Lewis & Clarke (music)
Encyclopedia
Lewis & Clarke is the nom-de-plume of Lou Rogai and collaborators. The name is a reference to the fellowship and correspondence between C. S. Lewis
and Arthur C. Clarke
, not the 19th century explorers. The moniker has been described as metaphor
for journey
on many levels, including musical, spiritual, and physical. Rogai is a composer/musician/songwriter as well as founder of La Société Expéditionnaire
, a record label "dedicated to exposing the wild and/or fragile music of colleagues".
New music was initiated with Dave Ulrich, Eve Miller (Rachel's
, Matt Pond PA
) and Russell Higbee (Man Man
). During this process, The US version of Bare Bones and Branches (alternate takes, mixes, tracks and artwork) was released in 2005 by Summersteps, the micro-label most noted for their Jandek
tribute albums (Jandek himself expressed gratitude in a handwritten letter for particular tracks on Down in a Mirror Vol. II, including Lewis & Clarke's cover of 'Nancy Sings').
La Société Expéditionnaire released Live on WPRB as live vinyl-only 12" EP in the Fall of 2006. This recording captures the chemistry of Rogai, Ulrich and Higbee live on Princeton Radio (without Miller, who was healing from an injury), and prepared listeners for Blasts of Holy Birth. It sets an ambiance including various chimes, vocals, new humans, eastern drones, harp, guitar, banjo, piano, percussion, and other whims, including the Expeditionary Grace Singers, who have yet to appear elsewhere.
Bare Bones and Branches, originally released in the fall is called "The perfect Autumnal album" by the Associated Press, while No Depression cites it as "A whisper of an album, lovely without being precious, moody without being beleaguering.” One can begin to identify patterns of Lewis & Clarke as an organic, ever changing work, with Blasts of Holy Birth being a cornerstone in the evolution. Released in May 2007, it dovetails the symbolic nature of spring and birth, and represents themes found in a Taoist text called Secret of the Golden Flower (also the opening track). Pitchfork calls it "Eight tracks of delicate Beauty" and The Onion's A/V Club notes: "Lou Rogai finally puts the lame-ass freak-folk label to rest by making an album that's as grounded in real life as it is sublimated in ether....Rogai has a gift for speaking plainly while tonguing poetry, and his meditations on life cycles and pastoral philosophy blossom and collapse with organic grace."
After Rogai and Miller, as a duo, toured the Eastern US with Bat For Lashes (UK), Lewis & Clarke closed out 2007 with a performance at MoMA NYC, and toured again in spring of 2008. One year later, Rogai & Co., including Tom Asselin, and brothers Ian and Shane O'Hara, deliver Light Time; a limited edition 12” vinyl record. In Spring 2009 they supported Bat For Lashes for US dates once again. 2010 appearances included the Truck America Festival in Big Indian, NY.
C. S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis , commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as "Jack", was a novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist from Belfast, Ireland...
and Arthur C. Clarke
Arthur C. Clarke
Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, CBE, FRAS was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, famous for his short stories and novels, among them 2001: A Space Odyssey, and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World. For many years, Robert A. Heinlein,...
, not the 19th century explorers. The moniker has been described as metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
for journey
Quest
In mythology and literature, a quest, a journey towards a goal, serves as a plot device and as a symbol. Quests appear in the folklore of every nation and also figure prominently in non-national cultures. In literature, the objects of quests require great exertion on the part of the hero, and...
on many levels, including musical, spiritual, and physical. Rogai is a composer/musician/songwriter as well as founder of La Société Expéditionnaire
La Société Expéditionnaire
La Société Expéditionnaire is a Pennsylvania - based independent record label established in 2006 by Lewis & Clarke's Lou Rogai. On previous Lewis & Clarke albums, the liner notes contained a contact address for "The Expeditionary Society", a nod to the exploratory reference of Lewis & Clarke. This...
, a record label "dedicated to exposing the wild and/or fragile music of colleagues".
History
The most recent musical styling of Lewis & Clarke can be described as new-folk, avant chamber folk, or neo baroque, while the first 2003 self-release Bright Light EP represents a reflective, dusty Americana sound. In 2003, MAGNET magazine introduced Rogai as "a gifted newcomer". Lewis & Clarke's debut full length Bare Bones and Branches was released in 2003, by Delboy records in Europe. This was supported by a short tour of the Benelux, and the album was met with critical acclaim. A live Lewis & Clarke track surfaced on a compilation issued by PIAS entitled Duyster (a "best of" compilation from Belgian National Radio's program of the same name), along with Joanna Newsom, Mogwai, and Cat Power.New music was initiated with Dave Ulrich, Eve Miller (Rachel's
Rachel's
Rachel's is an American chamber music group that formed in Louisville, Kentucky in 1991. Former Rodan guitarist, Jason Noble, played music individually and referred to himself as Rachel's but then began collaborating with now core members, violist Christian Frederickson, and pianist Rachel Grimes...
