After a 4-year musical adventure in Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines, Oliver Benjamin Thayer has drifted back into New York City to release another riveting collection of travel-torn electronic folk.
Oliver Benjamin Thayer has a wild, sprawling past and a new album that explores it in the present. ‘The Life We Were Promised’ is his most definitive lyrical folk-based genre mash-up to date. Oliver’s previous album, ‘12 Women’, had songs prominently used in the feature films ‘Bitter Feast’ and ‘The Undeserved’. His global fan-base of disenfranchised humans, drunks, gypsies, artists, thieves, sex addicts, gamblers and lunatics has been eagerly awaiting ‘The Life We Were Promised’.
Drawing upon a love of hip-hop, funk, country/western, and the mysterious and mercurial archival collections of Harry Smith and Alan Lomax, Oliver explores their relationship on his latest release. Born in Oklahoma, Oliver was whisked away by a storm cloud of dust. He spent his youth traveling the globe with his family as they collected odd jobs, records and volumes of strange verse. They bounced from Turkey to Italy to Israel to France. Unhinged and determined, he later stumbled through New York City, chasing demons through the projects and catching images for songs. In Minneapolis, he became a bandleader and producer before leaving for a four-year stint in Asia.
‘The Life We Were Promised’ is a 100% home grown and self-released project. Lyrical dreamscapes, vivid storytelling and deep, soulful, gritty electronic rhythms are at the album’s heart, along with a whimsical and dark sense of humor. Recorded in Taiwan, musicians and singers from around the world were brought in to combine their talents with Oliver’s singular vision. He has returned to New York City for its release.
Fans are encouraged to visit Oliver’s website, www.theoliverse.com, and join the mailing list for all upcoming releases and events. Oliver is planning a tour for the summer of 2011.
http://www.theoliverse.com/
http://www.facebook.com/oliverbenjaminmusic
http://www.myspace.com/oliverbenjaminthayer
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