Dana Countryman
Encyclopedia
Dana Countryman is an American
electronic music
composer and performer notable for his collaboration with French
electropop artist Jean-Jacques Perrey
. In addition, he was a songwriter and performer in the cabaret-act quartet The Amazing Pink Things (1985–1991). He published the magazine Cool and Strange Music Magazine (1996–2003).
. In 1971, he was exposed to the music of Jean-Jacques Perrey and became "obsessed", according to one account. He was drawn to Perrey's ability to convey the "feeling of happiness and downright joy" in his music. Countryman performed with numerous bands and became a songwriter and performer with the group Amazing Pink Things. The group performed with "garish costumes" and was described as a "mild-mannered musical comedy quartet". The group featured two men and two women doing satirical
songs with smooth harmonies somewhat similar to the Manhattan Transfer
but without the jazz
leanings. Music critic Karen Mathieson in The Seattle Times
described the Pink Things as "well-matched vocally."
In 1994, Countryman contacted Perrey to do an interview, and the two became acquainted. During the years 1996 to 2003, Countryman published a magazine entitled Cool and Strange Music Magazine.
After 2003, Countryman collaborated with Perrey musically. Perrey flew to Countryman's studio in Everett, Washington
which was described by a reporter as an "analog-synth wonderland." They finished songwriting and mixing their music partly by collaboration over the Internet
. They created several albums including The Happy Electro-Pop Music Machine as well as a second album based on "classic spy themes." Reviewer Skylaire Alfvegren in the Los Angeles Examiner
found their album Destination Space to be a "more sophisticated understanding of the type of folk drawn to electronic music". The album had "mewling kittens", harpsichords, "bubbly dementia", "astronaut patter" which "flies through the musical cosmos," according to the reviewer. When performing with Perrey, Countryman "spun dials, twisted knobs, and pressed buttons to produce a sweet rush of sugary, sci-fi melodies" and which had a "synthesized, surreal sheen."
(Recorded at age 16, and released under the name The Cincinnatti Ice Cream Factory Explosion Relief Commitee, 1971. SAYS Records, 36980.) (out of print)
As a member of The Amazing Pink Things:
Dana Countryman:
Jean-Jacques Perrey and Dana Countryman:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
composer and performer notable for his collaboration with French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
electropop artist Jean-Jacques Perrey
Jean-Jacques Perrey
Jean-Jacques Perrey is a French electronic music producer and was an early pioneer in the genre. He is best known within the sphere of popular music as a member of the influential electronic music duo Perrey and Kingsley, and for his unusually light-hearted style of music.-Biography:Perrey was...
. In addition, he was a songwriter and performer in the cabaret-act quartet The Amazing Pink Things (1985–1991). He published the magazine Cool and Strange Music Magazine (1996–2003).
Career
Countryman was born in Mount Vernon, WashingtonMount Vernon, Washington
Mount Vernon is a city in Skagit County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,743 at the 2010 census. It is one of two principal cities of and included in the Mount Vernon-Anacortes, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the county seat of Skagit County...
. In 1971, he was exposed to the music of Jean-Jacques Perrey and became "obsessed", according to one account. He was drawn to Perrey's ability to convey the "feeling of happiness and downright joy" in his music. Countryman performed with numerous bands and became a songwriter and performer with the group Amazing Pink Things. The group performed with "garish costumes" and was described as a "mild-mannered musical comedy quartet". The group featured two men and two women doing satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
songs with smooth harmonies somewhat similar to the Manhattan Transfer
Manhattan Transfer
Manhattan Transfer may refer to:* Manhattan Transfer , a Pennsylvania Railroad station in New Jersey* Manhattan Transfer , a 1925 novel by John Dos Passos* The Manhattan Transfer, a jazz, swing, R&B and pop group founded in 1969...
but without the jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
leanings. Music critic Karen Mathieson in The Seattle Times
The Seattle Times
The Seattle Times is a newspaper serving Seattle, Washington, US. It is the largest daily newspaper in the state of Washington. It has been, since the demise in 2009 of the printed version of the rival Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle's only major daily print newspaper.-History:The Seattle Times...
described the Pink Things as "well-matched vocally."
In 1994, Countryman contacted Perrey to do an interview, and the two became acquainted. During the years 1996 to 2003, Countryman published a magazine entitled Cool and Strange Music Magazine.
After 2003, Countryman collaborated with Perrey musically. Perrey flew to Countryman's studio in Everett, Washington
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
which was described by a reporter as an "analog-synth wonderland." They finished songwriting and mixing their music partly by collaboration over the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. They created several albums including The Happy Electro-Pop Music Machine as well as a second album based on "classic spy themes." Reviewer Skylaire Alfvegren in the Los Angeles Examiner
Los Angeles Herald-Examiner
The Los Angeles Herald Examiner was a major Los Angeles daily newspaper, published Monday through Friday in the afternoon, and in the morning on Saturdays and Sundays. It was part of the Hearst syndicate. The afternoon Herald-Express and the morning Examiner, both of which had been publishing in...
found their album Destination Space to be a "more sophisticated understanding of the type of folk drawn to electronic music". The album had "mewling kittens", harpsichords, "bubbly dementia", "astronaut patter" which "flies through the musical cosmos," according to the reviewer. When performing with Perrey, Countryman "spun dials, twisted knobs, and pressed buttons to produce a sweet rush of sugary, sci-fi melodies" and which had a "synthesized, surreal sheen."
Discography
Dana Countryman:- Peanut Buttery Gumdrop Girl / Don't You Know You'll Break My Heart.
(Recorded at age 16, and released under the name The Cincinnatti Ice Cream Factory Explosion Relief Commitee, 1971. SAYS Records, 36980.) (out of print)
As a member of The Amazing Pink Things:
- Wooters and Hoohah's (Cassette, 1987) Momo Records (out of print)
- Fear of Underwear (Cassette, and then CD, 1989)
- Live at the Hilton - Seattle, WA, 1989 (CD, 2005)
Dana Countryman:
- American Pop (Cassette, 1991) Purely Promotional Records, 1991 (out of print)
- Two Zombies Later (Compilation, 2003) One track: "Cocktails In Space" - Comfort Stand Recordings, 2003
- Interplanetary Materials (Compilation, 2004) One track: "Lovesick Martian Boy" - Comfort Stand Recordings, 2004
- Switched On Bob (CD, 2009, Italy) (Compilation) One track: "Cocktails in Space"
- Synthesizers Dotcom Collective (CD, 2010) (Various Artists) One track: "Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14, Third Movement"
- Galactic Hits (CD, 2010, Switzerland) Vibrations Presents (Compilation) One track: "Cocktails in Space"
- Moog-Tastic! - Electronic Melodies from the 24th Century (Oglio Records CD, 2010).
Jean-Jacques Perrey and Dana Countryman:
- The Happy Electropop Music Machine (Oglio Records CD, 2006), with Jean-Jacques Perrey.
- Destination Space (Oglio Records CD, 2008), with Jean-Jacques Perrey.
- Switched On Bob (CD, 2009, Italy) (Comp) One track: Chicken On The Rocks.
- Galactic Hits (CD, 2010, Switzerland)- Vibrations Presents (Compilation) One track: Huckleberry Duck / The Toy Trumpet (A giveaway CD for subscribers to Swiss music magazine "Vibrations".)