electronic press kit
Press
"By far the most inspired and innovative effort I have heard this year, Fluttreffect's Marking Time deserves a place in the pantheon. Unique, modern, excellent."
~Christos Ampatzis , DPRP
"Phew, what a cool musical journey! Marking Time is a really fun album which features impeccable musicianship, brilliant arrangements and great production quality. This album will appeal to young fans of contemporary alternative music as well as the older prog and RIO crowds. They definitely must be something amazing to see live!"
~Robert Dansereau , ProgMontreal
"It's a tough act to make music that is both accessible yet challenging and complex. Fluttreffect score well on both counts. Marking Time is a great accomplishment."
~Jerry Lucky , Prog Voices
"...strong vocals and unusual compositions made this one of the best new finds of the year for me."
~Papa J, CalProg
"...grand shifts in tempi and dynamics, a wide array of sounds that embrace the tones of classic '70s electronic keyboards and cutting-edge guitars, and a sophisticated level of interplay."
~Ted Drosdowski , The Boston Phoenix
"There should be more bands like Fluttr Effect!"
~, Sonic Bond
"Every once in awhile you come across a band that chooses to raise the bar..."
~Ken Pierce , SeaOfTranquility.com
"I'm telling you, if there is a band that can totally captivate an audience, FLUTTR EFFECT is that band! I WASN'T GOING TO MISS THIS SHOW!"
~Bob Donovan , North East In Tune Magazine
"a really unique offering...While many bands sound similar to other groups, I can't help but call Fluttr Effect one-of-a-kind and surprisingly fresh"
~Mage, RockReviews.org
"They are unique. That is one of the reasons why I like them very much. Another reason is that they manage to capture my interest and make me feel things. Fresh and emotional, can one ask for more?
In my world Fluttr Effect is one of the most interesting bands I have heard during the new century and "Marking time" is to me highly enjoyable and an album which stands repeated listening."
~review by Hansi Cross Progress Records.com
"one of the most AMAZING bands I have EVER seen.
I'm not kidding and I don't say this about just anyone."
~Godin, Volcanoboy.com
"This Boston outfit performed an absolutely spellbinding set at last year's MidPoint, and they're fully prepared to return for their encore at Club Dream. Fluttr Effect somehow manages to reference every contemporary genre of music -- Trip Hop, Metal, Baroque Pop, Techno, Prog, Goth -- in a single, unique wave of musical consciousness with cellos, MIDI beats, shredding guitar and double-clutched drumming. If that was all, that would be enough, but Fluttr Effect also possesses Kara Trott, the quintet's mesmerizing frontwoman who harnesses the sonic mayhem with an almost effortless grace. This might well be one of the hottest not-to-be-missed shows of the festival (again).
Dig it: Evanescence praying at the altar of King Crimson while Dead Can Dance and Rasputina give Communion."
~Brandon Brady, Cincinnatti Citybeat
"One band that we came up with in this art rock scene that are great. They are a progressive metal band with hard rock, but they use cello, and marimbas, drums, and sort of hard metal guitar, with a really great female vocalist. They have really interesting stuff."
~Brian Viglione, Dresden Dolls
"I Want You Now" 1 song DVD
"I'd love to see a video like this on MTV. Maybe in Germany, but here in the closed-minded Prudish States of America, never! ...what a great job they do of waking me up from my jet lagged stupor. All the members of the band sound great. The dynamics involved with this song's development are incredible.
...this is the real deal. The arrangement results in a lush sonic soundscape for Kara's enchanting and often mesmerizing vocals that draw me into the song, just like a good writer makes you feel as if you are standing in the middle of a book watching the events unfold around you.
I can't believe I'm watching something produced by a band I can actually go see at somewhere like the Middle East. The video production is as flawless as the song in its depiction. I hope Fluttr Effect becomes huge. Bands like this are always under the radar, yet better than any corporate produced drivel. I'm sure they will find big audiences in the future.
Another fan won by a great band."
~John Hess The Noise
"Disclaimer: Fluttr Effect's music is equal parts dense and sparse, exciting, sophisticated, dynamic, and not intended for those with severe dizziness, a history of mental illness, a closed mind, or heart problems."
