Pish Posh - CD

Album release February 15, 2022

1. BELIEVE IT OR NOT
2. WAITING FOR YOU
3. TRUTH TO THE CORE
4. PROGRESSION
5. JUST A LITTLE (ROB PREUSS MESMERACE MIX)
6. STICKY
7. NEVER WANNA LET YOU GO
8. FANTASY
9. HIGH ABOVE
10. OXYGEN
11. JUST A LITTLE (ORIGINAL)
12. PISH POSH

Pish Posh, the 5^th album by Canadian electro-pop band Church of Trees, is proof that the synthpop genre is more vibrant now than ever in its 40 year history. Though a few faces have changed, the nucleus of Church of Trees is still writer/producer Bernard Frazer, whose ability to craft superb electro/synth compositions is second to none. He also seems to have a knack for finding extraordinary female vocalists.

On this album, the icing on the cake is veteran Canadian singer, Stella Panacci (Kat Rocket, The Angry Moon, Shella), whose tantalizing tones, glorious range, and superb vocal colour are unmistakable. “I loved her work with Jordon Zadorozny (Blinker the Star, Courtney Love, Lindsey Buckingham) on The Angry Moon project. And the energy and emotionality she brings to the songs on Pish Posh gives me chills.”

The new Church of Trees album is a veritable electropop wellspring, replete with swirling synths, hook-filled vocals, enticing grooves, and surprising moments. The album hits the ground running with three back-to-back bangers: Believe It or Not, Waiting for You, and Truth to the Core, all of which beautifully showcase Panacci’s mellifluous tone. Frazer then takes the reins with his own voice on “Progression”, in which the evocative, lush keyboards are reminiscent of early Gary Numan.  “There are always one or two songs that feel too ‘me’ to have anyone else sing”, Frazer explains, “and Progression is very me!” Panacci returns with blistering performances on Just a Little and Fantasy, then provides haunting and soulful vocals for the tracks Oxygen and High Above.

Former Spoons/Honeymoon Suite keyboardist, Rob Preuss is back with a shimmering remix of the pop-banger Just a Little, beautifully sung by Panacci. And British-born, Indie-Folk singer, Susan O delivers a stirring performance on the ballad Never Wanna Let You Go.

 The album finishes with the title track, Pish Posh, an 8 minute ambient opus. Frazer says “Back in the 80’s, Dave Foley (Kids in the Hall, NewsRadio, The Morning Show) and I used to record these Fripp-esque tape-loop music experiments, which I absolutely loved. And, ever since, I’ve wanted to revisit ambient music in some form.” A musical comment on Earth’s miniscule stature when viewed from the outer reaches of our galaxy, the song incorporates sound clips sourced near planets such as Saturn and Jupiter, courtesy of NASA. “It’s kind of an homage to the great American astrophysicist, Carl Sagan, who I met during a promotional tour for his book Pale Blue Dot. He made me realize that the problems of a few billion humans amount to literally nothing when considering the vastness of space.”

The album will be available on all streaming services, as well as Bandcamp and, for the first time, on the band’s own website, churchoftrees.com

Massive thanks to all the fans, as well as the community, college, and internet radio stations around the world for their continued support, purchases, and kind words.

Special thanks to Aaron Badgley, David Marsden, Carol B, Pat Kindrat, Mark Tara, Herve Max Mann, Garth Musk, Stuart Calder, Coral Andrews, Jeff Larocque, Anne-Marie Brugger, Colin Kennedy, Tony Stuart, Bill Leach, Dave Meehan, Tic, Martha Walsh, Gerry Young, and Andrea Roudebush for their support and enthusiasm.

Sincere thanks to Jordon Zadorozny for his guidance, passion, and undying support.

Extra-special thanks and profound love to Karen Bisson for her passion, help, tireless efforts, unconditional love. You are my oxygen.

This album is dedicated to the memory of Peter Benner (DJ Peanut Butter) of CHCR FM, Killaloe on, Canada, whose fierce and tireless support of independent music was unmatched. His sudden passing has left a gaping hole in the musical fabric of Canada’s Ottawa Valley. Peter, we miss you terribly. This one is for you.

Credits

Stella Panacci: Vocals, Bg Vocals
Bernard Frazer: Vocals, Bg Vocals, Synths, Drum/Bass Programming
Susan O: Vocals, Bg Vocals On #7
Jordon Zadorozny: Guitars
D.D. Danahy: Synths, Guitars on #6
Rob Preuss: Producer, Synths, Bass, Guitar On #11
Producers: Bernard Frazer, Jordon Zadorozny

Mixed/Mastered by Jordon Zadorozny
@ Skylark Park, Pembroke, Ontario
Except #11 Mixed/Mastered by Rob Preuss
@ Home, Queens, New York

Album Design by Karen Bisson & Bernard Frazer
Album Art Photo by Tom Wilcox
Sounds From Space Courtesy Of NASA