Golden, the Eagerly-Awaited Debut Album From Elkland, Readied for Spring Release on Columbia Records

Columbia Records is set to release Golden, the avidly-awaited debut album from Elkland, the endlessly inventive musical quartet from Horseheads, New York, who've created a new brand of synthpop for the 21st century. Golden is in stores on Tuesday, May 3.

"Apart," the first single from Golden, is scheduled for commercial release on Tuesday, February 1. The "Apart" single is available in three formats -- 12" and 7" vinyl as well as CD -- and features five cuts including Elkland's cover of the Cranberries' "Salvation" as well as a remix of "Apart" by electronica master Jacknife Lee.

Elkland recently finished lensing a music video for "Apart" with director Adam Polina (Fischerspooner, My Morning Jacket, Blue Van, Sevendust).

The UK-based music magazine Record Of The Day heralded "Apart" and Elkland in its pages saying, " ....no one else has recalled New Order quite so recently or so enjoyably."

Elkland is: Jon Pierce (vocals), Joel Tarpin (keyboards/synthesizers), Adam Kessler (guitar), and Jesse Pierce (drums).

With Golden, the members of Elkland have taken the group's collective deep love, and passionate understanding, of classic post-punk synthpop and Britpop -- from Joy Division and the Smiths to New Order and Björk -- to create a hook-dappled blueprint for a harmonious shimmering synthpop of tomorrow using authentic old school synthesizers and drum machines that the band has collected over the years.

The group recorded all the album's electronics, using vintage gear exclusively, at New York's Sony Studios with producer John Hill. Guitars, drums, etc. were recorded in Los Angeles at Kingsize Sound Labs with producer/mixer Dave Trumfio, of Chicago's Pulsars, at the boards.

While both Jon and Jesse Pierce were cutting their chops in "a bunch of high school bands," Jon realized that they needed to form their own ensemble. With their best friend, Joel Tarpin, joining in on keyboards, they formed "Goat Explosion," an early incarnation of Elkland. With gear and luggage and personnel crammed into a 1991 Chrysler Town & Country minivan, Goat Explosion traversed the country, making the trek from New York to Los Angeles several times.

By 2002, sick of the name and adding new guitarist, Adam Kessler, Goat Explosion gave way to the freshly-christened Elkland, named for a town near where the Pierces grew up. As New York City-based management sought out the group, Elkland began making regular trips to the city from upstate to record demos. The realization began dawning on the group's members that Elkland was being transformed from a passionate hobby band into a credible musical entity. The band was being taken seriously by both its avid developing audience as well as the music industry.

The members of Elkland have honed and polished 12 pop music diamonds for Golden, including a definitive version of "Put Your Hand Over Mine," the first complete song Jon Pierce ever wrote, and the stunningly gorgeous "Every Time You Tell Me That You Love Me," Jon's favorite song on the album.

SOURCE: Columbia Records

CONTACT: Benny Tarantini, Columbia Records, Media, New York,
+1-212-833-5858, Benny.Tarantini@sonybmg.com or Sandee Gardner, Columbia
Records, Media, Santa Monica, +1-310-449-2902, Sandee.Gardner@sonybmg.com

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/
http://www.elkland.net/