Philadelpia's Tulipomania presents 'Absolution' LP & 'I've Been Told' video. New album released in lock-step with best-selling author Jeff VanderMeer

November 30, 2024

Philadelphia-based art-rock duo Tulipomania present their sixth album 'Absolution', inspired by an invitation from acclaimed author Jeff VanderMeer to contribute music as part of the publication of his latest novel 'Absolution', the surprise fourth volume in his award-winning 'Southern Reach' series.

This soundscape resonates with the complex energies enveloping VanderMeer’s novel, the author having invited the duo to create music inspired by 'Absolution' while still a work in progress. Hearing that VanderMeer took inspiration for the 'Absolution' novel from their 'Dreaming of Sleep' album, the duo enthusiastically accepted the challenge.

Alternately categorized as cult synth punks, glam-leaning, post-punk, art-rock and muscular chamber pop, Tulipomania is Tom Murray (lead vocals, synthesizer, electronic percussion) and Cheryl Gelover (synthesizer, background vocals). The 'Absolution' album includes four new tracks inspired by VanderMeer's new novel, plus ten alternate versions of the songs that originally sparked VanderMeer’s interest, reimagined as a cohesive sonic experience.

It's an exciting development for the duo to be involved in the Southern Reach Trilogy, with 'Absolution' being the brilliant, beautiful and terrifying final word on one of the most provocative and popular speculative fiction series of our time. An instant sensation, it has been celebrated by the New York Times, Stephen King and many others. With each volume climbing the bestsellers list, accruing awards, it was ultimately adapted in a movie - now a cult classic. The trilogy has now sold more than a million copies, securing its place in the pantheon of 21st century literature.

In the liner notes to the album, Jeff VanderMeer shares, "I remember being in the middle of the ecstatic visions that formed my novel 'Absolution' and discovering Tulipomania's music for the first time, around August of 2023 - this very album's doppelganger, in fact. The original mix of 'Dreaming of Sleep'. It felt like a revelation - hypnotic, pulsing music that got deep hooks into my brain, so I couldn't stop listening to the songs. Like a lighthouse's roving light, the songs felt like a beacon, and the recursive nature of the composition, the sense of a beating heart, a thick muscle at the core of them, combined with the surreal lyrics got deep into the novel's DNA. ... So I was really pleased that this opportunity for this wonderful contamination of (novel / album) to go the other way - the Absolution remix of 'Dreaming of Sleep', with four new Absolution tracks! I really love this band so much - to the point I've listened to and recommend their entire back catalogue - that it's an honor."

A sign of serendipity, the cover for this album was created by acclaimed artist Pablo Delcan, who also produced the artwork for the 10th anniversary editions of the Southern Reach Trilogy.

“It is a thrill to know that our music and lyrics were an inspiration for Jeff VanderMeer while he was working on his latest novel Absolution," says Tom Murray.

Cheryl Gelover adds, “Having the author crowned the ‘weird Thoreau’ entrust us with early versions of his newest novel Absolution was enormously enticing – knowing that he believed we could return with him to the world of Area X for the purpose of a cross-pollination is very exciting. We’re so glad we emerged from the journey with alternate versions of the ten tracks that originally inspired him, as well as four entirely new songs directly inspired by our immersion in the Southern Reach series and the latest novel in the series - Absolution. It is quite an honor to share a title on our new album with Jeff's latest.”

Tulipomania also shared the animated video for 'I've Been Told - Absolution', which VanderMeer praised. "The dreamlike immersion in imagery from the novel creates a hypnotic and perfect effect for both a beautiful dirge and surge of a song and the atmosphere for Absolution. Gorgeous and evocative". Shot frame by frame, utilizing multiple processes, including thermal printing, to create layered textures, the video features stop-motion animated objects (some frames vibrantly hand-tinted) and glimpses of the duo singing the lyrics. This exploration of various states of disintegration, painstakingly assembling thousands of individual images, evokes Absolution’s themes of dissolution and disorientation.

