The Six Parts Seven

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Six Parts Seven


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Origin = Kent, Ohio, USA
Genre = Post-rock
Years_active = 1995 – Present
Label = Suicide Squeeze Records, various
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Notable_instruments = :"For a similarly named band, see Six by Seven".The Six Parts Seven are an American post-rock band formerly based in Kent, Ohio. The band was founded in 1995 by brothers Allen and Jay Karpinski (playing guitar and drums, respectively), who had earlier played with Old Hearts Club, a band of similar style (but with vocals). Allen Karpinski moved to Seattle, Washington in 2008.

Most of the group's music is instrumental, featuring multiple "clean" (undistorted) electric guitars, with electric bass and drums, as well as electric lap steel guitar, viola, and occasionally also piano, vibraphone, or trumpet. Rather than relying primarily on strummed chords, songs are generally built by combining single-note melodic lines. Most songs are slow, subdued, and introspective, calling to mind the sound of similarly restrained groups such as Bedhead, Low, and American Football, as well as Louisville groups such as Slint and Rodan. Songs are often long (over five minutes), featuring much repetition and little contrast, creating a meditative atmosphere. Though the drumming of Jay Karpinski is often syncopated and jazzy, the group favors duple meter as opposed to the more complex meters favored by math rock bands. The Six Parts Seven's precise, intricate pattern-based sound also calls to mind the work of King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp as well as minimalist composers such as Steve Reich. More recent performances of certain songs have featured Allen playing a four-string Fender Jazz Bass strung with normal electric guitar strings in place of his usual guitar set-up; presumably these songs will appear on their upcoming album, entitled "Casually Smashed to Pieces".

The band has been through a plethora of line-up changes, and minor positions in the band have proved to be a revolving chair, while retaining the core force of the Karpinski brothers. Former vibraphonist Eric Koltnow left the band after the "Everywhere and Right Here" era, as well as former lap steel player Ben Vaughan (formerly of the Dirty Lords, Tusco Terror, and Silent Command) after becoming a father. Minor positions, such as the newly added trumpet (Keith Freund from Trouble Books), have been filled by members of other bands from the Akron, Ohio area. Allen Karpinski recently revealed in an interview that his brother Jay had left the band.Fact|date=May 2007

The Six Parts Seven's name is apparently based on a literary reference, quite possibly from the Howard Zinn book "A People's History of the United States". The quote is from Virginia Governor William Berkeley in 1676: "How miserable that man is that governs a people where six parts of seven at least are poor, endebted, discanted and armed." A recent interview with another band member claims the name derives from a childhood game between brothers Jay and Allen Karpinski. [http://media.www.californiaaggie.com/media/storage/paper981/news/2007/04/05/ArtsEntertainment/Muse-A.OnePart.Series.On.Six.Parts.Seven-2825220.shtml] Although its name is similar, The Six Parts Seven should not be confused with the British band Six by Seven.

The group has toured the United States several times and performed in March 2006 at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. Since the early 21st century its music has been used frequently by National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" news program as between-segment music. [http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22six+parts+seven%22+site%3Anpr.org] Group leader Allen Karpinski was interviewed about the group's music on the same program in September 2004. [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3922327]

Members

Current

*Allen Karpinski - guitar , electric bass guitar, keyboards
*Jay Karpinski - drums
*Tim Gerak - guitar , banjo, lap steel, samples
*Mike Tolan - electric bass guitar, guitar , organ, banjo
*Steve Clements - grand piano, keyboards, gravity bong
*Jake Trombetta - electric lap steel guitar, guitar, piano
*Jennifer Court - clarinet
*Keith Freund - trumpet

Former

*Brad Visker - electric bass guitar
*Ben Vaughan - electric lap steel guitar
*Eric Koltnow - vibraphone
*Matt Haas - electric lap steel guitar
*Mary Mazzer - electric lap steel guitar
*Heather Wiker - viola

Other

*Brian Straw - guitar , vocals
*The group has also worked with Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse

Discography

tudio albums

*1998 - "In Lines and Patterns..." CD (Donut Friends)
*2000 - "Silence Magnifies Sound" CD (Troubleman Unlimited)
*2002 - "Things Shaped in Passing" CD & 2xLP (Suicide Squeeze)
*2004 - "Everywhere, and Right Here" CD & LP (Suicide Squeeze)
*2007 - "Casually Smashed to Pieces" CD & LP (Suicide Squeeze)

EPs

*2003 - "The Six Parts Seven/The Black Keys" CD-EP (Suicide Squeeze)
*2003 - "Attitudes of Collapse" One-Sided LP (Burnt Toast Vinyl)

Remix albums

*2004 - "Lost Notes from Forgotten Songs" CD (Suicide Squeeze)

Unofficial releases

*1995 - "The Six Parts Seven" Cassette
*2001 - "Untitled EP (Solo Singles Series)" CD (Troubleman Unlimited)

Compilations

*2000 - "Slightest Indication of Change" CD & LP (Slowdance Records), SLOW-007
*2001 - "Troubleman Mix-Tape" 2xCD (Troubleman Unlimited, 2001, TMU-050)
*2002 - "Devil In the Woods 52' 7" vinyl (Devil in the Woods records), DIW-52

External links

* [http://suicidesqueeze.net/6x7.html Suicide Squeeze Records The Six Parts Seven artist page]
* [http://www.bettawreckonize.com/interviews/sixpartsseven.htm BettaWreckonize interview]

Reviews

* [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21756/Six_Parts_Seven_Silence_Magnifies_Sound Review of "Silence Magnifies Sound"] by John Dark, Pitchfork Media
* [http://www.thewheelsstillinspin.com/2007/01/six_parts_seven.html Short story review of "Casually Smashed To Pieces"] [The Wheel's Still In Spin]
* [http://www.thesilentballet.com/dnn/Reviews/EntireList/tabid/99/ctl/Details/mid/483/ItemID/810/Default.aspx Review of "Casually Smashed to Pieces"] by Thomas Lloyd, [http://www.thesilentballet.com The Silent Ballet]

Listening

* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3922327 "Six Parts Seven's Harmonic Rock" from NPR "All Things Considered" program, 16 September 2004]
* [http://suicidesqueeze.net/6x7.html The Six Parts Seven MP3s]
* [http://www.myspace.com/sixpartsseven The Six Parts Seven audio samples]

ee also

*Explosions in the Sky