The UGHS! is a demo album by The Residents released on 3rd November 2009 on MVD Audio. The album is comprised of excerpts from The Residents' lengthy 2005-2006 jam sessions as The UGHS!, which formed the basis of their 31st studio album, The Voice of Midnight.
History and concept[]
Recording[]
When The Residents decided to adapt E.T.A Hoffman's classic short story, Der Sandmann, a division was discovered within the group. Half of the group wanted a strictly intellectual approach to the narrative, while the rest wanted to convey the lead character's crumbling mental state through primal and animalistic music.
Realizing they were talking in clichés of their work, they decided that The Residents would be unable to progress through this project and that a new group, untouched by expectations of what The Residents would do, had to take it on.
Along with guitarist Nolan Cook and vocalist Carla Fabrizio, The Residents formed and began operating as The UGHS. A jam band that recorded their own improvisational and experimental jams day and night, the best of which is featured on this album. The sessions were produced by The Cryptic Corporation.
Release[]
Two years after The Residents had molded the UGHS sessions into The Voice of Midnight, the group re-discovered the recordings after a chance listening session. Now hearing it with fresh ears, The Residents were amazed at how new and dynamic the material sounded.
As a result, the group delivered the audio files to their new record label, MVD Audio, which was eagerly The Residents' latest release, especially after their 34th studio album went straight to the group's digital store. As a result, MVD released these old recordings and promoted them as the group's latest major release, alongside another outtakes compilation album, Ten Little Piggies.
Track Listing[]
- The Ughs (2:21)
- The Dancing Duck (4:18)
- Floating Down The Nile, Part 2 (5:49)
- Squeaky Wheels (3:11)
- The Lonely Lotus (6:12)
- Rendering The Bacon (5:15)
- The Horns of Haynesville (9:59)
- The Wondering Jew (6:05)
- Charlie Chan (4:05)
- In The Dark (10:22)
Liner notes[]
When The Residents begin work on their 2007 opus to insanity, The Voice of Midnight, the group felt the need to shake things up, consequently they created an alter ego through which they could act out new roles. Proudly, The Residents christened this conceptual alter ego as THE UGHS! Utilizing this new persona, THE UGHS quickly became the perfect vehicle for exploring the conflicted emotions of Nate, the Voice of Midnight's tormented protagonist. The group then fashioned "written music" from the raw, impulsive ideas created by The UGHS!, building the musical structure of The Voice of Midnight on these pieces.
Two years later these original UGHS! recordings were rediscovered' freed from its previous role supporting The Voice of Midnight's narrative, the music suddenly sounded as fresh as when it was first recorded. The time had come to resurrect THE UGHS. Falling in the direction of ritualized, primitive free jazz, The UGHS! is unlike anything ever created by The Residents.
Credits[]
- Written & Performed: The Residents
- Produced By: The Cryptic Corp
- Additional Guitar Solos: N. Cook
- Additional Vocal: Carla Fabrizio
Buy Or Die![]
- The UGHS! at MVDshop (US)
See also[]
- The UGHS! (group)
- The Voice of Midnight
- Ten Little Piggies
- Charles Bobuck
- Combo de Mecanico
- Sonidos de la Noche