Described as ‘artistic and inventive’ and ‘gorgeous', Tulipomania's animated music videos have been featured in film festivals worldwide, including the Leeds International Film Festival (UK), StopTrik (Croatia, Poland), AniFilm (Czech Republic) and Tallgrass International Film Festival (USA).

On ‘Absolution', Tulipomania is immersed fully in electronic means of creation, involving Executive Producer Howard Thompson, renowned as a record industry executive (Elektra, Island, Almo Sounds), credited for having discovered and / or worked with Adam and the Ants, Billy Bragg, MC5, Mötorhead, PiL, Psychedelic Furs, Robyn Hitchcock, The Sugarcubes and Suicide, among others.

As of November 29, the ‘Absolution' album is available on CD, vinyl and digitally via Sursumcorda Records. It will be released everywhere digitally, including via Bandcamp, Spotify and Apple Music.

CREDITS
Cheryl Gelover - keyboards and vocals
Tom Murray - bass, drums, keyboards and lead vocals
with additional keyboards by Richard Hartline
Produced and recorded by Tulipomania & Richard Hartline
Mixed and Mastered by Richard Hartline
Liner notes – Jeff VanderMeer
Executive Producer - Howard Thompson
Album artwork/design – Pablo Delcan
Written by Cheryl Gelover & Tom Murray. Copyright Tulipomania
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

TULIPOMANIA previews 'I've Been Told' from 'Absolution' album, released in lock-step with bestseller JEFF VANDERMEER

November 15, 2024

Philadelphia-based art-rock duo Tulipomania are back with 'I've Been Told - Absolution', the first offering from their sixth album 'Absolution', inspired by an invitation from acclaimed author Jeff VanderMeer to contribute music as part of the publication of his latest novel 'Absolution', the surprise fourth volume in his award-winning 'Southern Reach' series.

With a pressingly mournful urgency, this soundscape resonates with the complex energies enveloping VanderMeer’s novel, the author having invited the duo to create music inspired by 'Absolution' while still a work in progress. Hearing that VanderMeer took inspiration for the 'Absolution' novel from their 'Dreaming of Sleep' album, the duo enthusiastically accepted the challenge.

Alternately categorized as cult synth punks, glam-leaning, post-punk, art-rock and muscular chamber pop, Tulipomania is Tom Murray (lead vocals, synthesizer, electronic percussion) and Cheryl Gelover (synthesizer, background vocals) – they first began their collaboration through projects for experimental film and animation classes. Tulipomania evolved from those experiences. Their new 'Absolution' album includes four new tracks inspired by VanderMeer's new novel, plus ten alternate versions of the songs that originally sparked VanderMeer’s interest, reimagined as a cohesive sonic experience.

It's an exciting development for the duo to be involved in this new chapter of the Southern Reach Trilogy with 'Absolution' being the brilliant, beautiful and terrifying final word on one of the most provocative and popular speculative fiction series of our time. An instant sensation, it has been celebrated by the New York Times, Stephen King and many others. With each volume climbing the bestsellers list, accruing awards, it was ultimately adapted in a movie - now a cult classic. The trilogy has now sold more than a million copies, securing its place in the pantheon of 21st century literature.

In the liner notes to the album, VanderMeer lends insight into his creative process: "I remember being in the middle of the ecstatic visions that formed my novel Absolution and discovering Tulipomania's music for the first time, around August of 2023 - this very album's doppelganger, in fact. The original mix of 'Dreaming of Sleep'. It felt like a revelation - hypnotic, pulsing music that got deep hooks into my brain, so I couldn't stop listening to the songs. Like a lighthouse's roving light, the songs felt like a beacon, and the recursive nature of the composition, the sense of a beating heart, a thick muscle at the core of them, combined with the surreal lyrics got deep into the novel's DNA. ... So I was really pleased that this opportunity for this wonderful contamination of (novel / album) to go the other way - the Absolution remix of 'Dreaming of Sleep', with four new Absolution tracks! I really love this band so much - to the point I've listened to and recommend their entire back catalogue - that it's an honor."

“It is a thrill to know that our music and lyrics were an inspiration for Jeff VanderMeer while he was working on his latest novel Absolution," says Tom Murray.

