For Jonathan (2004) - The Great Vitamin Mystery
Written and recorded in London/East Croydon, England in Oct./Nov/ 2002.
Co-Produced and Engineered by Daniel Freeman of Rameses III at Inorganic.
The film For Jonathan was created as a simple requiem for a friend, and a gift to a family that had just lost their son to cancer. The film is a seven-minute portrait of Jonathan Hicks, a close childhood friend of photographer/filmmaker Chris Bennett.
Jonathan died at age 23, after being diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer called Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor. The film, shot entirely in Super 8mm, is of Jonathan and was filmed near his hometown of Lafayette, Indiana. It was filmed a few months after Jonathan had been diagnosed with cancer, still in good health and spirits. After Jonathan passed away in October 2000, Bennett combined the footage of Jonathan with footage of clouds and landscapes. This, Bennett said, was to create an "ethereal portrait of Jonathan" which could serve as a keepsake for his friends and family. Bennett sent this film to various musicians in hopes that each would write a song that could serve loosely as "soundtracks" to the images he had created. The finished project became this beautifully combined compilation of songs all exclusive to this release, each honoring Jonathan's life and spirit.
The music from various genres lend themselves perfectly to this compilation. From the electronic beats of The Album Leaf and Mikael Jorgensen or the beautifully orchestrated piece from Unwed Sailor, and the sometimes almost painful tones of bands such as Ativin and Jessica Bailiff, each song is a completely different take on the complex subject of death and loosing a close friend. The diversity of the music has made it hard to pigeonhole where exactly this compilation should be filed, but it has also attracted the interest of music lovers from all backgrounds.
Proceeds from the sales of this CD will be donated in Jonathan Hicks' honor to the Children's Inn, located in Bethesda, MD. This served as Jonathan's "home away from home" while he received treatment from the National Institute of Health for two and a half years. This beneficiary was chosen by Jonathan's father. You may find out more about this wonderful place by visiting the website at childrensinn.org.
Added: August 06, 2007 Runtime: 07:54 Plays: 366 Comments: 1
For Jonathan (2004) - The Great Vitamin Mystery
Written and recorded in London/East Croydon, England in Oct./Nov/ 2002.
Co-Produced and Engineered by Daniel Freeman of Rameses III at Inorganic.
The film For Jonathan was created as a simple requiem for a friend, and a gift to a family that had just lost their son to cancer. The film is a seven-minute portrait of Jonathan Hicks, a close childhood friend of photographer/filmmaker Chris Bennett.
Jonathan died at age 23, after being diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer called Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor. The film, shot entirely in Super 8mm, is of Jonathan and was filmed near his hometown of Lafayette, Indiana. It was filmed a few months after Jonathan had been diagnosed with cancer, still in good health and spirits. After Jonathan passed away in October 2000, Bennett combined the footage of Jonathan with footage of clouds and landscapes. This, Bennett said, was to create an "ethereal portrait of Jonathan" which could serve as a keepsake for his friends and family. Bennett sent this film to various musicians in hopes that each would write a song that could serve loosely as "soundtracks" to the images he had created. The finished project became this beautifully combined compilation of songs all exclusive to this release, each honoring Jonathan's life and spirit.
The music from various genres lend themselves perfectly to this compilation. From the electronic beats of The Album Leaf and Mikael Jorgensen or the beautifully orchestrated piece from Unwed Sailor, and the sometimes almost painful tones of bands such as Ativin and Jessica Bailiff, each song is a completely different take on the complex subject of death and loosing a close friend. The diversity of the music has made it hard to pigeonhole where exactly this compilation should be filed, but it has also attracted the interest of music lovers from all backgrounds.
Proceeds from the sales of this CD will be donated in Jonathan Hicks' honor to the Children's Inn, located in Bethesda, MD. This served as Jonathan's "home away from home" while he received treatment from the National Institute of Health for two and a half years. This beneficiary was chosen by Jonathan's father. You may find out more about this wonderful place by visiting the website at childrensinn.org.
Stateless (2002) - The Great Vitamin Mystery
Stateless is a collaborative project between the bands Unwed Sailor and Early Day Miners with photographer Chris Bennett.
Bennett traveled the United Stateless and Europe over the course of four years, documenting it all on Super 8 film. He eventually took all the footage and edited it together to make a 31-minute film of some of the most beautiful scenaries from around the world. From hustling city streets filmed from a tour bus to the surreal sunset over the waters of the south, this film takes the viewer on his journeys.
One spring weekend the members of Unwed Sailor and Early Day Miners collaborated, in Grotto Home Studios with instruments, a television, and a VCR. Using the images that Bennett had captured as inspiration, they wrote what would become a soundtrack to his film. Both the film and music are packaged together on one CD. The two can be watched as they were intended, on a computer, using the included Quicktime file, or the audio may be listened to separately on a stereo - either way, it is an amazing project to experience.
This is a small clip of Unwed Sailor playing live at W.C Dons in Jackson, Mississippi in January 2007. Johnathon Ford is on bass, Brooks Tipton is on keyboards, Aaron Hamby is on guitar, and Matt Putman is on drums.