piano-based, electronic, dreampop, alt-rock.

11 MP3 Songs
POP: Piano, POP: Dream Pop



Details:
If you put Imogen Heap, Björk, Tori Amos, and Emm Gryner in a magic potion stew, threw in a penis and a few other male anatomical ingredients, then stirred in the smoothe syrupy vocals of Mark Kozelek (Sun Kil Moon/Red House Painters), Neil Halstead (Slowdive/Mojave 3), Jonas Bjerre (Mew), Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), and Robert Smith (The Cure), you might indeed end up with a concoction called ZWERG. Despite the existence of a revolving band lineup, ZWERG is primarily the domain of a peculiar Eldon Thiele. Thiele was born Jason Willis Betts, in Moncton, New Brunswick, on October 4th, 1977, to a music teacher/politician father and an art teacher mother. He adopted the name 'Eldon Thiele' as a tribute to his two beloved, deceased grandfathers, Eldon R. Betts Sr. and John L. Thiele Sr. Says Thiele: "ZWERG is the name of the man AND the band, simultaneously. I'm drawn to the intangibility of that; the concrete doesn't fascinate me like the mystification inherent in the enigmatic. Logic can be an enemy to creativity. ZWERG and Eldon are definitely the showmen of the bunch. Having the folks within me all named is, to me, imperative as it assists in appropriating the Self to whatever situation the Self finds itself in at a given time. I call upon whoever's needed at the time. Jason will always be the driving force of this whole ordeal, having been such a disturbed, insecure and emotionally fragile youth. The rest of us surround him like musk oxen, butts in, heads out, ready to ram! NO ONE will hurt that kid! And youâd better believe it. Jason, in his weakness, is ironically the strength of the posse, because his pain fuels the fire. ZWERG will burn down an adversary with his staring eyes; but only in defense. It's a war for Love, not against fellow humans, but against the metaphysical principalities oppressing or indwelling the adversary.â

And it is in this light that the ZWERG concept is best understood. The name âZWERGâ, which is German for âdwarfâ, was selected as a metaphor for any victim of social injustice, for any oppressed and misunderstood misfit, debilitated by lies of his or her own frailty, but who, perhaps unknowingly, possesses great vigor, venomous vengeance, vitality, and virility. Alas, the dwarves of myth and legend, though diminutive in stature and sometimes dismissed as feeble freaks of nature, are notorious for their unmatched constitution, their determined and disciplined dispositions, and their warring capabilities. A German word was selected so as to incorporate the conceptions of harshness and stoicism associated with the formerly barbaric Northern-European, Germanic cultures and languages. As well, the family name Thiele is itself German, having originated near Minden, in Lower Saxony, North-West Germany.

The spring of 2007 brings considerable excitement to the ZWERG camp with the highly anticipated release of ZWERGâs 3rd full-length album iNTo tHe 4tH diMeNsiOn, no doubt the artistâs most comprehensive and compelling work to date. Though decidedly distinctive and uncompromising in its execution, 4tH diMeNsiOn is surprisingly radio-friendly with its catchy hooks and accessible chorus melodies that seem to grow on the listener with repeated listening. This album is preceded by the 2004 DVD single To Stand, Kneel (starring Gordon Lightfootâs grandson Johnny Hoermann as a Halfling), the 2000 full-length Played Wits, and the Rick White (front man of Ericâs Trip /Elevator) produced album To Myopic Mutts and Sepsis EP from 1998 and 1997, respectively.

-Jorgen Bremenger