A sign of serendipity, the cover for this album was created by acclaimed artist Pablo Delcan, who also produced the artwork for the 10th anniversary editions of the Southern Reach Trilogy.

“Having the author crowned the ‘weird Thoreau’ entrust us with early versions of his newest novel Absolution was enormously enticing – knowing that he believed we could return with him to the world of Area X for the purpose of a cross-pollination is very exciting," Cheryl Gelover.

"We’re so glad we emerged from the journey with alternate versions of the ten tracks that originally inspired him, as well as four entirely new songs directly inspired by our immersion in the Southern Reach series and the latest novel in the series - Absolution. It is quite an honor to share a title on our new album with Jeff's latest.”

Jeff VanderMeer fondly describes the animated video for 'I've Been Told - Absolution': "The dreamlike immersion in imagery from the novel creates a hypnotic and perfect effect for both a beautiful dirge and surge of a song and the atmosphere for Absolution. Gorgeous and evocative". Shot frame by frame, utilizing multiple processes, including thermal printing, to create layered textures, the video features stop-motion animated objects (some frames vibrantly hand-tinted) and glimpses of the duo singing the lyrics. This exploration of various states of disintegration, painstakingly assembling thousands of individual images, evokes Absolution’s themes of dissolution and disorientation.

Described as ‘artistic and inventive’ and ‘gorgeous', Tulipomania's animated music videos have been featured in film festivals worldwide, including the Leeds International Film Festival (UK), StopTrik (Croatia, Poland), AniFilm (Czech Republic) and Tallgrass International Film Festival (USA).

On ‘Absolution', Tulipomania is immersed fully in electronic means of creation – the exception being a sole accent played on electric guitar on the last track. This record involves Executive Producer Howard Thompson, renowned as a record industry executive (Elektra, Island, Almo Sounds), credited for having discovered and / or worked with Adam and the Ants, Billy Bragg, MC5, Mötorhead, PiL, Psychedelic Furs, Robyn Hitchcock, The Sugarcubes and Suicide, among others.

The single ‘I’ve Been Told - Absolution’ is out now via Bandcamp, where the ‘Absolution' album is available for pre-order on CD, vinyl and digitally via Sursumcorda Records. On November 29, the album will be released there and everywhere digitally, including Spotify and Apple Music.

CREDITS
Cheryl Gelover - keyboards and vocals
Tom Murray - bass, drums, keyboards and lead vocals
with additional keyboards by Richard Hartline
Produced and recorded by Tulipomania & Richard Hartline
Mixed and Mastered by Richard Hartline
Liner notes – Jeff VanderMeer
Executive Producer - Howard Thompson
Album artwork/design – Pablo Delcan
Written by Cheryl Gelover & Tom Murray. Copyright Tulipomania
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Tulipomania presents 'I've Been Told - Absolution', a mutual artistic echo with author Jeff VanderMeer

November 1, 2024

It's an exciting development for the duo to be involved in this new chapter of the Southern Reach Trilogy with 'Absolution' being the brilliant, beautiful and terrifying final word on one of the most provocative and popular speculative fiction series of our time. An instant sensation, it has been celebrated by the New York Times, Stephen King and many others. With each volume climbing the bestsellers list, accruing awards, it was ultimately adapted in a movie - now a cult classic. The trilogy has now sold more than a million copies, securing its place in the pantheon of 21st century literature.

In the liner notes to the album, VanderMeer lends insight into his creative process: "I remember being in the middle of the ecstatic visions that formed my novel Absolution and discovering Tulipomania's music for the first time, around August of 2023 - this very album's doppelganger, in fact. The original mix of 'Dreaming of Sleep'. It felt like a revelation - hypnotic, pulsing music that got deep hooks into my brain, so I couldn't stop listening to the songs. Like a lighthouse's roving light, the songs felt like a beacon, and the recursive nature of the composition, the sense of a beating heart, a thick muscle at the core of them, combined with the surreal lyrics got deep into the novel's DNA. ... So I was really pleased that this opportunity for this wonderful contamination of (novel / album) to go the other way - the Absolution remix of 'Dreaming of Sleep', with four new Absolution tracks! I really love this band so much - to the point I've listened to and recommend their entire back catalogue - that it's an honor."

