| Reviews Biography Krakatoa hatched in Philadelphia in 1997 and relocated to Brooklyn in early 2000. Val Opielski plays piano, bass or guitar, Glendon Jones plays violin or guitar, Ted Casterline plays bass or guitar and Ely Levin plays drums and percussion. Latley, Dave Brown plays violin and percussion, and Ben Freeman sometimes plays cello. Sarah Ferholt plays trumpet on the record. Krakatoa has enjoyed playing with: Wayne Horvitz and Zony Mash, Elliot Sharp's Tectonics, Marc Ribot/Los Cubanos Postizos, and Chicago's Cheer Accident at venues like Tonic, the Knitting Factory and Philly's Astrocade. They provided the original live soundtrack for a giant shadow puppet play at Philadelphia's Institute for Contemporary Art. They played at the Highwire Gallery for Toshi Makihara's Improv Music Series. Krakatoa participated in the Black Sheer Puppet Festival in Pittsburgh, SOWEBO in Baltimore, and the WE Festival in Wilmington, NC. Their crowning achivement was a performance at the Alternativa Festival in Prague, where they joined some of the world's most innovative musicians in a triumphant celebration of global avant-garde music. Source: Etherdrag Promo Biography Plan Ahead (1999) An amazing debut from the then Philly quartet, Plan Ahead  is a intricate and punchy slice of instrumental chamber rock. A classical influence shines through in the chamber elements, being dominated by grand piano and violin, while at other times, jazzy drumming and a solid rock rhythm pervade. The dexterity with which the band interacts with each other is outstanding; writhing, twisting and turning with each complex turn of the score. The instrumentation stays fairly consistent throughout, with violin, piano, bass and drums leading the way with assorted percussion and occasional guitar. Through this consistency there is also a diverse array of styles showing through, from baroque to bluegrass, jazz to Joplin, prog to punky energy - sometimes all with in the span of seconds, as best exemplified by the roller coaster ride of "Midnite Heck".         At times, the energy reaches fusion like heights, but being closer related to Canterbury bands like National Health (think "Squarer for Maude"). Songs such as "Driving by Candlabrum" and "Ska for Computers" are brimming with scorching violin leads, bouncing bass and piano rhythms, and a whole lotta fun. The epic "Vampires" shifts through many different moods and styles, starting out with a heavy dissonant air, evolving into beautiful piano runs near the middle and ending through some repetitive and entrancing post-rock like riffs. A good number of pieces are based on these repetitive and building riffs, but along with the frequent changes and surprises, bring a dynamic and unpredictable air to the music. It's this unique feeling that makes this band so special. - Mike Prete [March 2002] Click Here for Tracklist and Lineup Info Togetherness (2002) It would be a major feat for Krakatoa to top their stunning debut. And they have gone and done it. A more developed and dynamic album, Togetherness incorporates an even larger array of styles and influences than the debut. The amps are all turned up here, with a decidedly more rock edge and blistering intensity in some places. The chamber elements are still in place, as well as a contemplative post-rock vibe, and even some whimsical vocals. The addition to the original quartet with violin, cello and horns brings additional tone colour to great effect, with a warmer string sound, and additional melody from the horns. The instrumental labyrinth of twists and turns is handled deftly, with precise intricacy and great emotion. Their meticulous arrangements show off their compositional strength.         "Abstract Damage" kicks things off with a truly abstract vibe; languid acoustic guitar and strings give way to vocoded vocals, which are interrupted by a latin big band. String droning continues into a dark and eerie mood, ending with powerful violin riffage. The constant shifting of styles and moods in each song keeps things varied, and has the listener on their toes waiting for the next shift to come from around the corner. "The Incredible World of Lady Miss Bug" brings out their 'baroque cartoon rock', marching along with a fun and innocent child-like groove and thematic melodies. The laconic angst of fuzzed out guitar cuts through the pensive atmosphere of "Teenagers Have Failed", providing a schizophrenic and edgy atmosphere. An incredible follow-up album that will surely rank among the best releases of the year. - Mike Prete [March 2002] Click Here for Tracklist and Lineup Info