Boxhead Ensemble - The Unseen Hand: Music for Documentary Film '2014; 2020

Tracks list

SESSION 1: THE WAREHOUSE - LONG BEACH

There wasnt much of movie to speak of at that point so Wil, Tim and I headed
into Hollywood to John’s apartment and watched some raw footage of
cowboys getting tossed around by bulls. We didnt get much direction on what to
do, only what not to do. Our first job was to give John some music to cut to. So
we started on what would be the first of three sessions.

My friend John Haskells dad had a warehouse down at the docks in Long Beach to
house his boats and ancient cars. It was a big open space with high ceilings and
wooden beams hanging above us. We also made records in there. There where a few
pianos, a hammond b3, a bunch of guitar amps and a coffee maker. The office
became the control room. I remember a couple of fax machines.

The very first thing we did was check the levels on the piano. I sent Wil to
play something on the baby grand and he proceeded to perform what would become
the basic theme for the entire movie. Im still not sure where that came from. We
where off to a good start. After a while Tim threw a microphone inside the piano
and set up his pedal board and connected it to one of the amplifiers. Tims
natural inclination is to continually turn things inside out and destroy. That
was a long time ago but I remember recording a lot of good stuff those couple of
days. The last thing we did was an organ duo. I remember playing a couple of
chords over and over while Wil sat next me and voiced the chords higher and
higher on the keyboard. That piece would eventually become the intro piece to
the movie.

SESSION 2: EAGLE ROCK

As the film progressed, I knew we where going to need something a little more
traditional for certain parts of the film. The Wild expansive music we made in
Long Beach would lose its impact if we didnt have something to ground it. I
remember seeing a photograph somewhere of Neil Young recording some acoustic
instruments with the musicians sitting in a circle around a few mics. I was
inspired to try that approach.

My friend Eric Heywood had a beautiful little house on top of hill overlooking
Eagle Rock California. Lots of light and beautiful white washed wood floors. We
set up in the circle, this time with Eric on his pedal steel and a bunch of
guitars. I always loved the sound of multiple guitars intertwining. We went
around the circle with each of us starting a little idea while letting the piece
slowly develop into whatever it would become. We went around a couple of times
and that was it. I have a lot of fond memories of that neighborhood and those
days. I was engineering for producer David Trumfio back then and when things
where slow wed hit this Mexican food place at the base of the hill and sit there
for hours drinking margaritas getting nothing done.

SESSION 3: THE ICE HOUSE - PHOENIX, ARIZONA

We now had the completed film and needed one last session to fill some of the
gaps. We needed something with a big space to fill the expansive feel of the
bull riding ring. John had to recreate the sound from scratch during the
competition scenes.

There is this great building in Phoenix called the Ice House. Back before
refrigeration the ice would be delivered via train and stored in one central
location. The room we recorded basically looked like an airplane hanger with
elevated arched ceilings. Since we had a finished cut I was able to project the
film onto one of the walls There is this great building in Phoenix called the
Ice House. Back before refrigeration the ice would be delivered via train and
stored in one central location. The room we recorded basically looked like an
airplane hanger with elevated arched ceilings. Since we had a finished cut I was
able to project the film onto one of the walls creating a very cinematic
atmosphere. We added percussion and relied on our electric guitars for the last
session. At one point we started the film and had the drummer Rob Moore
improvise over its entirety. I dont think any of that ended up in the film but i
wish it did, it was probably the best stuff.

John and his editors came out for the sessions and Im not sure what happened the
night before but they basically slept on the concrete floor most of the session.
I think they just wanted to to get out of LA for a few days. - Michael Krassner,
Spring 2014

THE PLAYERS:
WIL HENDRICKS
ERIC HEYWOOD
MICHAEL KRASSNER
BRUCE LICHER
ROB MOORE
TIM RUTILI

Tracklist:
1/14. Boxhead Ensemble - Western Wishes Intro (2:49)
2/14. Boxhead Ensemble - Justins Theme (5:05)
3/14. Boxhead Ensemble - The Strip (1:32)
4/14. Boxhead Ensemble - The Arena (5:56)
5/14. Boxhead Ensemble - Mikes Theme (2:31)
6/14. Boxhead Ensemble - Gone Too Far (3:47)
7/14. Boxhead Ensemble - A Simple Prayer (4:35)
8/14. Boxhead Ensemble - Eight Seconds (3:29)
9/14. Boxhead Ensemble - Adrianos Theme (3:51)
10/14. Boxhead Ensemble - Rank (4:48)
11/14. Boxhead Ensemble - Western Wishes Outro (6:24)
12/14. Boxhead Ensemble - Ranch Life (3:43)
13/14. Boxhead Ensemble - Bleeder (3:43)
14/14. Boxhead Ensemble - Organ Piece (11:04)

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