~Andres Wilson Boston Live Magazine
"a style that can move from a jazzy weave to metal crescendo to a Middle Eastern modality in a heartbeat, with lyrics that run from seductive to mysteriously abstract....mind-blowing!"
~Steve Morse Boston Globe
Standard rock band instrumentation consists of guitar, bass, drums and keyboards.
Fluttr Effect skipped that particular part of Rock 101.
~TheBoston Herald
"Fluttr Effect stands out and does something that no one else is. Their rolling sounds combined loud riffs, to soothing vocals and short moments of complete silence leaving the crowd in awe. Their performance was one that could not be comparable to anyone else. Fluttr Effect's stage presence was radiant, energetic and enthusiastic - the band wanted to be on that stage more than anyone else that night and it showed. Fluttr Effect performed on a level that was well above average and stole the show."
~Northeast Performer Magazine
review of WBCN Rumble preliminaries
It's always a thrill to discover a new kind of music. Fluttr Effect's music is as amazing as the band's name. It's a merge of pop, rock and a mixture of classical and electronic techniques. The use of a MIDI marimba and electric cello is not what I would call standard in rock.
Comparisons are very hard to be made as this cd sounds so original and unique. Surely this is a cd one should listen to over and over again, it's as if rock has been gently put aside in order to focus on the mere art of music.
There's something mysterious about Fluttr Effect and it's worth while discovering. This is not common at all, but it's very good!
~Prog-Nose.org
"So, sit down, strap yourself in and get ready to hear about one of the Northeast's most amazing and unique bands"
~Bob Donovan NorthEastInTune.com
"...shocked the Boston music scene with their art-induced performance. "
~nemoboston.com
"Thanks so much for taking part in this year's rumble. i really thought the band exceled, and looked and sounded great, during the semi-finals especially."
~Shred, DJ WBCN, organizer WBCN Rumble
"Clever and addictive Fluttr Effect's artrock is highly recommended."
~LaserCD.com
"alt-cool from head to toe"
~Kathleen Deely Lowell Sun
"Combining progressive rock sensibilities with metal undertones and Dead Can Dance eclecticism, Fluttr packs a powerful audio punch for those who like their rock 'n' roll unpredictable and adventurous. The Boston group overlays Kara Trott's angelic voice over pounding rhythms and guitar play, and throws in a marimba here, a cello there, just to make things more interesting.
At times, Trott sounds like this generation's Pat Benatar (and I mean that in the nicest way...). Some songs, with crunching metal guitar stalking their rhythm, bring a tribal feel, particularly Detrimentalisman, the album's closer. For those with an experimental ear, Fluttr is a band to always keep on your radar."
~Roland Goity OnlineRock.com
"Fluttr Effect has been taking New England by storm."
~Bill Copeland Skope Magazine
read the interview with Vessela here
The Skybar
9/20/04
"Fluttr Effect is having an open rehearsal, to try out some new stuff in front of an audience. Fluttr Effect is very cool. I've never seen an electronic marimba before! There's also a stripped-down electric cello, guitar, drums, and a talented singer with fantastic, engaging stage presence. The music at first seems a bit gothy, but it's more rock than that, and more complicated. They do a couple of brand new songs and beg us to be gentle, but they sound great. They cover "Frame by Frame," and it takes cojones to cover King Crimson. The guitar and marimba duet on that one is fantastic."
~Steve Gisselbrecht The Noise
"Boston's FLUTTR EFFECT performed to a packed house at 1120 Friday night. From time to time you hear about or read about the amazing shows of someone who's now famous right before they were famous You know, the shows everyone claims to have attended. Well, I was at FLUTTR EFFECT's show and have photos to prove it, and I think that years from now people who have never even been to Cincinnati will claim to have been to that show. "Oh yeah man, FLUTTR EFFECT at the 1120 club in Cincinnati during this MidPoint festival thing -- I was there. They were awesome." And they were awesome.
With fluid, hypnotizing, almost snake-like movements, lead singer Kara Trott had the audience in the palm of her ever-moving hand. The driving rhythms of drummer Jason Marchionna were shot through with bolts of pure electric energy in the form of guitarist Troy Kidwell. The feeling that you were at a gypsy symphony was provided by cellist Valerie Thompson. MIDI marimba player Vessela Stoyanova gave the music both a playful quality and urgent edge. And Trott simply made you forget where you were, with her aching, smooth, sinuous vocals and stage presence.
