Biography
"Barnaby Bennett is the brains behind Calgary's Tetraktys; a strange mix of random sounds all rooted by a little dose of pop." (CJSW) The Tetraktys could be considered a musical collective of sorts, operating without the pretenses that surround the average ensemble --> this ensures a unique live experience, in which every show differs from those that preceded it. It was described as "absolutely perfect psychedelic folk pop, forgoing stoned ramblings for intelligence in song and arrangement." (Sled Island '08 Festival Guide)
Live performances are very important to The Tetraktys as they allow the songs to remain vital, growing organisms that evolve along with the audience. We have played all sorts of great shows since our inception in 2007 with bands such as Blitzen Trapper, BRAIDS, The Winks, Sex Party, Laura Barrett and many more. We've played festivals like Sled Island and The Works, and curated a stage at 2009's High Performance Rodeo. Out of town shows have included stops in London (UK), New York City, Chicago, Vancouver, Montreal, and many more... Recordings of live shows are beginning to be posted online for free at archive.org
Since 2008, The Tetraktys have been releasing at least an album a year. Their first album, DIE BRÜCKE (in which the yo-yo string is revealed as a state of mind), is the product of 1 1/2 years of in studio work and the contributions of 20+ musicians including the legendary guitari …
Biography
"Barnaby Bennett is the brains behind Calgary's Tetraktys; a strange mix of random sounds all rooted by a little dose of pop." (CJSW) The Tetraktys could be considered a musical collective of sorts, operating without the pretenses that surround the average ensemble --> this ensures a unique live experience, in which every show differs from those that preceded it. It was described as "absolutely perfect psychedelic folk pop, forgoing stoned ramblings for intelligence in song and arrangement." (Sled Island '08 Festival Guide)
Live performances are very important to The Tetraktys as they allow the songs to remain vital, growing organisms that evolve along with the audience. We have played all sorts of great shows since our inception in 2007 with bands such as Blitzen Trapper, BRAIDS, The Winks, Sex Party, Laura Barrett and many more. We've played festivals like Sled Island and The Works, and curated a stage at 2009's High Performance Rodeo. Out of town shows have included stops in London (UK), New York City, Chicago, Vancouver, Montreal, and many more... Recordings of live shows are beginning to be posted online for free at archive.org
Since 2008, The Tetraktys have been releasing at least an album a year. Their first album, DIE BRÜCKE (in which the yo-yo string is revealed as a state of mind), is the product of 1 1/2 years of in studio work and the contributions of 20+ musicians including the legendary guitarist Amos Garrett. The second album, LUNAR GOSSIP, is very stripped down in comparison. Recorded on cassette tape and filled with low end tones coaxed from an acoustic guitar and the reverb drenched, echo-y vocals.
The Tetraktys is a project that is always forging ahead, and the veritable patchwork of styles on LIME reveals evidence of this. 2010's LIME album is a mix of both of the previous album's styles as well as a natural progression into new territory. 2010 also saw the release of A BANK ERROR IN YOUR FAVOR, an album recorded entirely in Europe -- on the island of Crete and in and around London on a H2 (mostly on ukulele), including a couple songs recorded in the old apartment of the Clash's manager. The cover was shot on Abbey Road by a random German fashion photographer at 5 am one early sunday May morning.
THE TETRAKTYS REIMAGINES THE CARTER FAMILY, a reworking of classic Carter Family songs from the 1920's & 1930s, was released for free online in early 2011. Forthcoming in 2011: a split cassette tape release entitled GNARLEBONE STATION with Free Nude Celebs and our best album yet, INDIAN SUMMER, AMERICAN SPRING on vinyl.
And finally it feels necessary to address the fact that it seems like lots of people can't figure out how to pronounce our name. Phonetically, it is tet - rack - tiss. That's how you say it. Pythagoras came up with it and this is kind of what it means: "The Tetraktys is an equilateral triangle formed from the sequence of the first ten numbers aligned in four rows. It is both a mathematical idea and a metaphysical symbol that embraces within itself — in seedlike form — the principles of the natural world, the harmony of the cosmos, the ascent to the divine, and the mysteries of the divine realm."
Instrumentation
Barnaby Bennett - Vocals, Guitar, Assorted Electronic Gizmos (of the analog and digital persuasion), Organ, Production, etc, etc...
Friends - Sometimes (playing everything from bass, drums, backing vox/gtr to theremin, pedal steel, strings, etc...)
Discography
LP's:
INDIAN SUMMER, AMERICAN SPRING [2011, forthcoming]
THE TETRAKTYS REIMAGINES THE CARTER FAMILY [2011]
A BANK ERROR IN YOUR FAVOR [2010]
LIME [2010]
LUNAR GOSSIP [2009]
DIE BRÜCKE (in which the yo-yo string is revealed as a state of mind) [2008]
SINGLES:
GNARLEBONE STATION SPLIT w/ FREE NUDE CELEBS [2011, forthcoming - You Nork Records]
SLOW DOWN TIME [2009]
CALGARY (w/AMOS GARRETT) [2008]
Bob Dylan, The Millennium, Great Speckled Bird, Hank Williams, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Ian & Sylvia, Brian Wilson, PF Sloan, Gene Clark, Gram Parsons, Harry Nilsson, The Carter Family
