Charalambides

Charalambides
Charalambides in 2007
Background information
Also known as	Mutual Admiration Society
Origin	Houston, Texas
Genres	Psychedelic, Experimental, Folk, Drone, Post-rock, Avant garde
Years active	1991–present
Labels	Kranky, Eclipse Records, Time-Lag Records, Wholly-Other
Members
Tom Carter, Christina Carter, Kyle Silfer, Jason Bill, Heather Leigh Murray

Charalambides is an avant garde musical group originally from Houston, Texas, USA and lately of Austin, Texas. Formed in 1991 (under the short-lived name Mutual Admiration Society) by Tom Carter, Christina Carter and Kyle Silfer, they have followed in the footsteps of other Texas psychedelic music artists such as the 13th Floor Elevators, Red Crayola, and Jandek. Later members include Jason Bill and Heather Leigh Murray, but the band has long considered itself primarily a duo between Tom and Christina Carter.

The name of the band derives from the surname of a customer at the record shop where Tom and Christina met.

Their music contains elements typical of psychedelic music such as reverb, extended instrumental jamming and the use of found sounds.

In addition to several major releases on labels such as Kranky, Eclipse Records, and Time-Lag Records, they have also released many small edition CD-Rs on their own Wholly-Other label, and other small independent labels. Some of which have later been re-issued (Our Bed is Green, and Historic Sixth Ward for example).

Core members Tom Carter and Christina Carter are divorced but remain together as a musical unit. They have also recorded in their own right, releasing albums on Kranky and Eclipse Records, as well as several small edition CD-Rs. In addition the two have collaborated with numerous kindred spirits such as Loren Mazzacane Connors, Yellow Swans and Robert Horton.

Selected discography

• Our Bed Is Green CS-100 (Kranky, Reissued as 2CD, 2005) (No Label, 1992)
• Union LP (Siltbreeze, 1993)
• Historic 6th Ward CS-90 (No Label, 1994)
• "On the Corner"/"Winning Friends"/"13,14" on Heartland Comp CS-60 (Seagrave, 1994)
• "Variant"/"Mayflower" on Drilling the Curve Comp LP (Fleece, 1995)
• "Devils"/"Bid You Goodnight" 7" (Playtime, 1995)
• Market Square 2LP (Siltbreeze, 1995)
• Historic 6th Ward CD (Wholly Other, 1996)
• "Hyetal" on Whump! Comp 7" (Bobby J, 1996)
• "Drop" on Succour Comp 2CD (Woronzow, 1996)
• "Naked in Our Deathskins" on Harmony of the Spheres Comp 3LP (Reissued as 2CD, 1999) (Drunken Fish, 1996)
• Charalambides CD (Wholly Other, 1997)
• Houston CD (Siltbreeze, 1998)
• Internal Eternal CD (Wholly Other, 1999)
• "Rehearsal" on Urban Meadows Comp CD (Broken Face, 2000)
• "Mansfield" on The Nature of Systems Comp CD (Carbon Records, 2000)
• "One Song" on Serotonin Ronin Comp 2CD (Camera Obscura, 2000)
• Sticks CD-R (Wholly Other, 2000)
• Home CD-R (Wholly Other, 2000)
• Branches Lathe LP (Eclipse, 2001)
• Water CD-R (Wholly Other, 2001)
• YIH CD-R (Carbon, 2001)
• "Second Rehearsal" on Songs From the Entopic Garden Volume 2 Split LP (with Six Organs of Admittance) (Timelag, 2001)
• Historic 6th Ward 2 LP (Timelag, 2002)
• Untitled CD-R (with Scorces) (Wholly Other, 2002)
• Being As Is CD-R (Crucial Blast, 2002)
• Untitled track on Intersect 4 Comp CD (Pale-Disk, 2002)
• "Spring Leaves Fall"/"Sun or Wind" 7" (Timelag, 2002)
• CHT CD-R (Wholly Other, 2002)
• Live Hand Held CD-R (Wholly Other, 2002)
• "Song for Always" on Ptolemaic Terrascope #32 comp CD (P.T., 2002)
• IN CR EA SE 2LP (Eclipse, 2002)
• Ana/Kata 10" EP (Beta Lactam Ring, 2002)
• Unknown Spin CD (Kranky, 2002)
• Joy Shapes LP/CD (Kranky, 2004)
• Live/Dead CD-R (Wholly Other, 2005)
• Dead/Live CD-R (Wholly Other, 2005)
• A Vintage Burden (Kranky, 2006)
• Emerald Message CD-R (Wholly Other, 2006)
• Glowing Raw CD-R (Wholly Other, 2006)
• Strangle The Wretched Heavens CD-R (Wholly Other, 2007)
• Electricity Ghost CD (Wholly Other, 2007)
• Likeness CD (Kranky, 2007)

Compilation appearances

• Lactamase Bonus Compilation

External links

• Wholly-Other [1]
• Kranky Records [2]
• Eclipse Records [3]
• Fleece Records [4]
• Interview with the band [5]
• Concert photos by Laurent Orseau
• Everything is Magic interview with the band in ascent magazine
• Charalambides group on Last.FM [6]