Amoeba Music

Spain performs a live set and signs copies of their new album, "Mandala Brush" (out 11/2 on Dangerbird Records), at Amoeba Hollywood Wednesday, November 7th at 6pm! Spain is the brainchild of Josh Haden and their music has been described as a unique patchwork of “indie pop slowcore americana free jazz.”

"Mandala Brush" features founding member Josh Haden (bass, lead vocals), and longtime collaborators Kenny Lyon (guitar), Shon Sullivan (acoustic guitar, keyboards) and Danny Frankel (drums). It was produced by Kenny and Josh in Los Angeles, CA.

Also performing on the album are two of Josh’s sisters, Petra Haden (violin, backing vocals) and Tanya Haden (cello, backing vocals), along with Mike Bolger (accordion, trumpet), Matthew DeMerritt (flute, saxophone), and David Ralicke (clarinet, flute, trombone), all regulars at Spain’s long-running Los Angeles residency at the Love Song Bar. Petra and Tanya’s collaborations stretch all the way back to the first Spain album, 1995’s "The Blue Moods of Spain."

With this album Josh wanted to replicate the sound he’s been capturing at Spain’s live shows. All of the songs were recorded live in the studio. There were no click tracks used. Many of the songs were developed at the Love Song over a period of several months.

About the album title, Josh says, “A mandala is an ancient and sacred symbol representing the oneness of the universe. The “brush” in the context of this album is a modern and secular tool used in computer art applications. The mandala brush helps facilitate the creation of mandalas, but is never a finished mandala in and of itself.”

Spain is the brainchild of Josh Haden. Their music has been described as “indie pop slowcore americana free jazz.” They are best known for the aforementioned debut album, 1995’s "The Blue Moods Of Spain," and for the song “Spiritual” which was recorded by Johnny Cash on his Rick Rubin-produced, Grammy-winning 1996 album "Unchained," and by Josh’s late father Charlie Haden along with jazz guitarist Pat Metheny on the Grammy-winning 1997 album "Beyond The Missouri Sky." Spain has released several studio and live albums, eps and singles, since.