Posted on: August 31, 2008 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The Parts That Showed is the sophomore album release by the Viking Moses an outfit that was initiated by Southern Missourian Brendon Massei in 2003. Their latest album was recorded on the Oldham family farm in central Kentucky by Paul Oldham, featuring the talent of Spencer Kingman (of Spenking), John McCauley III (of Deer Tick), Cody Brant and Jacob Soto (of Flaspar) and Evelyn Weston. The Parts That Showed is being released by the Epiphysis label October 28, 2008 and will be supported by an extensive U.S. tour.

The Parts That Showed is a unique story of a teenage part-time prostitute who spends her earnings buying ice cream for neighborhood children, and of the man who obsesses over her from afar, told from both angles, and spanning their lives. However, the approach of this story intends to transcend taboos and judgment to offer the listener a vast spectrum of the emotion and ideals of the characters, setting and circumstance. This album was written with the dream that it might one day be sung by Dolly Parton, and so pays tribute to her work and inspiration.

Viking Moses has a dynamic, rotating cast of both established and obscure musicians worldwide, and is currently based between Scotland (UK) and Rhode Island (USA) revolving around singer/songwriter/guitarist Massei. Massei also played bass in Devendra Banhart’s first touring band and did a short stint as bassist with Vetiver. More straightforward rock/soul than weird/folk as most of their peers tend to be labelled, Viking Moses’ recordings are very accessible, seemingly conventional, though their live shows normally tend to be hosted in unorthodox venues, often using line-ups that were assembled night-of-show from support bands, or audience members. Both aspects are delivered with the utmost soul, passion, and humility, and always offer fans and neophytes an experience which is unique and contrary to expectations.

Viking Moses has been gaining fair-sized following and critical acclaim since 2004, when they had a track included by Devendra Banhart on his Golden Apples… compilation. They were then signed in the UK and Europe by Alan McGee (Creation Records founder, and manager of Oasis, Jesus & Mary Chain, Primal Scream, Teenage Fanclub, Mogwai, Libertines, etc.) to his current label which further buoyed their following abroad, and kept them heavily active in that part of the world these past few years touring.

www.myspace.com/vikingmoses

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