The Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO)

“Roses & Clover being the intersection of passion and luck.”

ALO may be describing the inspiration for their forthcoming release Roses & Clover (out May 1st on Brushfire Records) however, it best surmises the band’s newfound approach to their music. For a band accustomed to performing songs live for years, crafting and shaping hundreds of times over before entering the studio, the age-old process of recording an album first was, well… liberating.

On Roses & Clover, ALO explored new methods of collaborating, finding a richer, more mature sound built on their individual songwriting strengths. Recorded in a turn-of-the-century barn in the hills overlooking colonial Santa Barbara, the four musicians holed themselves up for two weeks with little more than their favorite instruments and 40 songs in various stages – 80% of which had never been performed on stage.

“We’re a band that likes to experiment live,” says Dan Lebowitz. “I have a feeling these songs are going to evolve a lot. They’re young songs, like little kids, who over time are going to grow and change. And that’s a really exciting thing.”

Born from a childhood friendship and nurtured on the campus of University of California, Santa Barbara, the four-piece collective of Zach Gill (keyboards/vocals), Steve Adams (bass/vocals), Dan Lebowitz (guitars/vocals) and Dave Brogan (drums/vocals), more commonly known as ALO, found their musical roots in the feel-good vibe of the breezy California town.

After being reunited with collegiate cohort Jack Johnson - who not only invited the band to be the support act on his world tour, but also signed them to his label Brushfire Records - ALO made waves with the successful release of Fly Between Falls in 2006. Influential Triple A radio station WXPN declared them an “Artist to Watch,” while Associated Press touted their unified musical gifts in saying, “Each member of ALO could easily be the musical star of their own band, so it’s nice to see accomplished musicians like these stick together.” Adding to their accomplishments, the guys had the pivotal opening slot on one of the year’s highest-grossing tours with Dave Matthews Band.

“Since we usually develop our songs with the live show in mind, by the time we get into the studio we are used to playing them a certain way and it is often hard to separate ourselves from that,” says Dan. “Listening to a record is a different experience than going to a concert. This time we got to let the recording dictate how the songs would sound rather than the live experience.”

The album’s first track “Maria”, is an anthemic and unabashed pledge of love. From the infectious keyboard hook to the passionate lyrics, “Maria” is instantly catchy and uplifting.

“Zach played ‘Maria’ a year ago,” remembers Dave. “I loved it as soon as I heard it and knew that it had to be on the next album.”

Or take the album’s title track, “Roses & Clover” - a lyrical gem combining a funk heavy back beat and fiery guitar solos depicting a safe haven where all can meet. In many ways, the sound of the band can be summed up in the playful imagery of “Roses & Clover.”

“To me, roses represent maturity and clover youthfulness” says Zach. “After so much time exploring music together, our sound has become a blend of the classic and the contemporary.”

The inspired session produced ten gloriously infectious tunes that cruise through the classic American soundscape from roots rock to bluesy jazz with a hint of 70’s disco. Listen closely and you will hear a guitar that Dan rewired to conjure a sound that mixes Studio One with Motown, or Zach toying with the voice mutator (“All Alone” or “Monday”). Then on tracks like “Plastic Bubble” and “Lady Loop,” ALO dares you to bust out your best dance moves under the “rusty mirrorball.”

For Roses & Clover, the members of ALO shared much of the producing duties, though enlisted the help of veteran producer Robert Carranza (Beck, Los Lobos, Ozomatli) and Dave Simon-Baker. “Robert was like a mentor figure for us,” says Zach. “He has made so many albums and had so much experience. He would tell us we were on the right track, or not, which really empowered us even more.”

With that greater sense of power, the four friends look confidently towards the future when they venture out on another worldwide tour through much of 2007. This new incarnation will give them ample opportunities to shape, mold, and share the new songs on the road with their legions of fans.

“This is our favorite record we’ve made so far,” Steve says. “Making it was an incredible experience and it’s got us more excited about the band than ever before.”

Members

Zach Gill (Keys, Accordion, Ukulele & Vocals),
Dan Lebowitz (Guitars, Percussion & Vocals),
Steve Adams (Bass & Vocals) and
David Brogan (Drums & Vocals).