MARTIN TIELLI

This next entry is a long one. You've been warned.

Some of you have been e-mailing me, anxiously wondering when Martin's new record will be ready for release. Well, here's the story. He recorded a number of tracks with his infinitely just band back in May and June, and then took the summer to work with Jon on the remaining songs. Several of Martin's famous writing binges later, it became obvious that he was writing not one, not two, but three records. This on top of the quiet encouragement from the truly delightful Jon Goldsmith to release the four Arnold Schoenberg tracks that Nick Buzz recorded earlier this year.

Martin and I were chatting, and I said, "Um, Martin, you can't release four records in a year." To which he replied, "You can't? Oh."

But then we realized that this wealth of material which he has been feverishly creating might never see the light of day unless we came up with an idea. So taking cue from our highly industrious label-mates, Captain Tractor, who released "Hoserista, the Box Set" back in 2000, Martin and I devised a wiley subscription program for these four projects. We decided to go crazy on the artwork and packaging, and make them limited edition (numbered and signed) to create a stunning collection called TIELLI 2003.

The first project, slated for release on April 1, 2003, is a full length studio album, produced by Jon Goldsmith and recorded with Martin's band, Operation Infinite Justice: Greg Smith, Ford Pier, and Barry Mirochnick. This album (minus the collector edition packaging) will also be available through commercial release, and will be accompanied by a full national tour.

Next, we'll release the Schöenberg Cabarets on July 1, 4 tracks/16 minutes of Nick Buzz's interpretation of ground-breaking classical composer Arnold Schoenberg.

October will mark the realization of a project that Martin has been working on for years, tentatively titled "The Ghost of Danny G". He started writing these songs back in the day when Nick Buzz recorded Circo, and has always fantasized about completing it and releasing it. This album is a portrait of rural southern Ontario inside the true and complex story of a haunted town. Be afraid. It's the perfect Hallowe'en record.

As the producer of the first album and a member of Nick Buzz, you'll noticed Jon Goldsmith's involvement everywhere in this project. This is great news. Both Jon and Martin are such rare and special individuals, both as artists and as people, and their working relationship is a beautiful thing to see...like watching two masters at work, devilishly plotting how they can reach new plateaus that have never been explored before.... Also not unlike watching two monkeys discovering for the first time that the stick which has been so useful for picking at gnats can also be used to get the honey out of that plastic tube.

The final album of this project represents a collaboration, symphonic in nature, between Jon and Martin (surprise!), and will arrive in time for Christmas of 2003.

The subscription price for this project is a mere $100 plus tax (extra shipping applies on international orders) -- less than a can of Coke light in Paris. Upon ordering, you will receive a voucher specifying your "limited edition" number and receipt. You can order on-line at www.lodestarmusic.com, in person at a Rheostatics or Martin Tielli show over the next couple of months, or over the phone or mail through the Six Shooter office (see below for the phone and address). Order before Christmas and receive a holiday greeting card created by Martin, titled "The Year Santa Didn't Come" (more on this card below).

The whole project has all of us teeming with glee, most of all Martin. Or as he puts it..."Watch its hair grow. Watch it make music, just sitting there, running around sometimes...flouncing -- give it the benefit of your doubt and you'll realize..... something." We think he is referring to this project, but in all fairness he might be talking about his new chia pet amphibian, flouncy.