Said artist keynote speaker Art Alexakis, who was standing next to me at the show: "She's a star."
~Dale Johnson Cincinnati Citybeat
"Looking at FLUTTR EFFECT, I thought I knew the kind of music I was about to hear. I admit I was skeptical about them the second they entered the stage, skeptical until they brought out their instruments and played their first song..."
~A Musical Evolution The Fusion of Musical Genres Evolve
Brian Fairbanks, The Clock, September 24, 2004 Plymouth, NH
read the rest of the article here
"For nearly a full minute there's been no other sound but that of an evocative cello.The notes build, wander and evanesce, teasing out a hypnotic serpentine melody. In tandem and equally lissome is the singer, silent for the moment but using her other instrument---her physical grace and beauty, undulating in a sensuous and mesmerizing dance.
The cellist is Valerie Thompson, the singer Kara Trott, and together, before the rest of the band locks into a frenetic rhythmic romp, the two perform this perfect and enthralling snake-charmy composition. Only it isn't venomous reptiles they're charming tonight; it's a rock club audience---a jaded Boston rock club audience."
~Lexi Kahn the Noise
check out the rest of the article
"Dazzling and hypnotic, FLUTTR EFFECT delivers an alternative glistening gem of a performance in what many have described as an otherwise stagnant rock pool."
~Jim Schultz SonicBids.com
"FLUTTR EFFECT are awesome...so even if you don't want to come hear me you should come to this show."
~Molly Zenobia
"Grabbing your attention from the very beginning, Fluttr Effect launches into "Transmission," the first song on Trithemis Festiva with a double-bass drum onslaught usually found on Swedish Death Metal albums. Jason Marchionna manages to incorporate this technique with pop synth sounds produced by the band's MIDI marimba player, Vessela Stoyanova, and the rock/pop Cello playing of Valerie Thompson. Marchionna then brings the song full circle to a Stuart Copeland-like syncopation, and as Kara Trott's haunting vocals come in, you know that this is an album you have to sit down and listen to from beginning to end. Successive songs are just as captivating as "Transmission."
Tracks to note include the melancholy "Flann O'Brien," with expert guitar work by Troy Kidwell, and the heavy cello riffs of "I Want You Now," replete with symth bullet attacks from the MIDI marimba. The song "Say Goodbye" is a personal favorite for it's catchy and thought provoking lyrical content, as well as the songs drive to succinctly touch upon all the diversity and expertise that is present in Fluttr Effect. Fluttr Effect aren't content to rest on the typical chemistry of pop formulas though; each song provides a diverse and dynamic feel. The range of musical textures on Trithemis Festiva range from trip-hop to 80s techno beats to power pop sensibilities overlaid with smartprogressive architectural elements, highlighting this album and this band as a force to be reckoned with in the evolving decade."
~Shaun G. McNamara, Metronome Magazine
"Boston's FLUTTR EFFECT promises to be something you've never quite heard before. FLUTTR's head is in the art clouds while their feet are planted on solid heavy metal. Couple that with FLUTTR EFFECT's unique visual style, and it's a potent, exotic cocktail. There's truly no one else out there doing quite what they're doing with their combination of art, Rock and passion. You'll be surprised at how much a marimba can actually rock."
Dale Johnson, Cincinnati Citybeat
"My first time experiencing this band I was impressed by the fact that not only did this band have a magnificent command of musical language, they also had a burning hot electronic marimba player.
...these people can swing the odd meter, be as heavy as King Crimson, as intricate as early Mahavishnu Orchestra, as eccentric as early Eno, as majestic as Dead Can Dance and as delecately beautiful as Cocteau Twins.
They play so well to the individual strengths of each player while still capturing the attention of those who just like to rock. Bands like FLUTTR EFFECT could make art-rock fashionable again! I am downright smitten."
~Joel Simches, The Noise
In the embarrassment of riches that make up the bands playing Midpoint this year, for me, Boston-based FLUTTR is one of the best. Why? Three simple reasons:
1) They have an electric marimba, an electric cello, a guitar and drums and somehow make all of it work out artfully and smashingly.
2) They have lead singer Kara Trott, who's a long, sexy whip of a front person; her charismatic stage persona, unique look, sense of humor and beautiful voice are simply something that must be seen and heard.
