An Inescapable Siren Within Earshot Distance Therein and Other Whereabouts

This is Moe! Staiano's first CD of orchcestral compositions (for Strings, Percussion, U-bolts, Wine Glasses, Prepared Guitar and Sirens), which differ greatly from his conducted improvisations. The pieces were recorded in 1998 and 2003, respectively. Moe! Staiano is a self-trained composer/performer who uses large ensembles of mixed instruments as a canvas for sonic exploration. His scores combine text, graphics, and conventional notation, and he is equally inspired by the composers Glenn Branca, Krystof Penderecki, and John Zorn, as well as the bands Einsturzende Neubauten, the Ex, and the Ruins, Moe!'s pieces pit groups of acoustic instruments against amplified rock instruments and found objects to create intense orchestral collages with subtly shifting timbres. As a percussionist, Moe! has toured the U.S.A several times, collaborated with Henry Kaiser and Amy Denio, and has performed with William Hooker, Michael Evans (God Is My Co-Pilot), Caroline Kraabel, and John Edwards (Shock Exchange). The recordings feature Ches Smith (Good for Cows), David Slusser, Nils Frykdahl (Sleepytime Gorilla Museum), Kris Force (Amber Asylum) and 29 other musicians. The Piece No.7 recording features, sadly, the final recording of bassist Matthew Sperry (who has worked with Tom Waits, Anthony Braxton, Gino Robiar, etc.).