JamBase comes out Cluster flies, a new presentation of a compilation of covers Phish’s album Farm, on Friday, April 30. The limited-edition 3LP release was mastered by engineer Joe Lambert and features custom artwork and a poster created by Jim Pollock, a longtime Phish employee. Available today is the single “Sand” covered by Club d’Elf
Pre-orders for Cluster flies begin today, Tuesday, April 13 at 12 p.m. ET. The Cluster flies Pollock Poster will be available to bundle with the triple gatefold, 180 gram vinyl edition. A standalone triple gatefold, 180 gram vinyl edition without poster can also be purchased. The Timed Edition release of Cluster flies Available to order through May 3 at 11:59 p.m. ET. A high-resolution digital version can also be downloaded.
An allotment of the same Cluster flies Pollock posters available in the vinyl bundle will go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, April 14 at 12 p.m. ET at www.clusterflies.com.
Phish issued Farm on Elektra Records in May 2000. The album was the first to be recorded by the band on guitar Trey Anastasio’s The Barn recording studio outside Burlington, Vermont, where almost all of their subsequent albums were recorded, including the one from 2020 Sigma Oasis
Also in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced musicians off the road as concerts and festivals around the world were canceled. After more than 20 years of encouraging fans to go see live music, JamBase’s message was put on hold. In response to this, the Cluster flies concept was conceived late last year, both to celebrate Farmhouse’s 20th anniversary and as a way for JamBase to connect fans with the musicians they love.
For the price of an average ticket to a show, you can support JamBase and musicians who haven’t toured your copy of Cluster flies today.
“Last July, when it became clear that the COVID-19 pandemic would have a devastating impact on the live music industry,” said JamBase CEO David Onigman said, “I commissioned the team to come up with an idea that we could drive around instead of live music and collect lost revenue for JamBase. Rather than a standard fundraiser, the Cluster flies project was conceived and we soon reached an incredible group of musicians who graciously took the opportunity to support JamBase. What has happened in the past nine months has exceeded even my wildest expectations. I’m thrilled with how the performances, artwork, packaging, mastering, and podcasts we’re going to be launching on a daily basis came together. It is a collection of work that I am extremely proud of and honored to share with the world. “
In front of Cluster flies, JamBase has recruited many of its favorite artists to record new versions of each of the 12 songs Farm, as well as the pair of bonus tracks that came with the original Japanese edition. In an effort to create something really new, Cluster flies presents three additional covers of Phish songs written during the Farm era but not recorded for that – or any other – album. Fans of Farm also recognizes a completely different track list order when listening Cluster flies
“Sand” from Club d’Elf
Side A starts with guitarist William Tyler’s beautiful arrangement of the instrumental “The Inlaw Josie Wales.” Genre-bending duo Sylvan Esso follow with a welcome version of the title track. Trumpeter / singer Jennifer Hartswick, which is a member of the Trey Anastasio Band and to which he has contributed Farm, was accompanied by bass player Christian McBride and others on ‘Dirt’. Close side A is the first notFarm track ‘Vultures’, recorded by guitarists Tim Palmieri and Amar Sastry with members of Goose, Twiddle, Tea Leaf Green and Strange people
Emerging singer-songwriter Daniel Donato side B starts with “Back On The Train”. Then it’s the non-Farmhouse track ‘Bye Bye Foot’, recorded by a multi-instrumentalist Reed Mathis and drummer Jay LaneBay Area singer-songwriter Vetiver (Andy Cabic) delivers a beautiful performance of “Driver”. Finishing side B is in White Denim James Petralli directing a wild dub “Gotta Jibboo” while supported by Sam Cohen, Eric Slick, Mike St. Clair and Zero percent APR
Guitarist Chris Forsyth takes up all of Side C with its expanded take on ‘Piper’. Side D opens with Club d’Elf bring their signature psychedelic Moroccan vibe to ‘Sand’. Then bluegrass singer-songwriter Lindsay Lou gives her interpretation of the Japanese bonus track ‘Mountains In The Mist’. Guitarist Sadler Vaden Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit then put a Nashville stamp on the single from the original album, “Heavy Things.” Americana makes an appearance with From Amy Helm intriguing arrangement of ‘Sleep’.
Side E drops the needle Neal Francis’ neo-soul-funk rendition of the last not-Farm song, “Dogs Stole Things.” Then comes Umphrey’s McGee guitarist Brendan Bayliss with a really twisted adaptation of ‘Twist’. The side ends with Bundle of oaks (Timothy Showalter) Extending “Bug” beyond its normal limits. Guitarist Ryley Walker takes over from there and digs into a nearly 20-minute, free-form, improvised rendition of ‘First Tube’, then closes Cluster flies and taking all of Side F.
Any number on Cluster flies premieres via a daily rollout on JamBase and an accompanying episode of The JamBase Podcast that will also include interviews with each of the participating artists. The first episode launches today with Mike Rivard from Club d’Elf and will continue every day until the album’s release on April 30th. Cluster flies premiered on SiriusXM’s Phish Radio during upcoming episodes of Crowd control and Headbands
Visit www.clusterflies.com to make a reservation.
Side A:
- William Tyler – The Inlaw Josie Wales (3:40)
- Sylvan Esso – Farm (3:02)
- Jennifer Hartswick – Dirt (3:54)
- Tim Palmieri, Reid Genauer, Amar Sastry, Eric DiBerardino, Ben Atkind and Ryan Dempsey – Vultures (8:17)
Side B:
- Daniel Donato – Back on the train (4:09)
- Reed Mathis – Bye Bye Foot (5:09)
- Vetiver – Driver (3:22)
- James Petralli, Sam Cohen, Eric Slick, Mike St. Clair and Zero Percent APR – Gotta Jibboo (4:40)
Side C:
- Chris Forsyth – Piper (6:34 PM)
Side D:
- Club d’Elf – Sand (7:10)
- Lindsay Lou – Mountains In The Mist (4:05)
- Sadler Vaden – Heavy Things (4:04)
- Amy Helm – Sleep (4:32)
Side E:
- Neal Francis – Dogs Stole Things (4:13)
- Brendan Bayliss – Twist (4:07)
- Beach of Oaks – Bug (8:15)
Side F:
- Ryley Walker – First Tube (18:57)