3) And they play this gothy, metally, gypsy-type music that you can't really say you hear everyday, no matter how much Evanescence or Rasputina you listen to. Sign on for FLUTTR's dark and lovely ride before you get left behind.
~Dale Johnson, Cincinnati Citybeat
"FLUTTR EFFECT is a group of immensely talented players that masterfully wind their way through a bevy of musical tantrums. They also enlist instruments generally uncommon in your typical rock group that gives them an unusual, yet appealing, flavor and dimension.
Mostly instrumental in nature, singer Kara Trott turns in Annie Lennox invoked vocal performances on the mesmerizing "Flann O'Brien" and the heavydriving"Say Goodbye." In the mean time, guitarist Troy Kidwell, cellist Valerie Thompson, Vessela Stoyanova on MIDI marimba and drummer JasonMarchionna pump out an incredible volume of sound that would suggest a larger ensemble of players.
Collectively, these five gifted musicians dish out engaging music that will satisfy a wide range of listeners. Superb!"
~Douglas Sloan, Metronome Magazine
I can't say enough about this band. Powerful, willowy vocals, exquisite marimba player-- SO compelling, charming cello, fabulous guitar.
Tight, provocative, gorgeous. I feel it in my heart, this band is destined to have the world at its collective feet.
~Lexi Kahn, The Noise
"... FLUTTR took over the Hard Rock Café on October 3rd."
PULSES RACE HEARTS FOLLOW THE BAND
~Michael Teoli, Berklee Groove
"Fluttr Effect had quite a unique sound that was atmospheric and captivating"
~Petar Simich, The MIT Tech
Rock! I must admit. You guys were one of my faves
~Jenny Schmidt, Organizer,ChicksRock Festival
Then came Fluttr Effect. I had been looking forward to seeing them ever since their marimba player posted to Colin's blog. A quick trip to their site turned up almost a full show's worth of mp3s which had me hooked. I'm not usually into prog rock, which is probably the only bucket you can put fluttr in, but I think it would be impossible not to like a band that obviously loves playing live as much as they do. They opened with the band coming on stage one by one and joining in on the imperial march from star wars. Last one on stage was the singer, clad in full-on emperor hood. They played a good tight set, and I was really amazed by some of the sounds they got out of that midi marimba and electric cello.
~RascalKing.com
fan mail
topI think I experienced the fluttr effect. I don't mean the band, Fluttr Effect, but rather: while watching their rocking performance of "Say Goodbye" near the end I saw, quite literally, every movement simply merge and flickr, fluttering into a blur of mighty idiosyncratic rock. I can't tell you when precisely the guitar's fists melted into the wicked marimba melted into the swinging orange hair of the vocalist, but I can tell you that this was a good, good thing.
Also: electric cello. Fluttr Effect is a quirky band, nearly to the point of feeling like art-rock or indie. And yet while listening through their songs, I've never once felt like they were forgetting about actual song craft. Their music pulls of some interesting things, combining some sound fusion I'd never expected before. The MIDI-powered marimba / electric cello isn't something I'd expect to meld with power chords, but they make it work. The vocals are themselves an interesting mix. Songs like "Transmission" feel like a well-crafted balled, while otheres ("Tarantula" is a standout) use the vox as just another instrument, letting the other instruments push the song forward.
For the first half of their set, they played as an acoustic trio: vocals, cello and marimba, but minus the guitar and drums. And this was an amazing shift from the more guitar-backed songs I'd heard before. It was sort of distilled Fluttr: the three of them drove the rock to fill every nook of the Lizard Lounge with their loud, gorgeous melodies; but they also took total advantage of their acoustic setup in this more intimate venue, giving the cello or the vocals the breathing room when they needed it. For me, it felt like the first time that I could truly hear and understand the quietly moving lyrics of "Transmission":
I'm sending a signal
Begin, please come in
Transmission for the one I have not foundTheir performance had all the elements that a good live set should: intimately performed numbers, tuned for the crowd and the venue, but also with enough shock and awe kept in surprise so that you don't get too comfortable. Catch them at the smaller Boston venues while you still can.
~Dev Purkayastha
I've now seen Fluttr Effect twice. On both occasions I was simply blown away. They are hot in every sense of the word. I love bands that have non standard instruments.
