Open Door

OPEN DOOR are... Peter Adams is a well respected and sought after keyboardist, playing everything from jazz gigs to blues and R&B and rock and roll. Peter has performed with; Michael Penn, Rob Dickinson/Catherine Wheel, Kay Hanley, Tracy Bonham, Juliana Hatfield, Tears for Fears, Michelle Shocked, Greg Dulli/Twilight Singers, Kid Lightning, Jeff Pevar, Dilletantes, Julian Coryell, Wisely, Nina Gordon, and the Submarines. Vicki Bell has been working hard since she was a young girl. Co-founder of Hipbone Records, Vicki is responsible for much of the sound of Hipbone Records vinyl releases. Perhaps best known as an engineer and producer, her most recent work with Alexis P. Suter ("Shuga Fix"), Jesus H. Christ and Jay Collins (vocal debut "Poem For You Today") speaks for itself. Her music has appeared in films (Stevie, Kingsize and Singularity) and television programs (Nip/Tuck, Queer Eye For The Straight Guy and Bliss). Through the success of her label and her production work Miss Bell has been able to license her music on compilations worldwide. She continues to be much in demand as an engineer, studio musician and producer, and is building a reputation producing and writing music. Vicki has been playing shows at "Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble" as a member of the Alexis P. Suter Band enjoying it greatly. Drummer and Percussionist Ray Grappone is a busy studio and live performer. His dynamic skills as a musician and composer shine on the Hipbone Records Beats and Grooves series that include Double Drums and Skins, Metal, and Wood. A few highlights in Rays career include recording and performing with Levon Helm, Carole King and Bette Midler to name a few. Ray is also a member of the Alexis P. Suter Band, Jesus H. Christ and Bennett. Open Door are an open-ended, genre defying merging of jazz, rock, organically danceable grooves, electronica sensibilities and soulful classic keyboard melodies. Their productions and remixes have been featured on acclaimed compilations "Rewind" (Ubiquity), "Ultra Chilled" vol.4 (Ultra), "Calming Park" III (Universal), "Another Late Night" Groove Armada (Azuli) and Television programs "Nip/Tuck" and "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy". Their first full length, "Whats Behind Door ..1" was released on Sole Music (Uk) along with three singles; "Breathe", "Back to the Top" and a limited edition remix EP. The duo has also recorded three singles for the Hipbone imprint: Lights, Get Into You and the follow-up Fallin. Their follow up full length "So Close To Beautiful" is available now on Hipbone Records / Kindred Rhythm. Hipbone Records / Kindred Rhythm are proud to announce the release of Open Doors second album, "So Close To Beautiful". The CD is being distributed by KOCH International and is available at physical and digital retailers everywhere. A follow-up to "Whats Behind Door ..1" which contained their highly acclaimed single "Breathe" (Pink Floyd cover) , the new record is brimming with beautiful, infectious fresh sounds for the now and beyond. So Close To Beautiful" was produced, composed and performed by Bell, Adams and Grappone and features a cast of underground notables including bass players Ben Ellis (The Catherine Wheel) and Jonathan Maron (Groove Collective), turntablist Alix Alvarez, and Alexis P. Suter and Elsa Cornish on background vocals. "So Close To Beautiful" REVIEWS!!!!! AMP CAMP f this album was being played at a party, it would definitely be piped into the chill-out/make-out room with a sink-in-the-minute-you-sit-down couch, mesmerizing strobe lights, and a disco ball. Open Door's second album is mellow, experimental and above all beautiful. The band is comprised of producer/vocalist/remixer Vicki Bell, keyboardist Peter Adams and drummer/percussionist Ray Grappone, and together they've created a genre-defying disc of jazz, rock, and electronica. "Entertain You" is a sexy tune that sounds like Beck meets Gwen Stefani on Valume backed by scratches, random computer sounds, and horns. "DJ," a David Bowie cover, opens with a killer bass line that's guaranteed to get stuck in your head. The song plays out like a balloon leaking helium, repeating "I am a DJ/I am what I play" over and over with a consistent wobbly background noise that conjures up visions of vinyl revolving around a turntable. "Nearness" is slow and lulling in a way that captures the feeling of a dream, where you're fearlessly and effortlessly flying through the clouds. The most riveting is "Confused," a grittier, darker ditty with poignant lyrics, such as: "Since you've come into my life/I've been so confused/Turned around and wondering what I'm supposed to do." Halfway through the track the vibe changes and the "confusion" sets in: first stopping, then a few random electronic noises, and finally back to its original melancholy ways within seconds. The group's biggest 180 comes as they morph into an old-school R&B song, "Good Thing," where the Motown-inspired vocals ring: "I'm begging you to forgive me/Because we've got a good thing chil'/Come back to me." A good thing indeed. POP MATTERS Suppose this group’s name, Open Door, represented the entryway to a building that symbolizes their second album So Close to Beautiful. A walk inside would reveal rooms filled with all types of musical styles. The new age sitting room ("Someone to Love”, “Glow”, “I’m Here") might comfortably segue into the pop in the living room ("Let Down"), the rock in the hallway ("Confused"), the bedroom’s R&B ("Entertain You"), and the jazz riffs wafting in from the kitchen ("Neptune", “Where You Are"). And since none of the doors to these rooms are closed, sounds would blend together, like the saxophone solo in the visionary “I’m Here”, or the turntable scratches mixed into the blues of “Entertain You”. There would be space for tunes that recall Michael McDonald and James Ingram (see “Good Thing"). There would be a room for David Bowie—check out Open Door’s delectable cover of “DJ”. Open Door—consisting of Vickie Bell, Peter Adams, and Ray Grappone—offers an amalgam of sounds and textures beneath one roof. Count on more treasures when guests are invited: Elsa Cornish on background vocals, Dana Jared taking the lead on “Good Thing”, Jonathan Moran (bass) and Matthew Cusick (guitar) on “DJ”, Alix Alvarez working the turntables, and Jeff Leonard working the sax. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.