Tenebrae is the latest work from singer-songwriter, Mike Mangione and his band. Since its release the band has received favorable press form all corners of the country, including the honor of being selected as New York Magazine's pick of the week in September 2007. Indie Launchpad defines Tenebrae as "a phenomenally great album," while Indiemusicstop has labeled it "a definite must have for any fan of folk and Indie music genres." Aside from its life in the press, for the band the album marks a dénouement of sorts, the culmination of a process that began as a search for a subtle, organic, yet dynamic and expressive sound.
Mangione has been influenced by the songwriting and production of Daniel Lanois. "His albums are like audible incense, seeping through the speakers and filling the room with a discernible funk. Albums like Achtung Baby, Bob Dylan's Time Out Of Mind, Emmylou Harris' Wrecking Ball, and Peter Gabriel's US set the bar for me. These albums all have something very mystical and pensive about them. I wanted Tenebrae to be in that same ballpark - or at least the same parking lot of the ballpark - of those incredible albums. As someone who has spent a fair amount of time on the road, I have come to appreciate the vitality of live performance, the holistic vibe that it yields, and I wanted my new album to reflect that reality. I didn't just want an assortment of songs thrown together on a CD, I wanted consistency and tone; I wanted thematic unity; I wanted an album in the classic sense of the word."
Born and raised in a northern suburb of Chicago and now residing in Milwaukee, Mangione is no stranger to movement and change. Following the 2005 release of There and Back, which charted CMJ at number 16, Mangione has logged approximately one hundred and fifty shows per year throughout the country including such notable performances as SXSW, Midwest Music Summit, Chicago's Mobfest, and Milwaukee's Summerfest. He has opened for performers like Jamie Cullum, The Samples, Will Hodge, Jacks Mannequin, Lifehouse, Brian Vander Ark, and Michael McDermott.
Through his travels Mike met with producer Duane Lundy (The Apparitions, Scourge of the Sea, The Parlour Boys, Vandaveer, Martha Berner) and the two quickly developed a relationship. "Duane and I had a lot in common in terms of musical influences. We had the same vision for the album and decided to record as much as we could live, with very little overdubbing, so that the performances could breathe and bleed together - literally bleed together into the microphones."
The two began recruiting for the sessions, pulling from their catalog of contacts. Mangione co-wrote and arranged most of the music with his brother, Thomas, and called on him to do all the lead guitar work. Over the years, furthermore, Mangione had developed a relationship with the band, The Samples, and recruited Samples keyboardist, Karl Dietel. Lundy brought in Robby Cosenza (The Apparitions, Scourge of the Sea) to play drums. John Collins, a Chicago-scene veteran who had recently begun playing upright bass for Mangione on the road, was an appropriate fit for the album, rounding out the rhythm section.
Just before going into the studio to record Tenebrae, furthermore, Mangione decided to add a string section to both his studio and touring band. Mangione brought in Patrick Hoctor on cello, and Kristina Priceman on violin.
Although Mike Mangione lives in Milwaukee, the entire band resides in Chicago. They consider some point on I-94 as their home.
For more information, visit their website: http://www.mikemangione.com/
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