Solo work
Ambient/electronic
dividing lines
When thinking about this record I think about the quiet late night hours that are calm and simple. No bustling noises from the park on the east side of our building, no cars driving the four lane endless parade on the west side and no barking dogs from within. Just me with my headphones on in a tiny apt trying to capture a sonic spark as it unfolds in my mind. Much of this record was just a chance to explore a static silence with a blank canvas. I am following a twisting labyrinth of possibility and creativity. Each decision effects another and with a bit of luck snowball into a work of wonder. This is my art, my affection, my love, my understanding of what life is and how beautiful it can be. My hope is that you too will find the quiet hours that are simple and calm within.
released July 1, 2022
Alex Callenberger- Guitar, Moog Matriarch, Fender Rhodes Piano Bass, Akai S900, Sequential Prelude, Bass Guitar, Drum Programming, Percussion, Chase Bliss Blooper and all other sounds.
Produced, Written and Mixed by Alex Callenberger
Mastered by Ryan Foster
Album Art by Daniel Murphy
redetermintaion
These songs are a deep dive into the uncharted soundscape of sonic creation. To explore the unknown, one must cast off all they have learned. Strip away the layers of all preconceptions. Drop them like soiled boots on a weathered hardwood floor. Admit ignorance. Become a vessel of humility and wonder.
My work holds no claims of ingenuity. You might call it atmospheric, ambient, electronic or minimal, but to me all I see is myself, always a loner, a sceptic, a ronin - gone rouge. Whatever it is, I take no credit. I get my cues from a subtle Muse. A sassy shot caller by day and a satin siren by night. Once or twice I got lucky, meeting her when the time was right.
In the silence and mystery of the midnight hours, each song unfurled. In the time for contemplation. The time when Meaning and Purpose hash it out on an imaginary neon battlefield. Let this album become your soundtrack for such battles. Those that end in triumph and those that dissolve in defeat. Humbly, I will be your company.
released December 4, 2020
Alex Callenberger- Moog Matriarch, Akai s900, Fender Rhodes Piano Bass, Sequential Prelude, Roland JX-3P, Guitar, FX, all other instruments
Jonathan Sielaff (Golden Retriever)- Bass Clarinet
on Redetermination* Sunset Artist*
Brandon Warren (Early Founder)- Synths,Drones, Bliss on Golden Book*
Produced and Mixed by Alex Callenberger
Mastered by Ryan Foster
Artwork by Daniel Murphy
Clawfoot slumber
Alt-rock/psychedelic/indie folk
crushing Reality
The third studio album by Clawfoot Slumber contains songs of chaos, love, longing and heartbreak melted down and meant to soothe the wounds of our Crushing Reality. Created during a global pandemic, under the threat of wildfires and in the midst of a shutdown of all live performance, the aim to capture lightning in a bottle was high, but necessary to restore a sense of human relationship and understanding in spite of forced isolation.
Rich with themes of failure and perseverance, uncertainty and confidence, hurt and healing, separation and connectedness, the songwriting is powerfully relevant to the hard times we have shared throughout the album’s creation. Each of the 8 movements have gone through multiple incarnations and like our own tender hearts, they have had their seams ripped and repaired over and over before blossoming at last into their fullest potential. In all of his 17 years of writing and recording experience, Alex Callenberger shares that this album is his most treasured work. Wholeheartedly, we think you will agree.
credits
released March 4, 2022
Written and Performed by Alex Callenberger on Vocals, Electric Guitar, Bow, Piano, Wurlitzer, Moog Matriarch, Akai S900 and Sequential Prelude
With Erin LaCerra on Vocals and Fender Rhodes Piano Bass, Brandon Warren on Drums, Percussion and Drum Synth, and Jarred Venti on Electric Bass and Fender Rhodes Piano Bass
Produced by Alex Callenberger, Erin LaCerra and Jason Carter
Recorded & Engineered by Jason Carter and Alex Callenberger
Auxiliary Engineering by Raymond Richards
Mixed by Jason Carter at Wavelength Studio
Mastered by Ryan Foster at Foster Mastering
Cover Design by Daniel Murphy
Photography by Erin LaCerra
open wide to the demons…
10,000 miles of the road gave birth to these songs. It was a moment of reckoning. Where was I to lay my roots? Where was I to call home? With love by my side and a heart full of dreams, I set out to find this new place. Along these winding roads and famish times, I wrote of the emotions and strife we experienced, with only guitar and voice. This collection of songs is based on all the love, hardship, excitement, adversity, pain and loss we experienced during the journey.
The recordings you hear were recorded in my apartment during the wee hours of the night and quiet days of vacancy. Scattering microphones all about in stairwells, basements, bathrooms and living rooms chasing the ambience. It was my intention to keep the arrangements simple and raw. Much like the act of our displacement, I included only the necessities and spared the rest. I met this creation with a limited arsenal, using only guitar, voice, an old analog synth, case full of rhythmic oddities, bass guitar, cymbals and a massive old radio king bass drum. With these instruments I endeavored to recreate the sway and delicate dance of the road, the uncertainty of not knowing what lie ahead and the feeling of being reduced to a point where the only currency that remained was hope.
For three years I dreamt of what these songs would... more
credits
released May 7, 2015
Alex Callenberger: Vox, Guitars, Bass, Synths, Keys, Drums, Percussion, Bowed Guitar, Piano, and Noise
Erin LaCerra: Backing Vox, Viola, Percussion, Drums and Chimes
Colin Beatty: Bass
Alex Bodnar: Keys on Drift
Iantha Rimper: Violin on Simplicity and Survive
Andrew O'Keefe: Saxophone
Written, Recorded and Produced by Alex Callenberger at the Slumber Suite in Portland, OR.
Mastered by Pat Kerns at PermaPress Recording in Portland OR.
The stars within you..
released September 15, 2017
Produced by Alex Callenberger
Associate Producer Erin LaCerra
Engineering Mixing & Assistant Producer Pat Kearns
Mastering Ryan Foster
Additional Engineering Tim Breon & Alex Callenberger
Album Art Collette Pomerleau
All songs written by Alex Callenberger (Clawfoot Publishing, ASCAP)
Alex Callenberger:
Vocals Guitar Synth Piano Bowed Guitar Slide Guitar Bass Drum Moog Delay Bass
Erin LaCerra: Vocals & Bass Drum
Dave Coniglio: Drums & Vibraphone
Colin Beatty: Bass
Alex Bodnar: Fender Rhodes & Piano
Iantha Rimper: Violin
Soledad Akan: Ambient Electronic Textures & Processing