Pretend Collective
Pretend Collective
Pretend Collective's eponymous debut opens with unison pianos populating a great depth of space. A vivid sonic ecosystem gradually reveals itself as organic tones unfurl from the far reaches of the mix. The groove kicks in and a chorus of unearthly voices provide the scenery for the record's ethereal thesis statement: Higher Than a Flying Cloud Castle Made of White Light. Before Pretend Collective, composer and songwriter Michael Reilly made a name for himself as drummer and band member with Hoots & Hellmouth, Ha Ha Tonka, and The Spring Standards. His resume includes extensive work in the theatre world, even originating the role of the villain, Jessup McElroy, in "Red Roses, Green Gold", the 2017 Off-Broadway jukebox musical featuring the music of Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter. In the fleeting off-hours between international touring, making records, and theatrical work, Reilly holed up in his home studio and crafted exhaustive demos of the songs that would comprise Pretend Collective's first full-length album. The recorded ensemble consists primarily of working Philadelphia and New York musicians, many of whom tour globally, play on Broadway, and collaborate with some of the biggest names in music. The album features the soulful, searing electric guitar work of Aurlien Budynek (Marky Ramone, Cindy Blackman Santana); the virtuosic flavor and atmospheric precision of Jaron Olevsky and David Streim (Amos Lee) on Hammond B3, Fender Rhodes and piano; melodious upright and electric bass by Jonathan Davenport (Dirty Projectors, Buried Beds); Bryan Percivall's (Britney Spears) vintage sensibilities on bass guitar. Following the Giving Groove model, all label proceeds benefit Nui's Space, a charity who envisions ending the epidemic of suicide and inspiring a culture free of the stigma attached to brain illnesses and its sufferers by supporting a community-wide effort that focuses on education, prevention and access to appropriate treatment.