SYNONYMITY by The Gentle Orchestra

The Gentle Orchestra
Synonymity
The release of the Gentle Orchestra’s debut disc Synonymity, Southern California musician Malchi ‘Spidey’ De Montrond vividly reimagines the Golden State’s formidable pop-rock tradition. Here, the collective’s core trio of De Montrond (lead vocals, guitar, keys), renowned bassist Bart Broadnax (Sammy Davis Jr., Joe Williams, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis) and acclaimed drummer - percussionist-engineer Antoine Arvizu (National People’s Gang, Marc Ford) is augmented with over a dozen stellar sit-ins and the results—a kaleidoscopic set of shimmering, contemplative studies on romance and adversity—are a compelling, emotionally rich collection of songs both intensely personal and universally relatable.
At once durable yet ethereal, De Montrond’s deftly constructed arrangements combine the driving verve with the intricacy and elegance of his formal training in music. Synonymity boasts such exceptional accompanists as Michael Lockwood (whose world class guitar has graced recordings by everyone from Aimee Mann and Fiona Apple to Sylvain Sylvain, Carly Simon, Salt-N-Pepa), powerhouse jazz-funk multi-instrumentalist Robbie Covacevich (Roy Hargrove, Karl Denson) and in-demand strings-sound design maestro Gabe Noel (Tyler the Creator, Jackson Browne, Meshell Ndegeocello). A true collaborative effort, the record is further enhanced by the talents of brass-reeds boss David Ralicke (John Cale, Beck, Seu Jorge), Chris Joyner (Natalie Merchant, Tom Morello, Ryan Bingham), with additional key contributions from the indie/grunge guitarist-singer-songwriter Otis B and famed “one-man orchestra” Stevie Blacke’s sublime strings. De Montrond’s rich musical palette encompasses deliciously mutant garage psych samba, hot old school jazz, irresistible pop-rock grooves and beyond.
From the hopeful, sunny atmospherics of opener “Slow Down” to the profound, shadowy 7 minute closer “Home Alone,” the album is a flawlessly executed and sequenced set, showcasing De Montrond’s evocative vocals and loaded with brass, reeds, even banjo, all combining for an engrossingly communicative vibe. As a lyricist, De Montrond smoothly navigates through a wide experiential spectrum, always emphasizing every topic’s gravity—whether love, anxiety, sadness or exult—with a skilled, communicative simplicity which fulfills the promise of the GO motto:
“Conceived and believed to be true / The Gentle Orchestra is in me and you.”

The Gentle Orchestra is centered around 'Spidey" De Montrond's songwriting, vocals, sense of arrangements and the assembling of the orchestra of players who complete the sounds on the forthcoming album " Synonymity". Heralding from Southern California keeping in with the classic pop traditions and bending the rules too. The GO motto - Conceived to be true The Gentle Orchestra is in me and you

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