. Reissued by Tzadik in 2008. What You Will from 2006 First album we released on Cuneiform Records... We were sort of evolving along our own idiosyncratic path at this point, on our own map, and we are fortunate to have been able to document this process for an international audience over the years. Even In The Midst... from 2007 This is a transitional record, more improvised music, more interest in textures starting to creep into the mix, as opposed to nimble hyper-thru-composed songs. It was original drummer Sean Dail's final recording with the project. A strange and beautiful album. Of the Body Prone from 2009 This is the first album with Ryan Oslance on drums... another transitional record of sorts (I guess we are always in transition, which is kind of the point), with compositions reminiscent of earlier Ahleuchatistas, but also pieces catering towards Ryan's natural inclinations and our changing musical attitudes and abilities. You have to compose for the musicians at hand for it to work best. Plus, I am not the same guitarist and composer I was when I was 24 years old. And to go through the motions of what people expect from the band would be dishonest, and, frankly, boring for us. The conceptual continuity of the band remains in the “anything goes” ethos, and following the muse wherever it may lead. There are no rules for this band. Of the Body Prone was our second release for Tzadik. It was also Derek Poteat’s final recording with the project, before we would become a duo. How is the distribution of your albums ? the first one is out of print... the rest are available easily through mail order, online, and record stores... and, as we speak, hundreds of people are torrenting the albums for free... I would claim that Ahleuchatistas is a typical product of the Millenium generation with it's chaotic, disharmonic sound and approach. But how would you describe Ahleuchatistas, your music and which bands would you compare yourself with? The music reacts to our musical and political environment globally. Bands that are big influences are Fugazi, Captain Beefheart, and Autechre. This list could go on and on… We like classical music and African music, too. USA is in the middle of a war again like it was when the music scene exploded in creativity back in the end of the 1960s. I think it is fair to say that Ahleuchatistas reflects the current war generation. Do you think there is any similarities between the Iraq generation and the Vietnam generation when it comes to musical creativity? I think musicians who feel deeply and are concerned about our global crises, will naturally make music in response to that, whether as a lament or criticism or escapism. I think it is unavoidable. Music is a social product. What has been the reaction to your albums so far ? Mixed. Some people love it, some hate it, and some are indifferent. It is nice to have any reaction at all. How is the live situation for Ahleuchatistas? The music is probably most intensely experienced at our shows. It is performed a little differently every time. What is the latest update on Ahleuchatistas ? What is your plans for this year and where do you want to take this band ? We just released a new song on Vinyl on the French record label Gaffer Records. We are recording a new album presently of all the new material we have been performing as a duo. Just to wrap this interview up; do you have any regrets in your music career? No regrets… What is your five alltime favourite albums? Bach’s Goldberg Variations – Glenn Gould 1983 Trout Mask Replica – Captain Beefheart Repeater – Fugazi Lumpy Gravy – Frank Zappa TI - King Anything you want to add to this interview ? Thanks very much!! Thank you very much to Shane for this interview. Their PA profile is here and their Myspace page is here. There is also tonnes of Ahleuchatistas live videos on Yotube too. Edited by toroddfuglesteg - December 20 2010 at 02:37

memowakeman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: May 19 2005 Location: Mexico City Status: Offline Points: 13032	Posted: May 26 2010 at 17:15
	Wow, cool to know Shane share interest in Zapatistas, I didn't know that movement was the cause of the "tistas" name. Very good band!
	Follow me on twitter @memowakeman

zMick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Joined: December 19 2010 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 1	Posted: December 19 2010 at 20:03
	Ahleuchatistas early work seem very raw.. as I listened further they became a real thinking band and unit ya got me tapping my foot as I stared into the monitor