JamBase will be released Cluster Flies, a cover composition proposed again Phish’s album Farmhouse, on Friday, April 30th. The limited edition version of the 3LP was mastered by engineer Joe Lambert and features custom artwork and a poster created by Phish’s longtime collaborator Jim Pollock. Available today is the single “Sand” covered by Club d’Elf.
Pre-orders for Cluster Flies begins today, Tuesday, April 13 at 12 p.m. The Cluster Flies Pollock poster will be available along with the triple gatefold, 180 gram vinyl edition. A free-standing triple 180 gram vinyl edition can also be purchased without the poster. The Timed Edition release of Cluster Flies available to order until May 3 at 11:59 p.m. ET. A high-end digital version can also be downloaded.
An award of the same Cluster Flies Pollock posters available in the vinyl bundle will go on sale from tomorrow, Wednesday 14 April at 12 noon ET, via www.clusterflies.com.
Phish released Farmhouse on Elektra Records in May 2000. The album is the first recording recorded by the orchestra as a guitarist Trey Anastasio’s The Barn recording studio outside Burlington, Vermont, where almost all of their subsequent albums were recorded, including 2020s Sigma Oasis.
Also in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced musicians off the road because concerts and festivals around the world were canceled. After more than 20 years of encouraging fans to go and watch Live Sea Music, JamBase’s message has been postponed. In response, the Cluster Flies The concept was devised late last year, as well as recognition for Farmhouse’s 20th anniversary, as well as a way for JamBase to connect fans with the musicians they love.
For the cost of an average ticket for a show, you can support JamBase and musicians who have not toured for more than one year, through your copy of Cluster Flies today.
“In July last year, when it became clear, the COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on the live music industry,” said JamBase CEO. David Onigman said: ‘I instructed the team to get an idea that we could move around in place of live music and to raise lost revenue for JamBase. Instead of a standard fundraiser, the Cluster Fly project was conceived, and we soon reached out to an incredible group of musicians who graciously jumped at the chance to support JamBase. What has happened over the past nine months has fared better than my wildest expectation. I am delighted with how the performances, the artwork, the packaging, the mastery and the podcasts that we are going to introduce daily have come together. It is a collection of works of which I am very proud and with the honor of sharing the world. ”
For Cluster Flies, JamBase has recruited many of their favorite artists to record new versions of each of the 12 songs Farmhouse, as well as the few bonus tracks included with the original Japanese edition. In an effort to truly create something new, Cluster Flies presents three additional covers of Phish songs written during the year Farmhouse era, but not recorded for that – or any other album. Fans of Farmhouse will also recognize a very different order on the playlist when you listen Cluster Fly.
“Sand” by Club d’Elf
Side A starts with guitar player William Tyler se beautiful adaptation of the instrumental “The Inlaw Josie Wales.” Genu-buig duo Sylvan Esso follows with a welcoming version of the title track. Trumpets / songs Jennifer Hartswick, who is a member of the Trey Anastasio Band and has contributed to Farmhouse, was accompanied by bass player Christian McBride and others on “Dirt.” The closure of side A is the first non-Farmhouse track, “Vultures”, recorded by guitarists Tim Palmieri and Amar Sastry with members of Goose, Twiddle, Tea Leaf Green and Stranger.
Upcoming singer-songwriter Daniel Donato kick off side B with “Back on the train.” Then there is the non-farming song, “Bye Bye Foot”, recorded by multi-instrumentalist Reed Mathis a drummer Jay Lane. Bay Area-based singer-songwriter Vetiver (Andy Cabic) delivers a beautiful rendition of ‘Driver’. The side B is that of White Denim James Petralli leads a wild dub “Gotta Jibboo” while supported by Sam Cohen, Eric Slick, Mike St. Clair and Zero percent April.
Guitarist Chris Forsyth takes up the whole side C with his extended onslaught on ‘Piper’. Side D starts with Club d’Elf which adds their distinctive psychedelic Moroccan atmosphere to ‘Sand’. Next, bluegrass singer-songwriter Lindsay Lou gives her interpretation of the Japanese bonus track “Mountains In The Mist.” Guitarist Sadler Vaden by Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit then imprints a Nashville stamp on the single, Heavy Things, from the original album. Americana appears with Amy Helm’s intriguing arrangement of ‘Sleep’.
Side E drops the needle Neal Francis’ neo-soul-funk version of the final non-Farmhouse song, “Dogs Stole Things.” Then comes Umphrey’s McGee guitarist Brendan Bayliss with a real twisted adaptation of ‘Twist’. The side is closed with Strand Of Oaks (Timothy Showalter) extending “Bug” beyond its normal limits. Guitarist Ryley Walker take over from there and dig into an impromptu version of ‘First Tube’ of almost 20 minutes, and close Cluster Flies and taking the whole side F.
Every song on Cluster Flies will have its premiere through a daily launch on JamBase and a corresponding episode of The JamBase Podcast It also includes interviews with each of the participating artists. The first episode airs today with Mike Rivard of Club d’Elf and continues every day with the release of the album on April 30th. Keep an ear for certain cuts Cluster Flies premiered on SiriusXM’s Phish Radio during upcoming episodes of Crowd control and Headbands.
Visit www.clusterflies.com to pre-order.
Side A:
- William Tyler – The Inlaw Josie Wales (3:40)
- Sylvan Esso – Farmhouse (3:02)
- Jennifer Hartswick – Dirt (3:54)
- Tim Palmieri, Reid Genauer, Amar Sastry, Eric DiBerardino, Ben Atkind and Ryan Dempsey – Vultures (8:17)
Side B:
- Daniel Donato – Back on the Train (4:09)
- Reed Mathis – Bye Bye Foot (5:09)
- Vetiver – Manager (3:22)
- James Petralli, Sam Cohen, Eric Slick, Mike St. Clair and Zero Percent APR – Gotta Jibboo (4:40)
Side C:
- Chris Forsyth – Piper (18:34)
Side D:
- Club d’Elf – Sand (7:10)
- Lindsay Lou – Mountains In The Mist (4:05)
- Sadler Vaden – Heavy Things (4:04)
- Amy Helm – Sleep (4:32)
Side E:
- Neal Francis – Dogs Steal Things (4:13)
- Brendan Bayliss – Twist (4:07)
- Strand of Oaks – Bug (8:15)
Side F:
- Ryley Walker – First Tube (18:57)