TRANSCENDENCE is set to sign a deal with Attack Records/EMI to release their two new albums. The company – owned by multi-platinum producer Mark Berry, and distributed by Caroline/EMI – will also pick up the band’s entire back catalogue including the band member’s solo albums as well. The deal stipulates that the label will pursue a full-scale release for the band’s Great Mistake album and have it out by late August of 2008. They will release the band’s other new album All Your Heroes Become villains digitally for the first few months to gauge fan response though oddly will release the thundering alt-rock song Blind Eye as a single to commercial radio. More details as they come.
TRANSCENDENCE Singer Introduces New Project – PeaceWithIran.com
“I am very glad to hear about what Ed Hale is doing. It’s of extraordinary importance. The threats by the US against Iran are not only criminal — technically, in violation of the UN Charter — but are also extremely ominous. I don’t think there can be an invasion, but bombing is possible, and a terrible prospect. On the likelihood, no one can say, even the White House. It depends in no small part on our efforts.â€
– Noam Chomsky
A personal message from Ed Hale
As many know, I just recently returned from a 15 day peace delegation to the country of Iran. The trip was eye-opening to say the least. It was also exhausting. Hence my absence over the last two months since my return. Had to get my head on straight. I have written hundreds of pages about the experience and yes as always I have gigabytes of video footage and photos to share. This will come in time.
In the intervening weeks since my return I have been more than busy. Besides countless interviews and lectures regarding the recent Iranian trip, the band is in the midst of signing a two album deal with Caroline/EMI Records to release out two new albums this year, so yes to all of your gracious and much-appreciated inquiries, the new albums are going to be released. As soon as we have a release date we will let you know. I have also been finishing a book which we will announce very soon.
I have also been busy with two new non-profit projects, www.TuneInTurnOnHelpOut.org, and www.PeaceWithIran.com. Your presence here is welcomed and appreciated. And it would be greatly appreciated at both or either of these two new sites, which both have noble goals. To speak a bit about the impetus of the peacewithiran.com project, I want to caveat by saying that though “war is imminent†or “military strikes are imminent†may be an idea or thought or belief that many are carrying around today in regards to the United States and Iran and even Israel, I do not personally hold this thought or idea or belief myself.
To read more head to edhale.com.
TRANSCENDENCE Members Lend a Hand to Newcomer Hilary McRae on Debut CD
If there is one unifying aspect that connects the individually eclectic members of the band TRANSCENDENCE, it is that all the members are passionate music lovers. Not just as creators – whether in TRANSCENDENCE or in their various spin-off solo projects – but also as listeners and fans. They may not always have the same taste or agree on everything musical, but each member is just as obsessed as the next about MUSIC in general. This collective passion seems to transcend all styles, countries, and ages. One may find it perplexing looking in for the first time on a TRANSCENDENCE rehearsal to see the group sitting around a living room floor till dawn surrounded by stacks of CDs, vinyl LPs, and iPods for hours passionately trading quips, anecdotes, and hyperbolic testimonials about “the greatest album of all time” rather than standing around with guitars strapped on running through their own set lists.
This also might explain each individual member’s interest and exploits in the musical projects of so many other artists around the world as well as the band’s own releases. (Two of the band’s members own their own labels to release the music of other artists that they love — Dippy Records and TMG Records, and the band is now forming a new label called Dying Van Gogh Records to add even more artists to their roster.)
At some point in the not too distant past TRANSCENDENCE longtime scene-mate, guitarist/producer/engineer/vocalist/songwriter Zach Ziskin who through the years has acted as everything from guitarist, background vocalist, arranger, producer, and engineer for TRANSCENDENCE discovered a young singer/songwriter named Hilary McRae whose vocals and keyboard playing he almost instantly fell in love with. Ziskin then brought McRae to the attention of TRANSCENDENCE guitarist Fernando Perdomo. [Ziskin mixed the band's critically acclaimed 2005 CD Nothing is Cohesive and played guitar on most of the songs on the band's new album All Your Heroes Become Villains.]
Ziskin liked what he heard in the young McRae and so did Perdomo so they agreed to produce and engineer an album for the singer. Perdomo played the basses, many of the guitars, and co-wrote the album closer, “Where Will We Be.” Ziskin as he always does engineered and produced a professional catchy and tasty pop feast of tunes that garnered attention of industry insiders quickly. The rest as they say is history. Ziskin made a few calls. McRae was picked up soon thereafter and her debut album “Through These Walls” is now out on Starbucks Hear Music records. Hilary is on tour this summer opening for Teddy Geiger. Not bad for six months worth of work.
The online pop-culture magazine Pop Culture Madness quoted in a recent review “Luckily, one can find solace in the song Where Will We Be, which is the last track on the album and the only song that was co-written by Hilary McRae and TRANSCENDENCE guitarist Fernando Perdomo. This song fits her voice brilliantly and allows her to bust out and truly satisfy her voice’s distinctive sound and style.”
ED HALE & THE TRANSCENDENCE to Appear at South by South West Music Festival
ED HALE & THE TRANSCENDENCE is scheduled to appear at this year’s South by South West (SXSW) music festival in Austin, Texas in March – the nation’s largest and longest running independent music festival now in its 20th year. Though the band has performed at Boston’s NEMO and New York’s CMJ music festival, this will be their first appearance at SXSW. With two new albums due out this year, the show could not have come at a better time. A big congrats to the guys. The band’s venue and time-slot has not been released yet. Check back for more.
TRANSCENDENCE guitarist producing new album by 70′s rock icon Andy Pratt
TRANSCENDENCE guitarist Fernando Perdomo is producing the new album by 70′s rock legend Andy Pratt – tentatively titled The Snake Charmer. Pratt was a FM rock radio mainstay throughout the 70s and 80s — most famous for his 1973 hit “Avenging Annie” which was also recorded by the Who’s Roger Daultrey. Pratt is currently in Perdomo’s studio recording 12 tracks for the new album. Fellow TRANSCENDENCE members Ed Hale and Allan Gabay are also participating by adding background vocals and keyboards. For Perdomo the job has been an absolute dream come true. Says Ed Hale, “There is an excitement here in the air 24 hours a day. Us being younger and less experienced and watching someone of Andy’s talent work is awe-inspiring. His songs are freaking brilliant. We’re just along for the ride, trying to do our best to make the album sound as good as it can, and learning a lot along the way. The guy is a freaking brilliant songwriter. I’m learning a lot from him. We all are.”
TRANSCENDENCE negotiating deal with Pyramid/Universal Records
TRANSCENDENCE is currently contemplating and negotiating a record deal offer from Pyramid Records on the Universal Music Group label to release its Great Mistake album recorded last year and due out in the fall of 2008. The deal has not yet been signed. The band is also considering offers from Powerline Records, Attack Records/EMI and IDN, though have not ruled out going it independent for this one. Fans can hear rough mixes of a few of the tracks on the band’s MySpace or Pure Volume page.