The BREW: Iron & the Albatross, Katy Stephan July 19, 2008

Iron & the Albatross perform original music composed by Ara Anderson. Their brand of junky circus music conjures images of Scandinavian seascapes, the Great Tricycle Race of 1910, sailing vessels set adrift, Blackbeard’s drunken ramblings, handle-bar mustached acrobats and love poems discovered in dusty attics. Sonorous vocals seesaw with a gentle accordion, wailing trumpet, harmonium bridges and an assortment of tiny clock noises, evoking a sound that teeters between twisted Chinese opera and a beautifully ghoulish vaudeville variety show.

Soprano and pianist Katy Stephan’s suitcase is well-worn and papered with stickers from all over the world. Inside, frilly classical training nestles alongside a casual pop sensibility, creating a unique sound that is both sweet and smart, delicate and powerful. She offers beautifully crafted sonic valentines made from scraps of Chopin nocturnes, Puccini arias, vintage glass glitter, angel prayers, musical jewelry boxes and a bloody beating heart.

Official Website: http://www.jcceastbay.org/jcc/arts_culture_music.htm