, Matt Pond PA
Matt Pond PA
Matt Pond PA is a New York based band formed in Philadelphia by singer-songwriter Matt Pond. They have released eight LPs and eight EPs since 1998....
) and Russell Higbee (Man Man
Man Man
Man Man is an experimental band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Man Man is known for their exuberant live performances. When performing, the members of the band sometimes coordinate their outfits, often seen in white outfits and, more commonly, war paint....
). During this process, The US version of Bare Bones and Branches (alternate takes, mixes, tracks and artwork) was released in 2005 by Summersteps, the micro-label most noted for their Jandek
Jandek
Jandek is the musical project of an anonymous outsider musician who operates out of Houston, Texas. Since 1978, Jandek has self-released over 60 albums of unusual, often emotionally dissolute folk and blues songs without ever granting more than the occasional interview or providing any biographical...
tribute albums (Jandek himself expressed gratitude in a handwritten letter for particular tracks on Down in a Mirror Vol. II, including Lewis & Clarke's cover of 'Nancy Sings').
La Société Expéditionnaire released Live on WPRB as live vinyl-only 12" EP in the Fall of 2006. This recording captures the chemistry of Rogai, Ulrich and Higbee live on Princeton Radio (without Miller, who was healing from an injury), and prepared listeners for Blasts of Holy Birth. It sets an ambiance including various chimes, vocals, new humans, eastern drones, harp, guitar, banjo, piano, percussion, and other whims, including the Expeditionary Grace Singers, who have yet to appear elsewhere.
Bare Bones and Branches, originally released in the fall is called "The perfect Autumnal album" by the Associated Press, while No Depression cites it as "A whisper of an album, lovely without being precious, moody without being beleaguering.” One can begin to identify patterns of Lewis & Clarke as an organic, ever changing work, with Blasts of Holy Birth being a cornerstone in the evolution. Released in May 2007, it dovetails the symbolic nature of spring and birth, and represents themes found in a Taoist text called Secret of the Golden Flower (also the opening track). Pitchfork calls it "Eight tracks of delicate Beauty" and The Onion's A/V Club notes: "Lou Rogai finally puts the lame-ass freak-folk label to rest by making an album that's as grounded in real life as it is sublimated in ether....Rogai has a gift for speaking plainly while tonguing poetry, and his meditations on life cycles and pastoral philosophy blossom and collapse with organic grace."
After Rogai and Miller, as a duo, toured the Eastern US with Bat For Lashes (UK), Lewis & Clarke closed out 2007 with a performance at MoMA NYC, and toured again in spring of 2008. One year later, Rogai & Co., including Tom Asselin, and brothers Ian and Shane O'Hara, deliver Light Time; a limited edition 12” vinyl record. In Spring 2009 they supported Bat For Lashes for US dates once again. 2010 appearances included the Truck America Festival in Big Indian, NY.
Discography
- Bright Light EP 7"/EP (2003 Delboy EU)
- Bare Bones and Branches (2003 Delboy EU /2005 Summersteps US)
- Live on WPRB 12" (2006 La Société ExpéditionnaireLa Société ExpéditionnaireLa Société Expéditionnaire is a Pennsylvania - based independent record label established in 2006 by Lewis & Clarke's Lou Rogai. On previous Lewis & Clarke albums, the liner notes contained a contact address for "The Expeditionary Society", a nod to the exploratory reference of Lewis & Clarke. This...
) - Blasts of Holy Birth (2007 La Société ExpéditionnaireLa Société ExpéditionnaireLa Société Expéditionnaire is a Pennsylvania - based independent record label established in 2006 by Lewis & Clarke's Lou Rogai. On previous Lewis & Clarke albums, the liner notes contained a contact address for "The Expeditionary Society", a nod to the exploratory reference of Lewis & Clarke. This...
) - Light Time 12" EP (2009 La Société ExpéditionnaireLa Société ExpéditionnaireLa Société Expéditionnaire is a Pennsylvania - based independent record label established in 2006 by Lewis & Clarke's Lou Rogai. On previous Lewis & Clarke albums, the liner notes contained a contact address for "The Expeditionary Society", a nod to the exploratory reference of Lewis & Clarke. This...
)
Compilation Appearances
- "Doc Holiday Was A Phony" (live) - Duyster - (PIAS 2005)
- "Nancy Sings" - Down In A Mirror, A Tribute To Jandek v.2 (Summersteps 2005)
- "Disintegration" - Perfect As Cats: A Tribute To The Cure (Manimal Vinyl 2009)
- "Changes" - We Were So Turned On: A Tribute to David Bowie (Manimal Vinyl 2010)