"It's the personality that always pulls me into Richard There's world. The candid honesty, creative playfulness, witty experimentation, delivery of stories, twisted gloom vs. bright hope - this all makes up the world known as There. Where Richard lives and is happy to come and take anyone along who wishes to get out of their own routine of serious adult business and everyday chores of typical logic and life. With the EP "Who touched my bones?" I felt as if I was in the same room with Richard and he was telling me all these little stories. With this new album I feel as if he is taking me on a guided tour by flying carpet and introducing me to various characters and tales of feelings and memories. Each turn drastically different than the next. It's a special thing when an artist can keep their personally attached yet create drastically different backgrounds to express themselves in. A very well rounded and coherent record of WTF proportions and thoughtful playful exuberances."
- Marcus Staniec, WTF Music (Mar 31, 2011)
"No problems with locations. Richard comes from there, actually from There. Very simple indeed. As "simple" as his soundscape used to be. (...) he is an idiosyncratic singer-songwriter in his eccentrity, loving to bake from introspective fingerpicked acoustic folk to electronic buzz-laden guitar music to dada-ish spoken word snippets to experimental robo pop a la Kraftwerk to darkwave/neofolk a la Lycia or Death In June. In a more "usual" approach, his script reminds of the likes of Bill Callahan and John Fahey. Above all of that can be figured out for some off-the-kilter cover songs. In the first place, these are just some vague comparisons to be for. Do not forget about that!"
- Kert Semm, Recent Music Heroes (Sep 16, 2011)
"...this particular song called "Silence Train" started to grow on me. It's a distressing song about isolation, individualism and selfishness: three negative values, sharply highlighted by There on this song, which, unfortunately, are becoming more common in our society."
- Dave, Rhinestone Music (Nov 16, 2011)
"Silence Train" this atmospheric piece uses both music and words/vocals in a strange but hypnotic way. The words draw you in and hold you there whilst the music plays alongside beautifully. You can almost imagine yourself on this dream-like train travelling to nowhere but enjoying the ride. "Everyday" The guitar repeating over and over whilst Richard, perhaps in the form of the bored protagonist, finally realises that things will happen over and over again. The guitar nicely building up along with the realisation of the singer. Very thick,warm piece that you could imagine yourself sitting in a rocking chair by a log fire listening to. "Listening to my Breath" This one is certainly a grower and the listener may have to go over it a few times before it becomes apparent as to what is going on. A mixture of talking and singing this song pulls you in but all of a sudden, without warning, stops! Its an abrupt ending to a decent track which leaves you a bit lost."
- musicmafiauk, MusicMafiaUK (Feb 01, 2012)
"Richard There sound is not an ordinary listen, it’s unique in its own vibes and all his releases are totally worth a shot. While on one side it’s music that literally do not hold an even flaw or a repeated pattern but the mesmerized and eerie vocals on the other end crossing over experimental noise and screeching distortions with lo-fi tunes most certainly unfold something concrete."
- TheSirenSound, TheSirenSound (Oct 03, 2011)
"´Silence Train` was directed by Brian Square—a pretty weird musician in his own right—and features lots of found black-and-white footage of trains, bustling city streets, diving horses and various other peculiar images from bygone days. The song it accompanies describes what sounds like a fairly humdrum train ride, but Richard imparts the whole thing with a dreamlike sense of foreboding and dread. His music has gotten less rough and more atmospheric, too, at least on this track. We like! (...) Ready to take a ride on the “Silence Train”? Please present your tickets and existential angst to the conductor. Thank you.""
- The Weirdest Band In The World, The Weirdest Band In The World (Mar 02, 2012)
Some press quotes about Musical Rapes by Richard There
"It is said that there are represented Nirvana, Lydia Lunch, Alien Sex Fiend, The Flaming Lips, Syd Barret, The Goodluck Boys, Daniel Johnston, Frank Sinatra, Donovan, Leonard Cohen and Luna !!! All together in a musical orgy with Richard There!!! Indeed, all is mixed up in this way. While these songs can partially be considered as cover songs, however, it does have very strong touch by There, offering peculiar and surrealistic visions, all of that wrapped up by nihilistic dark-hued folk spasms. And finally, don`t forget, you should not support the musical industry who is intended to poison our minds, destroy our dignity and manipulate with our money. Rather support the Palestinian children who shall have to cope with their everyday life."
- Recent Music Heroes (Oct 21, 2011)
Some press quotes about Who touched my bones? EP
"Not an easy task to describe RICHARD THERE's music. One probably could call it dark experimental folk. Arrangements are rather sparse most of the time. The voice is very much to the fore, giving the tracks almost the quality of a poetry reading. The lyrics are sometimes personal, sometimes abstract, sometimes provoking... Interesting piece of music! Favourite track: Wesley Willis"
- Mike Floyd, HOMEMADE LOFI PSYCH (August 25, 2010)
"...we finally found an artist worthy of The Weird List. So here he is, folks: the one, the only, the truly bizarre Richard There. (...) We’d recommend starting with “Cat in My Head,” which combines all of Richard There’s obsessions—birds, shakily played guitar, and things inside his head—in one two-minute burst of talent-show-in-the-psych-ward awesomeness."
- The Weirdest Band In The World, The Weirdest Band In The World (June 19, 2010)
and this is the very first review I got. I have a special feeling for this one!
It´s written by Onionpalac on WTFMusic.org
Richard There - "Who Touched My Bones?" EP
"There is a bird in the sky,
and he's always singing that I will die."
This opening line sets the tone for the whole EP.
A dark, humorous, abstract, twisted cartoon-like world of despair in an ongoing battle of hope.
The music is a creative take on a singer-songwriter approach similar to Jandek, though Richard There says he has not heard his music before.
Songs are presented in bare stripped-down arrangements usually with the thick-accented vocals heavily in the foreground.
This music comes from a place I have yet to visit.
A place called There. Where birds eat colors.
A place of contorted beings and Shit Men.
Images and more insights on the land of There can be found . . . here:
http://richardthere.blogspot.com/
This might be my own way of perceiving the music but when I listen I can't help but connect it to the fantasy land of There.
The music becomes a soundtrack to my imagination of what happens in this far off land.
They both compliment each other.
It is fantasy music for an imaginative world.
My inner child is provoked as I enter this music.
Questions come to mind as I walk around the land of There.
Answers may be found in the music or they may be left lingering.
I want to know more about this land.
To go deeper.
Richard There's music can help guide me.
Though I can only go so far with this short EP.
I need more, Mr. There.
Book your next trip to There with this wonderful yet somewhat dark recording.
"Who Touched My Bones?" EP can be downloaded for free here:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XO4TXTLL
- OnionPalac
