Post titleElectronic Duo Hardboiled Wonderland Readies to Release Debut CD, "As Small As A World and Large As Alone", in Late Fall

Sacramento-based, electronic duo Hardboiled Wonderland, featuring Martin Birke 
(synths, samples, electronic percussion, drum programming) and Percy Howard 
(lyrics, vocals, vocal samples), are proud to announce that they will release 
their debut disc, "As Small as a World and Large as Alone", in late Fall.  The 
record will be distributed through the UK-based label Gonzo MultiMedia, the 
innovative company that releases a wildly eclectic  variety of CDs and DVDs from 
a number of renowned artists and record labels, spanning rock and pop music from 
the ‘60s to today.

Hardboiled Wonderland, named after half of the title of one of Birke and 
Howard’s favorite novels by Haruki Murakami ("Hardboiled Wonderland and the End 
of the World"), recorded and produced "As Small as a World and Large as Alone" 
from 2009-2010.  The disc was co-produced with Christopher Scott Cooper 
(guitars, samples and engineering) at Blue Seven Audio in Fremont, CA, with 
contributions by Benito Cortez (viola, violins), Edo Castro (7-string basses) 
and Tara C. Taylor and Essence on backing vocals.

Each of the ten tracks on the record show not only the duo’s talent as 
musicians, but more importantly, their unbridled zeal and enthusiasm for 
creating adventurous music.  From the sultry, emotionally charged title track to 
the infectious dance beats of “Jungle Fever” and “Looking for Strange”, the 
trip-hop of “Filthy” and “I Carry Your Heart”, the album is bold, delicate and 
introspective.

http://soundcloud.com/hardboiled-wonderland-1/jungle-fever

Prior to forming Hardboiled Wonderland, both Birke and Howard were already 
established musicians in their hometown of Sacramento, CA.  Howard, no stranger 
to musical performance, was the singer in the local band NUS, who released two 
recordings, both produced by Bill Laswell, which came out on the Belgian Art 
label Sub Rosa.  He is also the generator and impetus behind the Meridiem 
Project, which has included collaborations with Bill Laswell, Vernon Reid, 
Buckethead, Charles Hayward, Fred Frith, Jarboe, Happy Rhodes, Trey Gunn, Robert 
Rich, Jill Tracy, Eraldo Bernocchi, and Oz Fritz, amongst others.

Composer/producer Birke, whose adept technical skills allow him to create richly 
textured electronically-rooted compositions, is the writer & director of the 
studio project Genre Peak. He has created commissioned scores for The Alvin 
Ailey American Dance Theatre, The Oxygen Network, and Lions Gate Films ("Blood, 
Guts, Bullets and Octane", "Retribution"). He has also co-scored two films in 
collaboration with the band Sandbox Trio (“Animals” and “Heartbeat”) in addition 
to touring and recording in Europe with the Frank-Mart-Arts label with the bands 
Casualty Park and Sandbox Trio.

Although the two met several times in the mid 90’s when Birke’s band, Sandbox 
Trio, often opened for Howard’s band NUS, they officially began their 
songwriting partnership in 2009 when they realized they had similar musical 
styles and visions.  With their conceptualization of Hardboiled Wonderland 
crystallized, after a year writing and recording a collection of songs, 
including a remix by the late great bassist Mick Karn (Japan, Dalis Car), which 
is available on the band’s official website as a download, they felt that they 
had truly created a wonderland of modern music that brings the listener into 
themselves and out into the exploration of new eclectic music.

"As Small as a World and Large as Alone", combining Birke’s elegantly layered 
keyboards and samples and Howard’s sultry vocals, is a sonic venture through 
electronic and trip-hop compositions and a passionate and powerful debut.

www.hardboiledwonderland.net
www.percyhoward.com