Speaking of the marimba, I can not stop watching Vessela when she's playing. She uses four mallets simultaneously. It is amazing. The fact that she's hot has nothing to do with it. Really. No, really she's a joy to watch.
Kara has an wonderful voice and terrific stage presence. She loves the spot light and is clearly very comfortable having every eye in the room on her. Even when she's not singing she manages to be a part of the music - and she somehow manages to never upstage the rest of the band.
The show was great and I highly recommend checking them out if they come to your town.
~themindofblackjack
Jennifer & I had a great time last night, we really enjoyed the show.
We thought you rocked even better than the last time. Not saying last time was bad, just saying that with each performance makes you all tighter. We love the way you all feed off each other, unlike a lot of bands that seem to have one individual that the band revolves around.We really believe Fluttr Effect has a great future. Melodic Revolution will do all it can to help you on this end. It was an honor to have you all stop by the store.
Cheers, Love & Peace!
~Nick & Jennifer Katona
Melodic Revolution
you are all amazing and i thoroughly enjoyed your show. you probably don't remember me, i was one of the typical looking "preppies." however your performance was so amazing that i had to buy a cd.
i'm sure it will stay in my cd player for weeks on end. your music, even when there are no lyrics at all, just seems to...i don't even know how to put it...it's amazing, like no other music i have heard in my life.
when i saw you on stage i did not expect such wonderful sounds...you seriously put me in a state of awe with the sound of your passion and musical talent...your love for what you is clearly evident when you play.
the electric cello was so nice to see rather than a bass guitar, and man can she play. the guitarist and drummer where also impeccably well trained musicians who obviously have a clear passion for what you are all doing. the world needs this sooo much..and not to leave out Vessela...man can she play!!! not only are you great to listen to but you three girls are beautiful.
truly yours in music,
~Geoff
reviewer: young prof
I love this band. And the cd rocks.
Very unconventional but musical. Art rock or prog rock without all the needless notey wanking typical of the genre. Grreat band and great record.
~Young Prof
Fluttr rules! Trithemis Festiva is a really cool record.
Earl bought a Latin-to-Piglatin dictionary. He is translating the title... I am not asking...
I just put "I Want You Now" on repeat, close my eyes, and let it go... and then we saw the band live. Ohhhhh. Hott! HOTT! And the merch: have ya seen the merch, yet?
~Lemmy
Saw you, last night, for the 1st time and was mightily impressed.
Charismatic front woman, unique instrumentation (electronic vibes and cello!?!?), propulsive and dynamic music (propelled by exceptional drumming!!!), and intriguing lyrics. I constantly search for different and unusual music...anything set apart from mainstream (which bores me to tears) and you are just that!!! Your music shares a connecton with a few bands I like..."Rasputina" and "Darling Violetta" I love the dynamic changes in the music! The explosions that come from silences or soft passages. Your music is tremendously involving.
Two thumbs, way up!!!
Thanks for good music,
~Russ Donovan
I find it hard to describe this cd, its something you have to feel for yourself. Each song takes you to a different place in your life. This is one of those rare truly talented bands that has the ability to really grab you. You can buy this cd, and count on every song being a favorite. Fluttr leaves a lump in your throat and a ghost in your heart!
~Howy Noyes
It's slinky. It's chunky. It's got sex-appeal.
There is nothing like some cello and marimba ripping through your medulla oblongata.
This stuff requires some attention span. It's what some of us call intricate.
You should excercise your music-appreciation muscle once in a while.FLUTTR is a good place to start.
~Lemmy
Finally! A band with talent, imagination and rhythm.
Your music is truly light at the end of the tunnel in these gloomy pseudo-punk days.
I'm telling all my friends about you - including my stuck in the 70's 40-something brother.Looking forward to any new music that you have.
~Bill McCorkel
"They don't suck."
~Big T
Live Sound Engineer, Plantation Club
It was good to finally get to see you folks perform again after such a long hiatus away from your shows. I only wish you could have played a little longer, but if the set was short, you made up for it by making it sweet. I guess the one benefit of not having seen you play in a while was that it was so clear how much the band had evolved in the past year. Same cast of characters, whole new vibe. Very cohesive and well balanced, but with that quirky combination of punk intensity and classical finesse. And Kara's theatrics add a whole new visual dimension that highlights the musical drama. She's got all the vocal dynamics of Tori Amos wound together with the eye-candy of Kate Bush. With all those elements in your pocket, it's no wonder that you did so well at Emergenza. Looking forward to swinging by the Lizard Lounge on the 6th to nab a copy of the new CD and see you stretch out a bit more on your home turf.
