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The Album
tyeDye Records is very proud to present its flagship release,
Under the Big Tree. Over three years in the making, this album is the largest project
ever undertaken by the tyeDye crew. Composed by Nick Peck and
performed by a dozen fine musicians, Big Tree is a concept work that tackles a fundamental question: Where do
we connect?
Under the Big Tree is a large and sprawling album, with 12 interconnected songs that
were performed in a variety of styles. From piano, flute, and
cello trios to raw, powerful electric improvisations, from Indian-inflected
sitar to blistering guitar solos, from naked voice to thick, complex
orchestrations, Under the Big Tree delivers a large package of
beautiful, thought-provoking music.
The Music
Click any song to see lyrics and download the mp3.
Year Released
1997.
Format
CD.
How do I get it?
Available through:
Reviews
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Upon hearing just the first five minutes of this release I knew
my ears were to be in for a different listening treat.
"Under The Big Tree" is based on a true life experience which
was then composed and set to music by Nick Peck.
The story tells of Nick's visit to a retreat in New Mexico, of
the shamanic journey he had during meditation and of the experience
of finding the "Universal Inner Self". After the experience Nick
wrote notes and then spent 3 years putting that discovery into
recorded form.
The musicial elements that unfold during the story involve progressive
and most definitely psychedelic and hallucinogenic styles. Nick
Peck and the dozen other musicial friends who helped with the
project have captured Nick's vision beautifully. Some of the instruments
used include "chunky" Hammond organ, grand piano, the "faithfull"
mellotron, trippy flowing guitar playing as well as flute, bamboo
flute, sitar & cello. Some of the vocals remind me of the "Wooden
Ships" quality of CSN&Y.
Finally we see musicians from the USA striking out and creating
original music.
Richard Stockwell
Cranium Music |
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Summary of history:
From the home of the American Now comes Nick Peck with his Under
The Big Tree.
The album:
The artwork is certainly based on the titles of the tracks (or
was it the other way around). The Proloque opens with piano and
continues with marchlike rhythms (a bit freer than that though)
and brimming Hammond.Then we come to the vocal part introducing
the concept story, which comes from a "journey" Nick Peck made
while being deeply relaxed. Based on the what he saw in his vision
he wrote the music and the lyrics. Because of the flute, the latter
part of this track reminds a bit of Jethro Tull. The intro to
Mouths And Frogs is a low bass sound (at least that's what I think)
and after a slow continuation of this intro we come to the relaxed
vocal part, when the singer has entered the dreamworld. The vocals
are doubled on this track sometimes sung, sometimes almost spoken.
The song has some very nice instrumental passages with lots of
things happening and sounds appearing from under the rug. The
song also has a jazzy component with the rather free form keyboard
solo. One of the guitar parts remind me very much of Twelfth Night.
The song also has a large psychedelic component, which is not
strange in view of the lyrics. Writer In A Rainstorm is a rather
powerful track that likens somewhat to Spock's Beard and contains
some guitar references to Genesis as well. A rather poppy track
this, but the melody is nice. I'm not fond of the rather directionless
instrumental intermezzo. The improvised The Teepee Morgue has
spoken vocals with soft piano and laid back percussion. The song
does in fact sound like an improvisation with a large guitar component
and is essentially psychedelic. Into The Opera House is ballad
track of a friendly kind with piano, cello and flute. A bit of
a longing track that turns out to become quite dynamic in the
end, but ends on the ballad note. The next vision is of Mars with
again very nice melodies and good mood changes. Plenty of musical
changes as well and off-beat rhythms to spar | |
