D. Charles Speer & The Helix
Doubled Exposure
D. Charles Speer, aka Dave Shuford, is a founding member of both Rhyton and No Neck Blues Band, and also known for his work with Enos Slaughter, The Suntanama, Egypt Is The Magick #, and Coach Fingers. On ‘Doubled Exposure’ The Helix take their loose and free country rock boogie and enhance it with the blistering psych Speer explores in Rhyton, and the traditional Greek melodies delved into on the Speer solo album, ‘Arghiledes’. ‘Doubled Exposure’ was recorded by Jason Meagher at the increasingl…
Arghiledes
Arghiledes' is a brilliant homage to Greek Rebetiko music of the early 20th century by No Neck Blues Band's David Shuford aka D. Charles Speer. It's his 2nd solo LP under this moniker and a deeply researched, beautifully executed effort replete with in depth sleeve notes and paste-on cover. Coming from a Blues playing American of Greek descent, the project reflects the syncretic nature of Rebetiko music, itself made up of the many disparate elements which formed Greek urban folk music (European …
Leaving The Commonwealth
D. Charles Speer & the Helix came together through a shared love of musical interplay that moves the mind and body. Born from the obsessions and predilections of David Charles Shuford, strains of glassine cruelty, broken glasses and ruptured knees mixed with memories of Chet Atkins lullabies and ZZ Top vids to generate a songcraft steeped in tradition but themed for the burned. A practicing multi-instrumentalist in various New York City improvisational ensembles for the last 15 plus yea…
Ragged And Right
LP edition: Link Wray became the thematic soundtrack for a 2008 JACK ROSE tour with D. CHARLES SPEER & THE HELIX. Jack got so excited by the vibes emanating from these songs that he thought to break with his usual acoustic approach & enlist the Speer band to join in some unhinged & unrepentant fun in the studio. Recorded using an all live, no overdub approach, a gleaming bottle of Buffalo Trace helped shepherd them through the night. Feat. the original Helix lineup in peak form & lap steel & Ros…
Distillation
As one cog in the leaderless wheel known as the No-Neck Blues Band, Dave Shuford makes music so thoroughly unplanned that even he and his bandmates can't predict what it will sound like. NNCK don't just improvise, they don't even discuss what they're going to play, traversing many styles and moods with no safety net save the one that emerges from their collective creativity. Compared to NNCK's free-form tightrope-walk, Shuford's side project D. Charles Speer and the Helix can sound downright ris…
After Hours
The much-anticipated blast-off release for Charles Speer and his band. Recently rewarded 5 stars in Time Out mag by the music editor, this album is a landmark in laid-back blues and country songwriting, feat. members of NNCK and Sunburned.
Past Or Beyond
Seeking refuge in songcraft, D. Charles Speer and the Helix spin tales of mental instability and institutional exploitation into a thick, heady, groove laden brew. The professorial attack of the ivories, the sear of the strings, the pounding of drum skins amass into a righteous storm bound to overwhelm those uncoverted. This is an unholy mix of heart ripped vocal, Longhair piano, and guitar work drawing from both Mike Bloomfield and Norman Westberg. Featuring silk screened covers and hand stampe…
In Madagascar / Bar-Abbas Blues
The newest release from D. Charles Speer & the Helix highlights narratives presented as gospel and then revoked in the wink of eye. Serpentine guitars encase a dirty groove on both sides of the slab, while the piano and bass smother the listener with affection. This single features a plethora of voices, with D. Charles, Margot Bianca, and Hans Chew all clocking time on the mic. A precursor to the full length “Distillation” due later this year, “In Madagascar” contains two exclusive tracks as it …
Some Forgotten Country
A true solo endeavor, this LP is the debut of D. Charles Speer on long player. Recordings over a span of 4 years have been assembled here into a rumination on loss in its many forms - loss of direction, loved ones, home, mental acuity, money, and emotional stability. Pressed on 180 gram virgin vinyl and limited to 500 copies.