~Dave Curry
i just saw you (and heard) for the very first time and am still blown away!
can't wait to see ya again. you definately have a new fan right here and im sure i could bring along quite a few people to the next show once they hear the cd that i got last night!
keep up the amazing work!
~Marty from Chicago
"Guitar, cello and drums fuzing together like a bottle of glinting sediment and liquid given the necessary shake.
Their rhythm reminded me of rain on the windshield of a moving car, cool and jeweled and frenetic."
~Charlotta Brown
"Caught the show last night and it rocked!
I loved the cello. I've never heard a bass line quite like that before and with the mix of guitar and marimba I was blown away. It was completely different from what I expected."
~Ben Rainville
i came out to the show at T.T.'s last night. U guys are so freakin talented. the music was awesome and the performance was even better. U guys give off not just energy but this sexual vibe which is just unbelievable cuz there are very few bands that ever achieved that.
the faster harder songs got me psyched up and energized while the slow songs had such good melodies that it was hard not to get emotionally sad during some of them. Really good stuff.
guitarist is impressive with his van halenish skills while the cello really plays with ur nerves. The drummer is nice and heavy and the girl on the weird instrument which everyone calls the miramba is very exciting to watch especially how she gets into it and plays those cool melodies and fills.
the singer makes sure to get herself stuck in ur head. such an amazing performer. my friends said she reminded them of gwen stephanie in the sence that she seems so sweet and has such a sexuality about her. she forces u to fall in love with her. Keep up the great work guys...such a great artistic thing u guys are doing.
sorry for the rather long email, but i'm definately still overwhelmed from last night. "Star struck" as my friends call it.
sincerely
~Zack
hate mail and bad reviews
top"while it s great to try different genres of music out for size, there s also something to be said for cohesion."
~Kristine Catalogna, NE Performer
I AINT NO HOLLABACK GIRL
COULD BE A HOLLABACK GUY WITH A WIG
AND I AIN'T TANK GIRL NEITHERLET'S SEE WHO THE FUCK DO WE HAVE HERE
NICKELBACK SUCKIN IT ON THE LEFT
HEY GWEN STEFANI FUCKIN MOVE CUZ THAT BLOND BITCH NEEDS TO GET TO HER T STOP
AND THAT BAND CAMP BITCH ON THE OTHER SIDE NEEDS TO GET TO THE T TOO SO SHE CAN MAKE HER JOB AT THE INCENSE STORE
SOMEONE CALL THAT GUY ON THE RIGHT AND TELL HIM MAN RAY ISN'T OPEN ANYMORE SO DON'T KNOW WHY HE'S GOING THERETHEY'RE CALLED THE FUCKIN FLUTTR EFFECT CUZ WHEN THEY EAT SHITLOADS OF GREASY FOOD AND TAKE RAW SEWAGE DUMPS THEY FEEL A FLUTTER IN THEIR FLUGELHOLE.
~Jerry Curl, The Noiseboard
Worst Case of Misdirected Hype
Fluttr Effect. As I made my way down Jail Alley to catch part of their set, a steady stream of festival attendees was heading the opposite direction, many warning, "Don't bother." My curiosity piqued, I pledged to endure at least a couple minutes of their show. It was truly unbearable. They sounded like an Eastern European band trying to simulate Western Rock music after having only been able to smuggle CDs by Nena and Hammerfall across the border. Then somehow this imaginary band's songs are performed by Manneheim Steamroller. The electric xylophone is still ringing in my head.
~Ezra Waller
I do not like that Fluttr band
I do not like them,
Art rock's blandI do not like them near or far
I do not like them at Skybar
I do not like them with the cello
I would not, could not, far too mellowI will not see them with Humanwine
I do not like them art rock mimes
I do not like them with Dresden Dolls
I will not see them, they suck ballsI do not like them arty types
I would not, could not, buy the hype
I do not like that Fluttr band
I do not like them
Art rock's bland
~Guest, the noiseboard.com
