Many of us recognize the inherent value of the quickening pulse. People applaud the dramatic crack of an electric stick into the soft doughy underbelly of our ordinary lives. We long for a moment of danger. We crave the scream of the beast. We know.

There are many choices out there. Cooled Out Babies want you to make the right choice. Don't pour a load of poison down your ears. Scream along with us. You'll feel much better.

The group likes to rope in performances from some of their many musical friends and the collection features contributions from Paul Foreman (guitar, alto sax), Brennan Connor (flutes, tenor sax), Jeffrey Kmieciak (guitar and lap steel), Brett Callaway (drum programming, keyboard), Nick Rocchio (lap steel), Sean Burke (shaker, fingersnaps and wolf whistle) and Jeff Wichmann (trumpet). 

Biography
THE ORIGINAL SANFTSPRECHER

Under duress from the USM (Unified Society of Milkmen), Joseph Daley, Blair Douglass, Paul Foreman and Nicholas Rocchio shut down their independent milk delivery service in 1929. A smattering of unsuccessful endeavors followed, until they discovered an undeniable chemistry blending finger-picked guitars with lutes and clarinets. Although initially less lucrative than the milk business, the quartet, who settled on the name Sanftsprecher (trans. “Soft Speaker”), were championed by Austria’s Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss in 1932 and subsequently enjoyed a period of massive popularity in their newly-adopted home country. The band split following Dollfuss’s assassination in 1934. Their only official recording, the 78rpm single,“I’ll Tend Your Garden,” is highly sought after by record collectors. In 2008, enthusiasts of the band purchased sheet music for a number of unrecorded Sanftsprecher songs that were discovered in Rocchio’s safe deposit box in UniCredit Bankengruppe. Austria’s Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich has been recording interpretations of these songs and releasing them for the public’s listening pleasure. Separately, a ramshackle group of Chicago-based musicians has taken it upon themselves to perform and record these songs in a strikingly rudimentary manner with crude electric instruments, much to the dismay of purist fans who prefer the orchestral versions.

DOLLFUSS WRITES VORTROBOS

Prior to accepting the office of Chancellor of Austria, Englebert Dollfuss was a soldier with the Austro-Hungarian army, fighting on the Alpine Front in WWI. Although he was highly decorated and well-regarded, his time in the battlefield had a significant effect on his psyche. It did not help that his diminutive stature was the source of great amusement for his peers, who referred to him as "The Jockey." He grew insular and took to writing lengthy works of fiction, featuring eerie parallel realities inhabited by characters who were obviously based on himself. Although his writing skills were limited, the stories were detailed and engaging. These pieces of fiction inspired a large batch of songs written by Sanftsprecher between 1932 and 1933. It is believed that the members of Sanftsprecher were among a very small audience with whom Dolfuss shared the stories. The present-day Soft Speaker (Chicago) recorded a selection of these songs and has released them as this album, Vortrobos, which borrows it's title from one of Dolfuss's works. The cover art was created by Chicago-based painter, Jason Brammer, and is the artist’s interpretation of one of Dollfuss’s parallel realities.

Description
"The group mines the rich vein uncovered by the melodic adventurousness of pre-Dark Side of the Moon Pink Floyd and Neil Young's mid-'70s crunch." - Chicagoist

Marcus Rezak is a recording artist, touring musician, session guitarist, and music theorist releasing his debut album on Nov. 9th 2018 entitled, "Gateway To The Galaxy" ft. Bill Evans (sax, Miles Davis), Arthur Barrow (bass, Frank Zappa), Kris Myers (drums) and Joel Cummins (keys) (Umphreys McGee). You can order this album now at www.marcusrezak.com 


Lead guitarist and original member of Chicago based electronic super-group Digital Tape Machine ft. members of Umphreys McGee. Marcus Rezak's diversity in musical styles lands him many live and studio sessions across the globe which sets him apart from other guitarists. Known as a master of jazz improvisation and the art of the sit-in, Marcus is a frequent call among bands and musicians carving out his unique niche in the performance world. 

As a lead guitarist, Marcus carves out a distinguished style in the world of Guitar with several well-known cutting edge groups including Katharsis, Shred is Dead, FrankenZaps Monster, Digital Tape Machine, Stratosphere All-Stars, and as artist at large. He has performed at some of the most elite music festivals across the globe in various genres. Having a commanding stage presence, Marcus takes the euphoric freedom of live music and directs its path into a unique approach, as if every jam is a live recording session. By keeping exceptionally comprehensive mental notes on what works, what doesn't, and how to improve is what has led Marcus to respect in the music world and to such integral heights. 

In 2008, The Hue, Marcus' original progressive rock band from Chicago, IL released two albums entitled, "Unscene" and "Beyond Words" and peaked at a performance with the Aristocrats at Martyrs in Chicago. In 2011, Digital Tape Machine, which featured Joel Cummins and Kris Myers of Umphreys McGee released 2 albums entitled, "Be Here Now" and "Face Behind The Face". The group rose to new heights playing such music festivals including Electric Forest, Summer Camp, North Coast, All Good, Somerset, and more. In 2014, The Stratosphere All-Stars began keeping Marcus busier than before with rotating members within the jam-rock scene including Steve Molitz (Particle / Phil Lesh and Friends), Michael Greenfield (Lotus), David Murphy ( STS9 ), Todd Stoops (RAQ), Hayley Jane, and many more. Having performed at late night set at the Catskill Chill Music Festival and Brooklyn Comes Alive in New York, tours across the Eastern seaboard, they quickly gained attention across the nation. 

Marcus is working on a Colorado based project called Katharsis which features Dave Watts ( The Motet), Todd Stoops (RAQ, Electric Beethoven), and Charles Jones (Dopapod) performing funk-rooted psychedelic jams and improvisation. The band just released an album including the title track " Diabolical " now available for streaming, in addition to tours and performances across the country. 

As a session guitarist and live performer Marcus has collaborated with a vast array of musicians from members of Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Umphreys Mcgee, Jerry Garcia Band, Melvin Seals, The Motet, Dopapod, Primus, Ratdog, The Disco Biscuits, SCI, Lotus, STS9, Lettuce, Garaj Mahal, Robert Walters 20th Congress, Circles Around The Sun, The Aristocrats, Steve Vai, Megadeth, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, and many more. In addition to live performances, Marcus focuses heavily on remote and live studio guitar tracking, editing, and mixing sessions working with a variety of artists, composers, and producers such as David Bowies pianist of 20 years Mr. Mike Garson. 

As a guitar instructor, he built his own freelance clientele, teaching primarily Jazz students, but also having no limitations to this as well. Marcus Rezak has a B.M. from Berklee College of Music in Boston, and a M.M. degree in Jazz Composition from DePaul University in Chicago, IL.

Followers of trappedintime