Ars Nova

by Ars Nova

Overview

Ars Nova's first release was intermittently intriguing eclectic psychedelic rock with a slight classical influence, as well as some unusual instrumentation in the bass trombone of lead singer Jon Pierson and the trumpet and string bass of Bill Folwell. The songs -- often linked by brief interludes -- are a mixed bag, though, that seem to indicate a confusion over direction, or a bit of a psychedelic throw-in-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach. There are haunting tunes with a folk-rock base and a faint Renaissance ballad melodic influence, jaunty narratives with a vaudevillian air that bear the mark of then-recent albums such as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and harder-rocking period psychedelic tracks with a bent for unpredictable bittersweet progressions and vocal harmonies. It's unusual, and in some senses attractive. But to be less charitable, there's a sense of listening to a generic psychedelic band that sounds better than many such acts mostly by virtue of benefiting from Elektra's high-class production, here handled by Paul Rothchild of Doors fame. Put another way, the songs themselves aren't as good as their arrangements. "Fields of People," about the best of those songs, might be the most famous one here due to getting covered in an elongated treatment by the Move, who did a better job with it than Ars Nova. [The 2004 CD reissue on Sundazed adds historical liner notes by Jon Pierson.] ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	05/31/2024
Label:	Sundazed Music Inc.
UPC:	0090771564818
Rank:	157246

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ars Nova   Primary Artist
Jonathan Raskin   Guitar (Bass),Bass,Guitar,Vocals
Bill Folwell   Guitar (Bass),Bass,Vocals,Trumpet,String Bass
Maury Barker   Percussion,Organ
Giovanni Papalia   Guitar
Maury Baker   Organ,Keyboards,Percussion
Wyatt Day   Organ,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Guitar (Rhythm)
Jon Pierson   Vocals,Trombone,Trombone (Bass)

Technical Credits

Paul Rothchild   Audio Production,Producer
Tim Livingston   Project Manager
Stephanie Kennedy   Production Coordination
Bob Irwin   Mastering
Giovanni Papalia   Group Member
Bill Folwell   Group Member
John Haeny   Audio Engineer
Richard Strauss   Composer
Maury Baker   Composer,Group Member
Jac Holzman   Production Supervisor
Wyatt Day   Composer,Liner Notes,Group Member
Jon Pierson   Composer,Liner Notes,Group Member
Joel Brodsky   Photography
Jayme Pieruzzi   Mastering,Project Manager
Jonathan Raskin   Group Member
William S. Harvey   Art Direction,Cover Art Concept
Jeff Smith   Design