“It is a thrill to know that our music and lyrics were an inspiration for Jeff VanderMeer while he was working on his latest novel Absolution," says Tom Murray.

A sign of serendipity, the cover for this album was created by acclaimed artist Pablo Delcan, who also produced the artwork for the 10th anniversary editions of the Southern Reach Trilogy.

“Having the author crowned the ‘weird Thoreau’ entrust us with early versions of his newest novel Absolution was enormously enticing – knowing that he believed we could return with him to the world of Area X for the purpose of a cross-pollination is very exciting," Cheryl Gelover.

"We’re so glad we emerged from the journey with alternate versions of the ten tracks that originally inspired him, as well as four entirely new songs directly inspired by our immersion in the Southern Reach series and the latest novel in the series - Absolution. It is quite an honor to share a title on our new album with Jeff's latest.”

Jeff VanderMeer fondly describes the animated video for 'I've Been Told - Absolution': "The dreamlike immersion in imagery from the novel creates a hypnotic and perfect effect for both a beautiful dirge and surge of a song and the atmosphere for Absolution. Gorgeous and evocative". Shot frame by frame, utilizing multiple processes, including thermal printing, to create layered textures, the video features stop-motion animated objects (some frames vibrantly hand-tinted) and glimpses of the duo singing the lyrics. This exploration of various states of disintegration, painstakingly assembling thousands of individual images, evokes Absolution’s themes of dissolution and disorientation.

Described as ‘artistic and inventive’ and ‘gorgeous', Tulipomania's animated music videos have been featured in film festivals worldwide, including the Leeds International Film Festival (UK), StopTrik (Croatia, Poland), AniFilm (Czech Republic) and Tallgrass International Film Festival (USA).

On ‘Absolution', Tulipomania is immersed fully in electronic means of creation – the exception being a sole accent played on electric guitar on the last track. This record involves Executive Producer Howard Thompson, renowned as a record industry executive (Elektra, Island, Almo Sounds), credited for having discovered and / or worked with Adam and the Ants, Billy Bragg, MC5, Mötorhead, PiL, Psychedelic Furs, Robyn Hitchcock, The Sugarcubes and Suicide, among others.

On October 31, ‘I’ve Been Told - Absolution’ will be released via fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where the ‘Absolution' album (out November 29 on CD, vinyl and digitally via Sursumcorda Records) is available for pre-order.

CREDITS
Cheryl Gelover - keyboards and vocals
Tom Murray - bass, drums, keyboards and lead vocals
with additional keyboards by Richard Hartline
Produced and recorded by Tulipomania & Richard Hartline
Mixed and Mastered by Richard Hartline
Liner notes – Jeff VanderMeer
Executive Producer - Howard Thompson
Album artwork/design – Pablo Delcan
Written by Cheryl Gelover & Tom Murray. Copyright Tulipomania
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
ISRC code USZ5A2400008

'Shines On' from Philadelphia's Tulipomania explores themes of light, showcasing their fifth album 'Dreaming of Sleep'

January 31, 2024

Tulipomania presents 'Shines On', the latest animated audio-visual exploration from the Philadelphia-based art-rock duo in support of their latest album (their fifth to date) 'Dreaming of Sleep', released via Sursumcorda Records.

As the album's third single, ‘Shines On’ continues the conceptual viewpoint of the album – embracing contradiction while inviting ambiguity. A light from long ago shines on in this paean to ambiguity, memory, and endurance.

Band membersTom Murray andCheryl Gelovercreated, then modified and manipulated their original footage to produce this animated exploration of light and color. The final animation is composed of thousands of individual collages, augmented by bold swipes of pastel on the distressed and reconfigured surfaces of black paper.

"The song introduces ambiguity in its exploration of the energy of light. Who is the teller of the tale?” asksCheryl Gelover. “We’re pretty pleased about that and we’re really happy with the way that the tuned, chorused background vocals resolved in the overall mix.”

