Zelienople:

Zelienople is a quartet from Chicago that slowly formed into a proper band out of years of 4-track sound experiments, hazy jams, and all-night drone sessions in a haunted room above an old antique shop. Matt Christensen plays bass, guitar, organ and sings. Brian Harding plays b-flat and bass clarinets, piano and guitar, and Mike Weis plays the drum kit, vibraphone and various eastern percussion (irreverently). In the fall of 2003, Zelienople became a quartet with the inclusion of guitarist Neil Jendon, an active musician in the Chicago improvised music community.

Drawing upon the drone-based music legacy of '60's American minimalism, 70's ambient rock, 80's space rock, and 90's electro-acoustic improv music, as well as a reverence for the history of psychedelic rock, the trio committed hours of songs to tape in preparation for their debut album, Pajama Avenue which was released by Loose Thread Recordings in August of 2002. The band took to the stage in earnest, sharing bills with Múm, Tristeza, Circulatory System, Eternals, and Scott Tuma.

Zelienople spent the whole of 2003 recording their follow-up, Sleeper Coach, on an archaic 1/2" 8-track tape machine in various bedrooms, basements, hallways and living rooms. Sleeper Coach eschews the synths of Pajama Avenue for dense atmospheric guitar drones and complex, subtle loops that simultaneously give the impression of great depth and intimacy. What emerged is a powerful testament to the band’s relentless desire to continuously explore with an emphasis on loosening the structures and freeing up spaces of their song craft. Sleeper Coach is released by Loose Thread on September 14, 2004.

Press on Pajama Avenue:

“...it's a beautiful and massively rewarding trick of scale. Sounds move by in such contemplative slow motion that the slightest bits of texture seem like revelations-- every sound accrues this layer of determination and intensity around it. The whole thing can drift peacefully by, but a little attention reveals an immensely dramatic topography of texture and movement.” - Pitchforkmedia.com

“Entrancing dream-pop/shoegazer rock with bass, guitar, synthesizer, clarinet, and drums from three Rogers Park lads dedicated to transporting listeners to the furthest reaches of the audio galaxy. I haven't heard much better headphones music from Chicago in some time.” – Jim DeRogotis, Chicago Sun-Times

“The group's strength lies in subtlety and restraint. There are some lovely post-punk guitar textures throughout, with pensively cascading and ringing notes flush against the moody atmosphere. A lovely effort overall…” - All Music Guide

“This is an album of lazily sweeping music, a series of beautiful and slightly disturbing compositions, and a hugely impressive first offering from this Chicago trio.” – Ink 19

“Chicago is home to many fine bands that you already know… I would advise that you add to that list the young trio of Zelienople. Starting with a whisper and slowly filling in empty space from there, the group displays a deft sleight of hand on their first full-length, Pajama Avenue, remaining resolutely quiet without sounding wimpy or affected. Zelienople have managed the enviable task of assimilating their disparate influences into a simple and quietly inventive music.” - Junk Media

“Zelienople's first full-length album is like waking from a beautiful dream, the sense and scenario evaporating into the morning but echoing tones still hanging in the air. It is quiet contemplation and half-heard poetry, a cinematic backdrop to whatever slow-moving internal story you care to tell yourself.” - Splendid

“Pajama is a wonderful work of post-rocked slowcore. Everything clicks perfectly and works wonderfully as a whole - an atmospheric tapestry of sounds weaved together by vocals and strings of clarinet.” - Indieville