Unnatural Ways

New Atlantis Records is honored to announce the release of Unnatural Ways, the debut LP from virtuosic guitarist Ava Mendoza! This slab of wax delivers unabashed, raucous sonics, marrying the menacing tones of the creative rock underground to haunting, arcing compositions, potentiated by the fiery spontaneity of classic free jazz. Recently heralded as one of Guitar World's "10 Female Guitarists You Should Know," Ava's playing is unapologetically searing, and she magickally coagulates the influence of warped blues players, noise-rockers, and technically prodigious brutal-proggers alike. The sum output of the group is rapturous and kinetic, due in no small part to the abundant creative energies of the ensemble. Ava's sprechstimme vocals and shockingly nimble guitarring make for a remarkably accessible work that exists unfettered by compromise... Keyboardist Dominique Leone adroitly navigates these deceptively complex tunes, bracing Ava's playing with sub throbbing synth, and unfathomably dense swaths of texture. Nick Tamburro is a drumming wizard, whether he is plowing straight into massively buoyant rhythms, or churning up biting, enthralling cavalcades of free-time. Just as lava from subterranean fissures seeps into the cool ocean to make new land, this power trio conjures new terrain for your ears and your brain. Of course, this is a process that takes time--- since the group formed in 2012, Ava has relocated from her longtime home in Oakland to Brooklyn, and accordingly, the live incarnation of Unnatural Ways' rhythm section now features the bassist Tim Dahl (Child Abuse, Lydia Lunch) alongside drummer Max Jaffe (killer BOB, Normal Love). It is worth noting that Ava is a veteran of innumerable sonically diverse collaborations, with an impressive roster of creative musicians, including Tune-Yards, Nels Cline, Carla Bozulich, Fred Frith, Mike Watt, Henry Kaiser, Weasel Walter, Luc Ex, Thollem McDonas, Damon Smith, and Jamaaladeen Tacuma, among many others, with recordings on vanguard independent labels like ugEXPLODE, Not Two, Tompkins Square, and Edgetone. We all deal with our own quirks, and our own tendencies towards the unnatural... deviating from the pack in our deeds, our play, our desires, our thoughts, and our work. Don't waste time wondering if you should repent, or atone... Just vibe on the polyrhythmic, infectious propulsion of Ava Mendoza's Unnatural Ways. As always, New Atlantis suggests you opt for energy + atonality in lieu of all else. Remember: though others may try to define you by your unnatural ways, you could just as handily grip this record and set the terms for yourself. Please consume fresh for a new perspective! April 14, 2015.