Shilo, J. P.

As Happy As Sad Is Blue

Smells Like Records

CD $9.50

10/10/2006 787996005225

SLR 052

MP3 $9.90

10/10/2006 787996005225

SLR 052

J.P. Shilo first appeared on the scene in the late 90s with the instrumental outfit Hungry Ghosts. Quickly capturing the attention of the late Rowland S. Howard who produced their first LP, they soon found themselves invited to the Sonic Youth studios by Steve Shelley to record a follow up album entitled Alone, Alone; which one reviewer described as “…blessed with the ability to utter a million words with a single instrumental phrase and to turn a melancholy passage into a triumphant climax.”
As Happy as Sad is Blue is J.P. Shilo’s debut solo LP. “Virtually unclassifiable, it centers on noir-ish circus-type music, ambient instrumental pieces that are darker and edgier than the genre might suggest, beautiful pastoral passages, tango-like interludes, and other elemental musics that cannot be quantified in written language.” Upon release AMG described the album as “… Underground music, Outsider Art at its best…” furthering his reputation as a highly sensitive and sought after musician - A multi-instrumentalist who thinks outside the box.
While many will look for easy comparisons, J.P. Shilo creates heart-stopping music without a clear genre. Fragile in its minimalist beauty, yet able to suddenly burst open with stabbing intensity.