Cake working green in studio on new album

CAKE -- one of the most principled, enduring, self-reliant, and best-selling artists in post-alternative rock -- are currently in the midst of recording their sixth studio album, with an entirely green twist: the new project is being written, rehearsed and recorded entirely with solar power. During the recording process, CAKE is sharing the results with their fans via a set of free ring tones--each based on a song from the upcoming album--released via the band’s mailing list.

Starting today, the first of six ring tones based on brand new album tracks will be released through CAKE’s mailing list. The first ringtone, titled “Long Time,” is only available for download to members of the CAKE mailing list; to sign up, visit:
http://cakemusic.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi.

Every six weeks, a ringtone for a new CAKE song will be released via e-blast to all mailing list members up until the new album launch in Spring 2010.

Says trumpeter VINCE DIFIORE: “All the parts we've written for a song work symbiotically for the whole; however, some hooks have enough merit on their own to justify offering them as utterly satisfying ring tones."

"We weren't sure if people were still even listening to albums,” adds songwriter and lead vocalist JOHN McCREA, “so we thought we might just release ring tones and car commercial music instead. This allows people who own cell phones a chance to sample our wares long before an album is ever released. That's what we know people want. Ring tones."

And bassist GABRIEL NELSON says simply: "We are proud to offer high quality, custom crafted ring tones to listeners worldwide."

Recently honored as one of the top 10 “greenest” bands on the planet in a special issue of Billboard, CAKE teamed with Borrego Solar to convert their entire Sacramento recording studio into solar power. The innovative group documented their break away from the city’s energy grid, as illustrated by this video of CAKE’s solar conversion: www.cakemusic.com/solar.html.

The group’s decision to record their forthcoming album entirely with solar power was made for both artistic and environmental reasons: “It just seemed like the right thing to do,” says McCREA. “I believe in science, and science is telling us that we need to make adjustments. Living in California, it seemed like a waste not to take advantage of all the free electricity.”

DIFIORE chimes in: “We work in the spirit of cooperation, and when there is something like solar energy above your head, there is a little bit more levity added.”

Founded in 1992 and reaching worldwide attention on the strength of their platinum albums Fashion Nugget and Prolonging The Magic, CAKE have been cited by Rolling Stone as creators of “a modern pop that is both mechanized and organic...highly developed and virtually unique.”

Highlights in recent years range from raves for their latest studio album Pressure Chief (2004), and a subsequent compilation of unreleased tracks B-sides and Rarities (2007), to major success in concert, including multiple runs of their self-founded ‘Unlimited Sunshine’ tour and solo dates in large theaters and arenas worldwide.

CAKE reissued their first album, Motorcade of Generosity, on June 9th as an enhanced CD. The re-issue includes previously unavailable video footage and limited edition decal. The 180g vinyl version of the album features limited edition poster art and sold out in two days.

www.cakemusic.com