Radio & New Media

Compass
Munchy the Bear CD
Shark Attack

Review:
Spanning 5 cities and 8 studios, armed with 47 instruments including 1 dulcimer, 1 cathedral organ, 1 clarinet, and 5 computers, and enlisting the help of 17 musicians, the complex and unpredictable machine known as Compass created “Munchy the Bear”. Founded in 1997at the historic Camp 2 studios amongst 40 crazed artists, Dave Doom surrounded himself with an assortment of musical toys, and began crafting sound collages. “Munchy the Bear” features scores of happily demented musician friends who chant, bark, giggle, sing, and play various handmade instruments to which Doom adds basement beats, rattled loops, mangled samples, piano, voice, saxophone, 12 string guitar, bass, flute, bongos, drums, twigs, synths, pots, breaths, and whatever else strikes his fancy. All tracks clean. Start with 1, 3, 4, 11.

Bio:
WHAT IS COMPASS?
Love + 5 cities + 47 instruments + 17 musicians + Pain + 8 Studios + 1 Duclimer + 1 Cathedral Organ + 3 atomic bombs + 1 clarinet + 5 Computers + 1 War + 2 Galleries + 1 Condemned Building + the miracle of existence + the magic medium of sound = ??? [more]

Hi-Res Photos:

300dpi JPG

Hi-Res Cover Art:

300dpi JPG
4x4in

Websites:
www.cityofcompass.com

Bio (continued):
Compass is a complex and unpredictable machine. It absorbs and collects sounds the way a homeless person might stock up on bent coathangers for their shopping cart - but somehow Compass manages to take those hangers and create songs. Good songs. Interesting songs.

Strange songs. At times you'll think they're brilliant. Other times you'll ask yourself whether this isn't just some joke that you don't quite get. And there will be times when you'll think he's just insane. Of the three, I can only assure you that Compass is no joke.

ANARCHY<-CHINATOWN
Compass was founded in 1997 at the historic Camp 2 Studios. Amongst 40 crazed artists, drug dealers, and other fools, Dave Doom developed the compositional method he still employs today: play (repeat). Surrounded by electronics, organs, drums, pianos, guitars and musicians, Doom began to collect and release sound collages. His first release, a homespun EP, caught the attention of SharkAttack!, who liked it so much they released a gorgeous red vinyl Compass 7" and encouraged Compass to work on a full length. 6 years and 100 songs later, SharkAttack! is bringing Compass to the masses with the debut full-length you hold in your hands.

ART AND THE NOMAD
Compass began creating the sounds you now posess in a custom, hand built composition studio at the Oni Gallery in Boston's Chinatown, but in October 2001, Doom hit the streets with his saxophone intent on living by the force (of music) alone. A freeloading nomad to this day, Doom recorded much of his debut album 'on the road' at various hideaways and studios across New England and Canada. Busking for lunch money in Montreal for a spell, Doom soon found himself playing saxophone with afro-beat cult Ark of Infinity to a crowd of thousands at the Montreal International Jazz Festival.

"MUNCHY THE BEAR"
Compass features scores of artists who chant, bark, giggle, sing, play: drums, handmade dulcimers, cathedral organs, harp and more... to which Doom adds samples as well as his own piano, voice, saxophone, 12 string guitar, flute, bongos, drum kit, twigs, synths, pots, and breaths. "The Most Ridiculous Idea" is Compass' working / touring methodology that seems to incorporate anything and anyone with whom Doom may come in contact, including the audience. Which again begs the question: Who is Compass?

Who is going to be on stage with Doom tonight? What the hell is that sound? If one listens closely, one might eventually discover that the world is the band and that the band has created an elegiac, hopeful, tuneful record for itself under the moniker of Compass. Confused? I know - it's ridiculous.