“Hello and welcome…”
Menagerie is a concept album about times and whether or not we have the agency to build a better world. And while the album, like the world, can be a circle of darkness, pain, and fear there are glimmers of beauty and, perhaps, a way to escape…
THE TRACKS
(Click the song artwork for an enlarged version)
“You’ve got your window and, yeah, I’ve got mine…”
“Those days they flew like wind, I never thought they’d end”
“Not a single star up there tonight…”
“He rite show for the world to see.”
“…In a sad hill we will lay…”
“Nobody knows why this train’s so loud…”
“With the windows came walls.”
“Picture this feeling moving slowly…”
“These echoes fade… into an ocean of pain…”
“When are we?”
“It’s noisy at the fair, but all your friends are there…”
“Just declare it, and prosperity will come to you…”
“Marilyn… You are a very sick girl.”
“Billy, don’t go down that road…”
“I know it’s not your fault… But I’m gonna blame you anyway.”
"But nobody listening ‘round…”
“EAGER, MINE; ERE ENIGMA”
“Are we audience or players?”
Album Credits
Kreatur Komforts is a project by J.M.M.
The performances
by J.M.M. except those that are not, some of which are by…
Dr. Francois Rose (Introductory voiceover on Dark Dance), Moorea Dickason (Vocals on Normal Eyes), Bonnie Maddox (Accordion on Normal Eyes), Sage Baggott (Drums on The Stone Prince and Time), Pato Milo (Guitar on Post-Facto Existential Blues) Mark Reed (Voice-over on Post-Facto Existential Blues).
The Low Brass musicians on Alas, This Molt (Chorale) include: Bonnie Maddox, Jack Madden, & Forrest Jones, (Trombone) with Francis Upton IV (tuba)
All tracks were recorded at
Kreatur Featur, Mtz. Cal.
Except
Piano on Time: Tiny Telephone Studios, S.F. Cal.(Maryam Qudus, engineer)
Drums on The Stone Prince and Time: The Compound, Oak. Cal.
Low Brass Quartet: Saint Dominic’s Catholic Church (Special Thanks to Simon Berry, Music Director, for allowing us to record in the ha11owed space).
Mixing
Maryam Qudus at Best House in Berk. Cal. & Tiny Telephone Studios Oak. Cal.
Mastering
Jacob Winik
THANK YOU
This album simply wouldn’t be possible without the support and love of: Mom and Dad, The Schiada Family, Lindsay Orosco, Deborah & Don Ware, Dave Möschler and the Awesöme Orchestra Collective, Pato Milo and Steve Glover, Dr. Eric Hammer for all you taught me; I miss you, all the fabulous guest musicians, Marty Sproul, Michael McCutcheon, and Dezi.
And I am ever-indebted to my one and only Bonnie Maddox. Your everlasting patience, support, and love made this album possible. I love you.
MM