Ever a signal of hope, guidance and fortitude, light appears here in many guises, from flashes of sunlight to the glow emitted by the pre-solid state digital age nixie tube numerical display and on everything reflected and refracted in it. Light scatters on images captured then collaged on torn paper fiber – illuminated again once filmed then viewed.

"Light from a great distance dances and reflects a memory of the past. Moving towards the future, carrying the past with it,” saysTom Murray. "We were able to embed a waltz-timed morse code message in the bridge of the song.”

Earlier, Tulipomania released the singles and accompanying videos for 'Then and Only Then', 'You Had to Be There' and a remix created by UK music legend Martyn Ware (Heaven 17, The Human League) and Charles Stooke, as featured on WIRE Magazine’s cover-mounted Wiretapper CD.

Over the years, Tulipomania's music has been dubbed cult synth punks, glam-leaning, post-punk, art-rock and muscular chamber pop, but on this album, the duo was heavily immersed in electronic means of creation.

The new 'Dreaming of Sleep' album features cover artwork by Michael Speed,senior designer at Beggars Group London, and involves Executive Producer Howard Thompson, a record industry executive (Elektra, Island, Almo Sounds), renowned for discovering and working with such artists as Adam and the Ants, Billy Bragg, MC5, Mötorhead, PiL, Psychedelic Furs, Robyn Hitchcock, The Sugarcubes and Suicide, among others.

"The music and the animations of this album explore outrage, powerlessness and the knowing kind of sorrow that emerges from those states of mind – often in bursts of absurdity. Being aware of the ridiculous often feels like salvation," says Cheryl Gelover.

Artistic, inventive and gorgeous, Tulipomania's animated music videos have been featured in film festivals worldwide, with several showcasing their latest few videos as an official selection, including the Leeds International Film Festival (UK), StopTrik (Croatia, Poland), AniFilm (Czech Republic), Insomnia (Russia), Malatesta (Italy) and CutOut animation festival (Mexico), as well as earning an Honorable Mention at the Montreal International Animation Film Festival - Animaze and named as finalist af the Amarcort Film Festival in Fellini's hometown.

Tulipomania also created animated music videos - 'Hush' and 'Shock To The Body' - for Cabaret Voltaire founder / frontman Stephen Mallinder in support of his solo album 'tick, tick, tick' (out now via Dais Records).

The 'Dream of Sleep’ album is out now, available digitally from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where it can also be obtained on CD and vinyl.

'Dreaming of Sleep' LP https://tulipomania.bandcamp.com/album/dreaming-of-sleep
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/20ohNBN27ArtlUx9KA5AE1
'Shines On' single https://youtu.be/q0v0MIIU9o4
‘Then and Only Then’ single https://youtu.be/muCX0LtfebU
'You Had To Be There (Martyn Ware & Charles Stooke Remix)’ https://youtu.be/WijPS9hVEwk
'You Had To Be There' https://youtu.be/C0cSaWm9YV4

CREDITS
Music and lyrics written by Tulipomania
Cheryl Gelover - keyboards and vocals
Tom Murray - bass, drums, keyboards and lead vocals
Produced and recorded by Tulipomania and Richard Hartline
Howard Thompson - Executive Producer
Film directors / animators - Cheryl Gelover and Tom Murray
Cover artwork created by Michael Speed
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Philadelphia art-rock duo Tulipomania presents new single 'Then and Only Then', an anthem of mutability and catharsis

October 27, 2023

"Tulipomania’s unique take on post-punk boasts gritty guitars underpinned by a brooding rhythm section to provide a backdrop for compelling and atmospheric vocals" ~ Louder Than War

"All the hallmarks of fine Cold War electronica: a brain-searing synth line, and an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia and bubbling anxiety" ~ Electronic Sound

"Like a good Lynch film, Tulipomania serves up a dystopian atmosphere that is drifting and cavernous, igniting one’s imagination, while the accompanying video is a fantastic shadowplay" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Between post-punk influenced synth pop and lush chamber pop... with visually distinctive videos" ~ WIRE Magazine

"Reverberating, rippling riffs are more soothing and spacious, replicating deep-sea sonar devices and lulling lap steels... mystery-laced lyrics"~Big Takeover Magazine

Philadelphia-based art-rock duoTulipomaniapresents'Then and Only Then', the latest single from their fifth album'Dreaming of Sleep'(out November 17 viaSursumcorda Records).

