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"genuine songs"... wind captured in a bell jar, dreamlike but logical"... The creative force known as The Telling, formed in the late 80's. Inspired by the likes of Eno, This Mortal Coil, and Simple Minds, the duo performed with dreamy, otherworldly multi-media.
Having grown up listening to everything from Rachmaninoff to King Crimson, Don and Sheri Swanson combined swirling layers of ambient electronics with evocative vocals, conjuring a cinematic experience unlike other bands in L.A. at the time. The duo's dedication to innovation had them hauling equipment from the Angeles Crest Mountains, to industrial parks, and even into the doctor's office to sample their daughter's fetal heartbeats. When the two met, they had both already been in other bands, and had done some recording. Don appears on "The Pillory" with the Neoteric Orchestra (A.P.M. Sweden), and they had worked with other electronic musicians, including Richard Burmer "Bhakti Point".
Burmer was creating sounds for the Emu library at the time, and his sound sculpting genius made for the perfect collaboration. The Telling's first E.P.(1986) In Praesenti, was released to instant critical acclaim. College radio embraced this ethereal record that sparkled with sampled koto, shakuhachi, shamisen, a Balinese monkey chant and a host of other cool sound jewels. It was hailed as both "exquisite" and "exciting" by The Music Connection, and "an intriguing treat" by CMJ Magazine. The Telling had formed their own record label, In Praesenti, but because DIY networks were in their initial, unreliable stages then, the duo set their sights on building their own home studio and continued writing and recording.
Meanwhile, a demo landed in the hands of Frosty Horton (producer - Prof. Long Hair) who brought them to the S.F. based label, Music West. Major labels had turned up by now, but The Telling were taken with this indie's wild enthusiasm. By the time they'd signed in early '89, the two had finished their second recording - an orchestral swirl of live cellos, oboe, french horn, and trumpet, with sampled dulcimers, pan pipes and steel drums. For this outing, emphasis had been on creating timeless songs that would anchor their trademark atmospheric sound. The label took the album, and re-recorded it in a state-of-the-art studio, with The Telling and Frosty Horton producing. The brilliant Blue Solitaire was released in 1990.
The Telling now received commercial airplay, got a fair amount of distribution, and were declared one of the best albums of the year - "This is music with intelligence, the kind of album you listen to over and over because you're addicted to the sound and delighted by the poetic imagery." - Pulse Magazine. "Alternative pop rock at its best" - Boston Weekly. Soon after making their first video, Music West suddenly went under. In a brief, moment on the shelves, they still managed to sell an impressive 40,000 units.
Despite the fact that Music West was an independent label, The Telling had struggled continually for artistic control. The collapse and ensuing legal difficulties took its toll. Sheri took refuge in writing and Don played drums for several projects, inc. "Watchful": - Amoeba.(Projekt) In time though, they returned to recording again, resolved to launch future product on their own label, In Praesenti. Their third CD, the compelling, "Glimmer Field" is their most ambitious effort yet, beginning with an adaptation of Edvard Grieg's "Norwegian Rustic March" weaving its way through the haunting "Flying Solo". An orchestral arrangement transforms the classic blues standard, "As The Years Go Passing By".Cinematic sounds underscore the epic 8 minute song poem "The Arrow Cries",which includes a Paute Indian chant.Sheri's heartwrenching vocals are enveloped throughout by beautiful cello work done by Harry Gilbert. Chris Tedesco contributes trumpet and fluglehorn. This is a headphone CD with long shadows and silver linings, ending with the exquisite "A Comedy Of Errors" perfectly summing up the spirit of The Telling - "...look for a window where the wind never dies"...