"Devil opens the door / Must’ve Given him the key / Devil opens the door / Must’ve Given him the key..."
The swampy blues punk / alt rock predilections of "Devil Opens The Door" featuring the amazing Kid Congo Powers and as crafted by super talented creative hyphenate Robert Ascroft, is a cinematic surfy alt rock noir peer into the darkness. The throttling tom tom beats, the sludge pop drones, the screaming Western meets surf guitar, the evil church organ swells and Kid Congo Powers vocal theatrics making for a comely sonic cajole. The longer I listen and give myself up to it I couldn't help but thinks of a strange amalgam like a bloody collision of Madrugada, Tropical Fuck Storm, Leonard Cohen and Richard Hell and the Voidoids (now don't scoff. It will make more sense the longer you ponder it, I promise).
Robert Ascroft as an acclaimed photographer, director, creative collaborator and music producer, wrote this imaging and is also playing guitar over those tribal drums. As is often the case, truly artful people cross over to several mediums. It is like their ideas organic spill over into other things and, besides, sounds and imagery are inextricably connected. Ascroft, obviously is no slacker (except when he chooses to dabble in slacker rock).
“Devil Opens the Door” is taken from Robert Ascroft's forthcoming album "Echo Still Remains", out February 14th via Hand Drawn Dracula. This darkly creative track is accompanied by a lovely off kilter Official Video written, shot and directed by Ascroft. While watching, the dearly departed David Lynch and the Cairnes Brothers came to mind. Enjoy it.
LINER NOTES (bracketed):
[Following the recent collaborations with Chromatics’ Ruth Radelet and Luna’s Britta Phillips, Robert Ascroft enlists Kid Congo Powers — known for his solo material in addition to being a member of The Cramps, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and The Gun Club — on the new single “Devil Opens the Door.” The track is a swampy, gritty groove featuring Ascroft’s vibey guitar work over a primal drum beat, while Kid Congo Powers unleashes devilish undertones that would make even the underworld blush.]
[More known for his collaborations in other entertainment fields like directing, photography, and music production, Ascroft is also a classically trained guitarist turned music producer, where he weaves intricate and evocative melodies that embody his cinematic narratives. Originally from Rochester New York, Robert's upbringing is steeped in his mother's musical heritage and his father's work with Kodak, which foreshadowed his destined immersion in the realms of creativity.]
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://www.instagram.com/robertascroft
https://www.facebook.com/HandDrawnDracula
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Visionary director, photographer and producer, Robert Ascroft unveils a captivating musical odyssey akin to the cinematic allure of Wim Wenders' "Until The End Of The World" and the ethereal resonance found in 4AD's This Mortal Coil. Emerging as a prominent photographer in the 2000s, Ascroft forged his path through collaborations with luminaries of the Oscars, Grammys, Tonys, and Emmys. With an innate ability to capture the essence of his subjects through his camera lens, he redefines photography, infusing it with depth, emotion, and narrative. A classically trained guitarist turned music producer, Ascroft weaves intricate melodies and evocative songwriting with cinematic narratives.
Drawing from a diverse array of talented friends, Ascroft curates a mesmerizing ensemble of vocal performances featuring luminaries such as Zumi Rosow (Black Lips), Kid Congo Powers (The Cramps, Gun Club), Tess Parks, Ruth Radelet (Chromatics), Britta Phillips (Luna), and more. With Ascroft's multi instrumental performances on guitar, bass, and keys, complemented by the rhythmic contributions of friends Derek James and Roger Brogan, the album takes on a rich and dynamic sonic journey.
"Echo Still Remains'' transcends traditional musical boundaries, beckoning listeners into a world crafted from Ascroft's vivid imagination. Each track unfolds like a technicolor scene in a cinematic narrative, with each melody and lyric evoking a sense of profound introspection and wonder. Accompanied by stylized music videos in Ascroft's distinct visual world, "Echo Still Remains" emerges as a multifaceted work of art, inviting listeners to stir the soul and lose themselves in a world of sound and sensation.
Robert Ascroft, photographer, music producer, songwriter, musician, film director, alt rock, noir, swampy blues punk, "Devil Opens The Door" (feat. Kid Congo Powers), upcoming album "Echo Still Remains",
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