Listen To/Buy Infernal Machines

"A potent debut... the weight of its achievement feels properly definitive..."
— Nate Chinen, New York Times

"... a seven-track marvel of imagination."
— David R. Adler, Time Out New York

more reviews...

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society
Infernal Machines

 

New Amsterdam Records NWAM017
UPC: 6 16892-00686 2

One-Sheet (PDF)

Tracks

1. Phobos (11:02) Jon Wikan, cajon • Mark Small, tenor sax 
2. Zeno (7:14) Ryan Keberle, trombone
3. Transit (7:01) Ingrid Jensen, trumpet
4. Redeye (10:12) Sebastian Noelle, guitar
5. Jacobin Club (10:55) Sam Sadigursky, tenor saxophone & Mike Fahie, trombone
6. Habeas Corpus (for Maher Arar) (10:57) James Hirschfeld, trombone
7. Obsidian Flow (9:40) Erica vonKleist, alto saxophone

All compositions by Darcy James Argue (SOCAN).

Recorded December 15-17, 2008 at Bennett Studios in Englewood, NJ.

Distribution Sources

Direct CD sales from newamsterdamrecords.com

Digital distribution by New Amsterdam Records and TuneCore

Description

Infernal Machines is the debut studio recording by New York’s acclaimed 18-piece steampunk bigband, Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, a group the New York Times’ Nate Chinen describes as “calibrated for maximum intrigue, with a sound that suggests Steve Reich minimalism as well as orchestral jazz in the lineage of Bob Brookmeyer (one of Mr. Argue’s mentors).” 

This release, which takes its name from a John Philip Sousa quote about the dangers of music technology, features new definitive studio recordings of material Argue and the band have been developing since their first gig in 2005. 

“No swing-era revivalist,” writes Time Out New York’s Hank Shteamer, “Argue draws on the full spectrum of modern rock, jazz and classical music with his band, Secret Society. Yet his complex, emotionally charged pieces handily transcend pastiche...the album ought to not only raise Argue’s profile, but also serve as a reminder that big-band jazz needn’t be a fossil.”

Musicians

WINDS
Erica vonKleist flute, alto flute, soprano & alto saxophones
Rob Wilkerson flute, clarinet, soprano & alto saxophones
Sam Sadigursky clarinet, soprano & tenor saxophones
Mark Small clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone
Josh Sinton clarinet, bass clarinet, baritone saxophone

TRUMPETS & FLUEGELHORNS
Seneca Black lead trumpet
Ingrid Jensen
Laurie Frink
Nadje Noordhuis
Tom Goehring

TROMBONES
Ryan Keberle
Mike Fahie
James Hirschfeld
Jennifer Wharton bass trombone

RHYTHM
Sebastian Noelle acoustic & electric guitars
Mike Holober piano & electric piano
Matt Clohesy contrabass & electric bass
Jon Wikan drum set, cajon, pandeiro, and misc. percussion

Press and Radio Promotion

Scott Menhinick, Improvised Communications