Six Organs of Admittance
Shelter From The Ash (Drag City)

“…and despite reason came the ghosts
and nothing that was needed
was everything needed most
so take shelter from the ash.”

It’s been an exhilarating year of life for Ben Chasny, the heraldic presence behind Six Organs of Admittance, alternately thrilling and trying as he negotiated the ever-swirling path of Six Organs as well as the spin he put on Comets On Fire, Current 93, Badgerlore and even the band of Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy for one golden European run. But nothing brought more pleasure than retiring to his aerie, far from the flies of the marketplace. There, he could see the future again — and stare in awe as his fingers traced an accompaniment even his very mind could not have imagined!

SHELTER FROM THE ASH features a most fluid combination of electric and acoustic Six Organs of Admittance styles. Chasny went into the studio with the songs both in his mind and also demoed out, a different way of working than in previous sessions. Sure, improvisations were still a big part of the sound; within the song structures, they create dynamic sparks from the other side of the inspiration. Additionally (if you must know), standard tuning played a part for the first time in history — but don’t worry, this doesn’t mean that Six Organs of Admittance has come in from the drone-storm — far from it! The man who was once “Torn by Wolves” in an unknown key is now “Coming To Get You,” no matter what it takes — with a tuning any man could play, but few would use as he does.

The session was conducted in the glamorous confines of San Francisco’s Louder Studios, where so many bands have had their hard and heavy essence redefined. Six Organs of Admittance was no exception. Additionally, the session featured such luminaries as The Magik Markers’ Elisa Ambrogio, The Fucking Champs’ Tim Green and Chasny’s Comets On Fire bandmate Noel Harmonson and gadabout- to-the-stars Matt Sweeney pitching in. Six Organs of Admittance has been a collaborative ground in the past, and what happened here is what always happens: an organic oneness, a record very comfortable in it’s many skins.

Seeking change and a fresh killing field at all costs, SHELTER FROM THE ASH fords fronts both dark and blustery, lucent and lithe, mining electricity, hydrogen and other elemental forces within.

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