About Birthmark

At least 4 different bands / acts share this name: 1) Birthmark is Nate Kinsella of the Joan of Arc collective gone solo. 2) Birthmark is a rock band from Athens, Greece. Initially formed in 2001 under the name Cuore Nero. 3) A hardcore act from Banská Bystrica (Slovakia). 4) An experimental band from Brighton, East Sussex, England 1.) Under the appellation Birthmark, Nate Kinsella has embraced restraint in spite of the compositional boundlessness typically borne by musical virtuosity. On his debut album The Layer, the inventive and often byzantine drum set/Wurlitzer style he developed over the past four years in the band Make Believe is all but absent, revealing a quiet and uncanny tension of minimalist focus. And while Kinsella performed all of the music on The Layer, recalling his multi-instrumental duties in the band Joan of Arc, the listener is more awestruck by the attention to integration and score than by a whirlwind of prowess. The Layer represents an effort that began over eight years ago with the song "Flightless Bird," which was originally written for a friend's unfinished film project. Over time, the songs transitioned through amorphous forms until their ideal structures were achieved, further revealing The Layer to be a product of discreet process. In fact, two sharply contrasting songs on The Layer "A Solitary Angle on the Confinement of Doom" and "The Layer" started as the same tune, and the piano throughout was recorded in Minnesota over two consecutive Christmas vacations. While the recording of the album spans four years and numerous locations, it is bound by an elegant and earthy lyrical form that is telling of Kinsella's ardent atheism and wonder at the natural world. The Layer further bears witness to his growth as a recording engineer, which ostensibly began with his former band decembers architects' only LP and progressed to collaborating on multiple recordings by Joan of Arc, Sharks and Seals, Owen, and most recently the soundtrack to Tim Kinsella's debut film, Orchard Vale. As Birthmark, Nate Kinsella's The Layer is a remarkable album that rewards both the casual and attentive listener alike. The release of The Layer is set for December 2007 on 'record label' in the US, Coraille and Dunix in Europe, and Iscollagecollective in Japan. A European tour will follow in the winter. (from label coraille.com) http://www.myspace.com/birthmarkincomputer 2) Birthmark were formed in 2002 in Athens, Greece. After forming a solid sound, the band went on to performing live gigs, playing with several bands and constantly rehearsing new material. Soon they were recognized as an important asset of Athens' underground rock scene, having a distinctive sound and an intense on-scene presence. In 2005, after wining the first prize at a music contest they got an album deal with V2 records. Their first LP album, "Product of black days" was recorded, mixed and produced by the band itself and could be described as alternative-progressive rock. It was released in 2007 by V2 records and was sold out getting positive feedback from both the critics and the audience. Birthmark have performed live with Nina Nastasia, Iron Butterfly, Holly Golightly, Diorama and others, as well as many important greek bands. In 2012, Birthmark released their second full-length album, under the title "Boogeyman", bringing loads of innovative ideas, shaped as a new dynamic quintet. "Boogeyman" sports 10 original alternative rock compositions characterized by a shadowy but groovy sound and a cover of Massive Attack's "Safe From Harm" interpreted in Birthmark's musical style. At the same time, the band starts a new project, called "Birthmark iPad sessions". New compositions, featuring the substitution of drums with on the fly-processed with an iPad beats and analog synths, form an electronica-oriented sound maintaining rock elements and presenting a different perspective of Birthmark. Birthmark official home-page: http://www.birthmarkmusic.com Art director: Crosti: http://www.myspace.com/crosti