The Missing Parts
Tucson, Arizona, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2008 | SELF
Music
Press
[T]he band is able to explore so many genres on Sueños that it's dizzying. They've kept to their street roots, playing acoustic instrumentals only occasionally punctuated by a holler or a scream. But as far as the music goes, the best, and most-pithy description lies in the title of their first album: Folk Music From an Undiscovered Country goes a long way in describing exactly what it is the band does, though it doesn't quite cover it all. - Tucson Weekly
Feisty, emotional and thought-provoking, this new album is a cross between Mozart and Metallica; musically brilliant and infused with high energy and emotion... Close your eyes, be engulfed by the music, and you can indeed find yourself in a dream-like state. The eccentric twists keeps one intrigued - what unique sound will come next?
- Zocalo
Most would agree most popular artists out there have something truly special to give to their fans. This goes above the typical attributes like raw talent, amazing songs, nice voice, or even a very marketable look, sound and image. There's something truly infectious at the core of these artists that simply makes us feel good when we listen to them. Whatever "it" is - they all seem to have "it".
Today I listened to the latest CD from Arizona based 4 piece Acoustic band The Missing Parts (Suenos - 2011). Venturing to their website it is a very professional presentation showing this is his debut release. From start to finish this CD from TMP is very pleasurable. It has a very striking, highly energetic feel to it and even dabbles in Folk, Accoustic Rock with s Spanish/Mexican type flair. Any fans of any of these musical styles will enjoy this latest release from TMP. It's clearly marketed for those who like a conservative, acoustic sound I get the impression TMP is rolling with what they knows as performers. Favorite tracks include Track 1 (IThe March), Track 2 (Elegy for the Living Dead), Track 8 (Duel), and Track 9 (Ancient Discord). All songs have an amazing feel that you can't help but groove to. Within each one of these compositions TMP let it all hang out by finding their soul and delivers top flight musical mojo. Ths playing/performances/writing is spot on. The overall vibe is mysterious, dark and highly chaotic. Like the title implies this CD is very much like a free flowing dream out to music. You never know what's waiting for you around the next corner.
I see TMP as a diamond in the rough. As time goes by he will no doubt refine and fine-tune their overall sound and musical personality with maybe a drummer and stand-up bassist. I am eager to hear what his next release will sound like. In close most famous artists out there have "it" I'm not so sure what it but The Missing parts has whatever "it" may be. - Music Emissions
Most would agree most popular artists out there have something truly special to give to their fans. This goes above the typical attributes like raw talent, amazing songs, nice voice, or even a very marketable look, sound and image. There's something truly infectious at the core of these artists that simply makes us feel good when we listen to them. Whatever "it" is - they all seem to have "it".
Today I listened to the latest CD from Arizona based 4 piece Acoustic band The Missing Parts (Suenos - 2011). Venturing to their website it is a very professional presentation showing this is his debut release. From start to finish this CD from TMP is very pleasurable. It has a very striking, highly energetic feel to it and even dabbles in Folk, Accoustic Rock with s Spanish/Mexican type flair. Any fans of any of these musical styles will enjoy this latest release from TMP. It's clearly marketed for those who like a conservative, acoustic sound I get the impression TMP is rolling with what they knows as performers. Favorite tracks include Track 1 (IThe March), Track 2 (Elegy for the Living Dead), Track 8 (Duel), and Track 9 (Ancient Discord). All songs have an amazing feel that you can't help but groove to. Within each one of these compositions TMP let it all hang out by finding their soul and delivers top flight musical mojo. Ths playing/performances/writing is spot on. The overall vibe is mysterious, dark and highly chaotic. Like the title implies this CD is very much like a free flowing dream out to music. You never know what's waiting for you around the next corner.
I see TMP as a diamond in the rough. As time goes by he will no doubt refine and fine-tune their overall sound and musical personality with maybe a drummer and stand-up bassist. I am eager to hear what his next release will sound like. In close most famous artists out there have "it" I'm not so sure what it but The Missing parts has whatever "it" may be. - Music Emissions
Sure, you're expecting a stuffy classical trio to entertain your parents in a room with textured wallpaper while you bite your fingernails into oblivion, but holy fucking balls is this something else. - SYFFAL.com
These gentlemen have love affairs with their instruments and we all bore witness to those torrid affairs as they coaxed and caressed the music from the strings. You could see the delight and rapture on their faces as they played, almost as if they were discovering and creating music right there on stage before our very eyes. At times, the music would hit a frantic pace as if the music was straining to get out through their fingers and onto the strings to freedom.
- B Scene Live
Discography
Folk Music from an Undiscovered Country
Sueños
Photos
Bio
The Missing Parts are an acoustic, instrumental trio, formed in 2009 in Tucson, Arizona, 60 miles from the Mexican border. The band is comprised of Oliver Blaylock on violin, Brian Hullfish on cello, and Paul Wright on acoustic guitar.
Listeners have classified their music as everything from “chamber-core” to “alt-punk”, “string metal” to “Jew-grass.” While The Missing Parts can be a bit difficult to categorize, their sound is instantly recognizable. The tunes borrow from/pay tribute to many folk traditions while ultimately serving as a bizarre field guide for the sonic traveller. The Missing Parts have been compared with Kronos Quartet, Ennio Morricone, Béla Bartók, and Gogol Bordello, among many others.
In the Fall of 2007, the members of the band all somehow happened to meet at Shot in The Dark Café in Tucson, improvised together in the alley next door, and liked the result. Along with former band-member Douglas Francisco’s lap-steel guitar, Paul’s intensely percussive style of rhythm guitar, Brian's cello and Oliver's classically-trained violin created vivid soundscapes, capable of conveying odd emotions and ideas.
One interesting part of the story of the group is how its virtuosic violinist, Oliver Blaylock, made a journey from his birthplace in Juarez, to his adoption and subsequent American citizenship. Another, perhaps more interesting story is how the band parted ways with founding member and lap-steel guitarist Douglas Francisco. Ask Oliver about it, and, if you’re lucky, his violin will provide a running commentary.
The Missing Parts create the majority of its compositions by steadily gathering improvisational parts, and then collaboratively stitching these parts together and deciding how they move and feel, and what those parts want to become. The Missing Parts fully believe in the power of improvisation and collaboration.
The trio has collaborated with the singer/songwriter Cathy Rivers; the pyrotechnic/acrobatic performance troupe Flam Chen; and has shared bills with acts as wide ranging as March Fourth Marching Band, The White Buffalo, the Bay Area-based trio Judgment Day, and Swedish hip hop/swing group Movits!
The Missing Parts have repeatedly toured throughout the Rocky Mountains and along the West Coast since 2009 (playing such venues as The Fox Theater in Boulder, Colorado and The Upstage in Port Townsend, Washington). The trio will be touring this summer to promote their third album, Parts Unknown, which they released in November.
Band Members
Links