Alternately categorized as cult synth punks, glam-leaning, post-punk, art-rock and muscular chamber pop, Tulipomania isTom Murray(lead vocals, synthesizer, electronic percussion) andCheryl Gelover (synthesizer, background vocals), who first began their collaboration through projects for experimental film and animation classes. The duo now known as Tulipomania has evolved from those experiences.

"Memory is malleable – the song explores mutability. Lyrically, it's an internal struggle – sonically it projects that energy into the external world.Catharsis. Of course, the effectiveness of that strategy is debatable – that's the fun of it for those who can appreciate the irony – "knock yourself out". We do however believe the ultimate failure is apathy – never give up – the stakes are too high," saysCheryl Gelover.

Tom Murrayadds, "It’s about wearing yourself out trying to answer the unanswerable. Dealing with endless, groundless self-serving tales. Deciding to keep moving in the absence of a clear destination. Meditative frustration. Finding a groove to loop into – not answering is the answer."

'Dream of Sleep' album order https://tulipomania.bandcamp.com/album/dreaming-of-sleep
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/4I9L2NiYfLv84gRbbJ66oT
'You Had To Be There (Martyn Ware & Charles Stooke Remix)’ https://youtu.be/WijPS9hVEwk
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/6hgkfpNN76OpYSu0ShCT6I
'You Had To Be There' https://youtu.be/C0cSaWm9YV4
Bandcamp https://tulipomania.bandcamp.com/track/you-had-to-be-there
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/2SmdCdwdWHSD5aItTG9pEL

Earlier, the duo released the album's lead track 'You Had to Be There', followed by a remix by UK music legend Martyn Ware (Heaven 17, The Human League) and Charles Stooke, which is featured on WIRE Magazine’s cover-mounted Wiretapper CD compilation for October.

Its animated music video, featuring lip sync, original and vintage footage shot frame by frame, collaged on sheets of black paper - is an official selection at the CutOut Fest International festival of animation and digital art this November in Mexico. The ‘Dreaming of Sleep’ album sees the duo heavily immersed in electronic means of creation. With cover artwork by Michael Speed, senior designer at Beggars Group London, this record involves Executive Producer Howard Thompson, renowned for his contributions as a record industry executive (Elektra, Island, Almo Sounds), having discovered and/or worked with Adam and the Ants, Billy Bragg, MC5, Mötorhead, PiL, Psychedelic Furs, Robyn Hitchcock, The Sugarcubes, Suicide, among others.

Described as ‘artistic and inventive’ and ‘gorgeous', Tulipomania's animated music videos have been featured in film festivals worldwide. Numerous such festivals have already showcased this new video as an official selection, including the Leeds International Film Festival (UK), StopTrik (Croatia, Poland), AniFilm (Czech Republic), Insomnia (Russia) and Malatesta (Italy) with the Montreal International Animation Film Festival - Animaze awarding it an Honorable Mention.

Tulipomania also created animated music videos - 'Hush' and 'Shock To The Body' - for Cabaret Voltaire founder / frontman Stephen Mallinder in support of his solo album 'tick, tick, tick' (out now via Dais Records).

As of October 26, 'Then and Only Then’ is available everywhere, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. On November 17, the full 'Dreaming of Sleep' album will be released on CD, vinyl and digitally. It can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Music and lyrics written by Tulipomania
Cheryl Gelover - keyboards and vocals
Tom Murray - bass, drums, keyboards and lead vocals
Produced and recorded by Tulipomania and Richard Hartline
Howard Thompson - Executive Producer
Film directors / animators - Cheryl Gelover and Tom Murray
Cover artwork created by Michael Speed
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR