Hungarian Spa
“Alex’s Hand communicate the concept of this spa as a total cleanse, a dissolution of regret for every character who takes over through the sixteen-track album, exploring different ideas and perceptions of a getaway.”
Musicians
Kellen Mills – bass, upright, synth, vocals
Nic Barnes – Drums, percussion, vocals
Erik Leuthäuser – lead vocals (1,3,4,5,8,9.12)
Ruben Bernges – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, banjo, bkp vocals
Jacopo Bazzarri – vibraphone
Matt Kennon – tenor sax, alto sax, bkp vocals
Giovanni Chirico – baritone sax
Dima Bondarev – trumpet
Scott Flynn – trombone
Danielle Friedman – acoustic piano
Add. Musicians
Roberto Vicchio – trumpet (1), italian (3)
Scott Thomas – additional alto sax (4) , alto sax solo (16) , alto sax (2)
Grgur Savic – alto sax (1)
Matt Paull – keys (1,13), bckp vocals (1)
Carl Andrew O’sullivan – bckp vocals (1)
Phil Tietjen – spoken (7)
Brian Krock – alto sax, clarinet (10)
Chato Segerer – guitar solo (15)
Omri Abramov – tenor sax solo (4) , tenor sax (2)
Marietta Sarri – lead vocals (14)
Chatschatur Kanajan – violin (14)
Josephine Andronic – violin (14)
Shasta Ellenbogen – viola (14)
Liron Yariv – cello (14)
Technical
All tracks recorded by Alex’s Hand at Alex’s Hand studios except “Symbioastic Manuvr” recorded live by rockradio.de and Jörg Dreissigacker
Mixed and edited by: Kellen Mills
Mastered by : Maor Applebaum Mastering – California – USA
Artwork by Jim Agpalaza
Photography by – Trag Records
Package design by – Nic Barnes
Alex’s Hand is supported by Initiative Musik GmbH with project funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media.
released October 15, 2019
KaTaTaK
“KaTaTaK” is the 4th studio album by the US-born and Germany-based avant-rock-fusion formation known as ALEX’S HAND.
No overall concept this time. Just sort of story oriented. The first piece “Waterfalls” is about paranoia and sort of an homage to Thomas Pynchon’s novel “Gravity’s Rainbow”. The second piece “Epic” is sort of a musical experiment with richety robot style jazz. The third piece “Ghost Peppers” is about someone eating a ghost pepper and being possessed by the devil… “
Personnel:
Kellen Mills – Bass, Vox
Nic Barnes – Drums, Vox
Ben Reece – Electric Guitar
Max Steiner – Electric Guitar
Rieko Okudo – Keys, Synth
Anna Makovkina – Vox (main “Ghost Peppers”, bg “Waterfalls”)
Nick Shannon – Vox (bg/operatic “Ghost Peppers”)
Carl O’ Sullivan – Vox (bg “Ghost Peppers”)
Recorded by: Kellen Mills, Nic Barnes
Mixed by: Kellen Mills
Mastered by: Allan Shotter
Art direction and graphics by: Zonderzond
released by R.A.I.G 2017
Künstler Scheiße
Künstler Scheiße was recorded on Alex’s Hand’s second tour 2014 through California in a garage/studio in Oakland. The raw tracks were taken and extensively overdubbed.
Players-
Nic Barnes – Drums, Percussion, Vox
Kellen Mills – Bass, Vox, Synth, found sounds, electronical touchups
Ben Reece – Electric Guitar, Vox
Max Steiner – Electric Guitar
Rieko Okuda – Keys, Synth
Carl Andrew O’ Sullivan – Vox
Johannes Schleiermacher – Flute, Baritone and Tenor Saxophone
Charlotte BirkenHauer – Vibraphone
Peter Kuhnsch – Hand Percussion, Whistles, bells, (on Samba)
Rob Mattessi – Trumpet
Otto Horvath – Trombone
Stephen Barnes – Piano (on Trained)
Recorded live by: Mike Sopko
All music composed by: Alex’s Hand
Except for “Trained” Composed by: Stephen Barnes
Recorded by: Mike Sopko, Kellen Mills, Nic Barnes
Mixed by: Kellen Mills.
Mastered by: Allan Shotter
Artwork by: Helen Lord
released by R.A.I.G June 1, 2016
Goblinszzz….?1!
An impromptu improvisational session with: Nic Barnes, Kellen Mills (of Alex’s Hand); and Adam Meszaros (of Jü).
Adam Meszaros- Guitar
Nic Barnes – Drums, Percussion
Kellen Mills – Bass
Recorded by: Alex’s Hand and Adam Meszaros
Edited by: Alex’s Hand
Mixed by: Alex’s Hand
Mastered by: Allan Shotter
released April 4, 2016
The Roaches
“Alex’s Hand is a US-based, Berlin-based band that incorporates many styles to create a universe that defies description, and because of the rarity of such encounters, it’s interesting to look at their latest production, between serenity and torment. the notes that unfold express the vicissitudes of the soul, and the instruments that support them are no less versatile than the impression of a great ox is the spontaneity of the game and the The diversity of the repertoire that we present, so that when the bipolar “Pirate Jazz” succeeds voices alternately ethereal, anxious and authoritarian, it is the fantasy world of Frank Zappa that we find in the a story told to us solemnly about the rhythmic “Cop.”
Similarly, where a threatening waltz establishes its quarters (“Pirate Jazz”), it is a benevolent polyphony of the Ars Subtilior who invites himself (” Pools “). Thus, by one g A wide variety of voices and musical atmospheres, there are many moods, styles and eras that collide in the Alex’s Hand galaxy. Far from being disconcerting, and like an adventurer who is never at the end of his surprises, this patchwork fascinates by its unpredictable side and a heteroclism that makes us travel in lands all more diverse than each other. With its long drawer spans, introduced through truculent dialogues, excerpts from radio shows or narrations, “Alex’s Hand Presents: The Roaches” could actually be the perfect soundtrack of a colorful pulp brought to life. the screen (see again the reference film “Pulp Fiction”). It was also probably the goal of our lads, as the unbridled talk of musical constructions as rich in rebounding slices of life moves closer to the whimsical universe of these magazines. With shift and eclecticism, Alex’s Hand creates a very singular universe. Certainly, jazz is the guiding thread, but in the manner of Frank Zappa or Mr Bungle, they knew how to free themselves from any label to express as many musical sensitivities as they wished, without falling into the trap of force feeding emetic.”
Lucas Biela
Clair & Obscur
Kellen Mills-Bass, Vocals, Acoustic Gtr, Synth,
Nic Barnes- Drums, Percussion, Vocals
Gabe Tachell-Electric Guitar, Vocals,
Max Steiner- Electric Guitar
Richard Williams- Keys
Jason Shao- Melodica Solo, Synth
Dennis Rea- Electric Guitar
Stephen Barnes- Keys, Organ, Synth
Jim DeJoie- Horns
Kit- Electric Guitar
Ben Reece- Electric Guitar,Acoustic Guitar
Alicia Dejoie- Violin
Music Written by: Alex’s Hand
Lyrics / Dialogue by: Kellen Mills
Produced by: Alex’s Hand
Recorded by: Kellen Mills,Nic Barnes, Gabe Tachell
Edited by: Alex’s Hand
Mixed by: Kellen Mills, Gabe Tachell
Mastered by: Chris Hanszek
released March 1, 2014
Cancumbia
Recorded Live at Columbia City Theater June 30 2013 for Seattle’s Seaprog Festival.
Kellen M. – Bass, Vox
Nic B. – Drums, Vox
Gabe T. – Gtr, Vox
Max S.- Gtr, Vox
Recorded at Columbia City Theater
Artwork by: Bree Lurver
Mixed and Mastered by: Kellen Mills
released September 10, 2013
An Albatross around the neck.
“In my review of Madame Psychosis, I wondered what Alex’s Hand might get up to next, and here we have the answer. Albatross is every bit as varied as the EP, with some of the same elements along with some others. The Hand’s main men, Nic Barnes and Kellen Mills, have crafted another winning set of scattershot style-jumping that probably shouldn’t work but does. It follows in the footsteps of Mr. Bungle, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, and others, namely borrowing liberally from a mind-boggling collection of influences and mashing them together in unexpected ways.
They have quite a coterie of collaborators on guitars, keys, saxes, and so on, and manage to strike a balance between chaos and order that often makes me smile. You wouldn’t think loose jam-band grooves could mesh with punkish thrashing, metal headbanging, lounge piano, atonal improvisation, and bits of spoken word… and then take a little electronic trip to a Martian Dog Park. Catchy melodies and riffs abound, but don’t get drilled into your head by too much repetition.
One of the downsides of listening to huge amounts of music is that things start getting predictable – you hear a verse or two and you know to expect a chorus, and in the middle of the track a guitar solo. The complete lack of predictability is what makes Alex’s Hand such a balm for jaded ears. Of course, all these styles have been done before, but nobody ever put them together quite like this before.”
Jon Davis
Expose
Kellen Mills – Bass, Vox, Synth, Piano
Nic Barnes – Drums, Vox, Synth
Ben Reece – Electric Guitar
Mark Yates White – Electric Guitar
Dan Pearson – Sax
Gabe Tachell – Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar
Steve Barnes – Piano, Synth
Shadough Williams – Weirdo Synth, Guitar, BG Vox
Bill Monto – Sax
Music Written by: Alex’s Hand
Lyrics: Kellen Mills
Recorded by: Kellen Mills, Nic Barnes
Mixed by: Steve Fisk
Mastered by: Rick Fisher of RFI Mastering
Artwork by: Bree Lurver
released June 1, 2013
THIS CAT IS A GENIUS (B-SIDES collection)
“Part-broken, smeared, and devilled by little gouts of waspishness, this isn’t the easiest collection of songs and slurs to get along with. But there’s plenty to scoop out anyway, especially if you like hearing the wilful awkwardness of a band who enjoy stretching themselves out of shape and balance, and who can fit that in with the big boots and barfly lunges. If you enjoy feeling as if you’ve been dipped in an uncomfortable goo, that’s a bonus.”
Dann Chinn
Misfit City UK
Kellen Mills- Bass, Vox, Lyrics, Electric Guitar, Synth
Nic Barnes- Drums, Percussion, Vox, Synth
Ben Reece-electric guitar on “Train”.
Shadough Williams-Electric Guitar on “Impression”
Mark Yates White-electric guitar on “ConserveNow”, and, “Ants”.
Recorded by: Kellen M. and Nic B.
Mixed and Mastered by: Kellen M.(Except for Penticide, which was mixed by Nic B.)
Released 2013
Madame Psychosis (EP)
The debut EP of Seattle, Washington’s Alex’s Hand.
A mix of: indie rock, jazz, punk and avant garde pop makes “Madame Psychosis” a dreamy yet explosive experiment in sonic satisfaction.
Kellen Mills – Bass, Vox, Lyrics, Acoustic gtr, Synth
Nic Barnes – Drums, Acoustic Gtr, Percussion, Scream
Mark Yates White – Horns, Shaker, Electric Gtr, Bob
Ben Reece – Electric Guitar solo on Stalker
Stephen Barnes – Piano/Organ/Synth
Recorded by Kellen Mills, Mark Yates-White, Nic Barnes
Mixed by Kellen Mills
Mastered by Rick Fisher of RFI Mastering
Photos by Lord Fotog
released 2012
