• Limited Edition Compact Disc

  Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

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  In 2008, 17 Pygmies, a band if noted for if nothing else, being stupidly ambitious, undertook a stupidly ambitious project. Originally a short story based upon the 15th Century classic novel La Celestina by Fernando Rojas, the recorded Celestina (in actuality the name of the
  spaceship) was envisioned as a three part, 33 1/3rd psalms/songs long science-fiction story mixing as many musical elements including progressive, psychedelic, classical and ambient as possible in an effort to create a unique musical landscape to match an imaginary, but somewhat based on reality, version of love and deceit in deep space. The first step was completed when Celestina was released in 2008. Celestina was admittedly an odd mix of components most reminiscent of Pink Floyd, 4AD, John Barry, Jerry Goldsmith and Samuel Barber. It might help the casual listener to think of the work as the soundtrack to a black and white episode of the Twilight Zone. If that doesn't help, you might want to try drinking 100 cups of coffee in a row followed by consuming an entire 24-piece box of 50/50 bars. The simulated
  caffeine/sugar rush will probably produce the desired effect. At any rate, you will be very pleased you did. It worked for Jackson Del Rey as he realized there was still a missing component to the Celestinasound. The Blues.
  In 2009, after taking a year off to research the blues, 17 Pygmies released the pre-war blues influenced "The Outlaw J.D. Ray."
  In 2011, these "new" influences were incorporated into the next installment of Celestina, ultimately to be known as CII - Second Son. In many ways, CII was similar to CI, with one major exception. The best was to explain the difference is to imagine the Pink Floyd influence replaced by influences from Pink Anderson and Floyd Council, the two bluesmen from which the Floyd got their name. Additional kind of obvious influences (at least to us) included Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk, Greg Lake, Javanese Gamelan, Ernst Bloch and Cold-War Era politics. Universally praised by about six or seven people (thank you, you know who you are!) the band felt justified thinking they were on the "right track" but that there was still something missing...
  On January 1, 2012 17 Pygmies officially released CIII - Even Celestina Gets the Blues (A Tale of Love and Quantum Physics). This, the third and final installment of the Celestina trilogy finds the crew of the Celestina (what's left of it anyway...) having escaped the clutches of a black hole and with new knowledge of the Treachery of the Third Inquisition racing back to Earth to expose the truth of the "robot menace." On the way, secrets are revealed that could further change the plight of humanity (really) or be buried along with the members of the Celestina, which as it turns out is a very realistic possibility. Musically, CIII is clearly reminiscent of Celestina and CII, but also an obvious departure into additional genres of music and theory.
  Originally conceived as music for string quartet, CIII incorporates simplified classical structures and sounds along with more "ornate" theories of construction along the lines of John Cage, Stockhausen and Brian Wilson. Yes, THAT Brian Wilson. Think about it...Additional influences would have to include Throbbing Gristle, John Foxx, Nick Drake, ELP, HMO (ha-ha joke) and I think I would have to say Magical Mystery Tour era Beatles.
  
  Special guest artists include: Erik Stein and Jon Boux from Cult With
  No Name (doing what they do), Bob Mora (bass), Lea Reis
  (background vocals), Heather Lockie (viola), Claire Chenette (oboe),
  and Larissa Fedoryka (cello).
  
  Includes unlimited streaming of CIII: Even Celestina Gets The Blues via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. ... more
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• Digital Album

  Streaming + Download

  Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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