RFI: Trees - The Christ Tree

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File underlucky finds through random downloading. I'm looking for anything anyone can tell me more about this release and other things that this group did? This particular release is a very strange folk album that seems to be a devotional, using all assortment of interesting world music instruments.

The following is just about it, as far as information that I can find on the net about it. Any one else heard this? Have thoughts on it? Have ideas on things that sound like this?

"A rare Christian folk psych album. These Trees consisted of group of men and women dressed in robes, singing and playing an assortment of sitars, zither, dulcimer, flutes, guitar, gong, tamboura... Housed in a black sleeve with pictures on the back, the album contains two long cuts on Side One and seven on Side Two. A few hundred copies were pressed.

Katheryn Krupa (nee Ruetenik) recalls:- "We lived on a bus (several actually) and toured around the US and Canada in the seventies. The group began in New York City, changed, grew, lost and gained members - then was based at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NY. (Dean Morton may recall us or may not these days). Two members of the group Shipen and Ariel are now dead, but the rest of us are still around and spread around the country. I went on to be in an art rock band playing pedal harp called Art in America (CBS/Pavillion records 1981/2?). I also have another tape of older music, in the same genre (folk with many bizarre instruments from around the world) which was recorded before The Christ Tree, although the recording quality isn't as good."

David Lynch:- "We were more than just a 'music group' as such. Our lives intertwined around a five-year journey or 'pilgrimage' in our various bus homes, setting up 'camp' in diverse locations around North America, being a resident "society" or community in New Mexico and New York City, where we attempted to explore the concepts of monasticism and spirituality; Christ centered in attitude and immersing ourselves in the deep wisdom of the worlds cultures and spiritual practices. From this journey and its meaning evolved our musical compositions. Whether from sources of Gregorian plainchant or hypnotic Balanesian rhythms, our musical sessions struggled with the psalms and melodies of antiquity and the challenges of our instruments and lifestyle, working with a constantly evolving ensemble to allow the Music of the Tree to take root and its branches to ring with songs and sounds. I now live in Cincinnati Ohio (USA) with my wife and we are involved in composition and playing. In fact from Shipen's example perhaps, I have been playing sitar for several years along with my collection of wind instruments and both playing and composing with my wife Shari who is a violinist and plays keyboards and percussion, under the name Luminaria."

Katheryn:- "If anyone should ever want to buy a copy of the album, I have a few left and can be reached through e-mail at [email protected]"

The band are currently planning a reissue of old material, and the Christ Tree album on CD."

todd burns (toddburns), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 06:11 (twenty-two years ago)

WE WILL BLOW YOU AWAY LEAVES.

THE TRUNK, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 06:22 (twenty-two years ago)

why does this sound familiar? i'll confer with wide-eyed maniac friends soon

duke christian, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 06:24 (twenty-two years ago)

wait i'm thinking of 'these trails'

duke maui, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 06:28 (twenty-two years ago)

or 'trees' the ISB ripoff?

duke don't, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 06:29 (twenty-two years ago)

My mouth is dripping with salvia
TREES YOU USELESS TREES YOU SUCK THE AIR THAT I AM BREATHING

sexyDancer, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 06:37 (twenty-two years ago)

he doesn't mean "saliva" either

duke doctor, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 06:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey, is it just me or does the only purpose Pink Floyd's "The Final Cut" serve is to make Javis Cocker's career totally redundant?

seyxDancer, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 06:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Does it have anything to do with this: www.locustmusic.com/christophertree.htm ?

Daniel DiMAGGIO (Daniel DiMAGGIO), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 06:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Timothy Renner has been preparing an official CD reissue of 'The Christ Tree' to be released on his Dark Holler label. it's an album very near and dear to him, and his presentation of it will certainly be definitive. hang tight.

echoinggrove (echoinggrove), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 07:06 (twenty-two years ago)

no relation between The Christ Tree and Christopher Tree, btw.

echoinggrove (echoinggrove), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 07:07 (twenty-two years ago)

thanks, echoinggrove. not really a surprise at all i guess, considering he is the guy in stone breath right? any idea on a release date? i e-mailed the woman in the above quoted material and she didn't have one, but that was a few months ago.

todd burns (toddburns), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 09:00 (twenty-two years ago)

i think tim's been working on the release for a while (it's going to be under the name "the trees community" IIRC) and he's really into doing it up deluxe. so it might be a while. i'll ask.

el sabor de gene (yournullfame), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 15:02 (twenty-two years ago)

six months pass...
this album is incredible. im totally blown away by it. i think i want to join a cult. i want to hear more stuff like this!

*@*.* (gareth), Friday, 12 November 2004 20:57 (twenty-one years ago)

what else is like this?

the cd doesnt appear to be out yet, still?

this is so great

*@*.* (gareth), Thursday, 25 November 2004 14:29 (twenty-one years ago)

if you mean the box, no it's not. i'll ask tim again and see what's up.

el sabor de gene (yournullfame), Thursday, 25 November 2004 14:33 (twenty-one years ago)

why is the modern music that is like this, not like this?

*@*.* (gareth), Friday, 26 November 2004 03:39 (twenty-one years ago)

info about the reissue...

> 4CDs many, many, many unreleased songs:
>
> CD1: The Christ Tree - from master tapes... plus a fantastic live
> concert featuring about 1/2 of The Christ Tree in its unedited form
>
> CD2: Portrait - extremely rare cassette release which was released in a
> tiny edition and at the wrong speed - ours will have the corrected
> speed. + live/rehearsal extras

> CD3: live

> CD4: live
>
> + detailed booklet, photos of the Trees Community from the 70s,
> artwork, and etc.
>
> early 2005.

el sabor de gene (yournullfame), Saturday, 27 November 2004 10:24 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...
this could be out soon!

charltonlido (gareth), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 23:32 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...
still no sign!

charltonlido (gareth), Thursday, 27 January 2005 16:49 (twenty-one years ago)

new tapes were found. things are afoot. patience.

el sabor de gene (yournullfame), Friday, 28 January 2005 00:44 (twenty-one years ago)

eleven months pass...
when is this damn thing coming out

moses, Wednesday, 18 January 2006 11:33 (twenty years ago)

seven months pass...
quoth tim:

We know you're all awaiting the 4CD version of "The Christ Tree" from The Trees Community - and you've been very patient. Sometime SOON we'll be emailing with a special advance purchase price - prices on this set are going to vary vastly from one reseller to the next - but this advance price should be one of the lowest you will find on the set. The project is at the manufacturer, by the way, there are just some issues with the special box to hold the CDs that need to be worked out and then it will be manufactured. It's the most expensive undertaking we've ever done - so these advance sales will really help. As soon as the mfg tells us it is in production, you'll get that email. Besides getting a good price, ordering the set from us ensures you will be one of the first to hear it.

GOD PUNCH TO HAWKWIND (yournullfame), Thursday, 24 August 2006 23:27 (nineteen years ago)

four months pass...
HEY YOU GUYS! IT'S OUT! IT'S CHEAP!

GOD PUNCH TO HAWKWIND (yournullfame), Saturday, 6 January 2007 08:52 (nineteen years ago)

somedarkholler.com and shit.

GOD PUNCH TO HAWKWIND (yournullfame), Saturday, 6 January 2007 15:15 (nineteen years ago)

Just got it, thanks for the link. I think my mom would really dig this record.

sleeve version 2.0 (sleeve testing), Saturday, 6 January 2007 18:28 (nineteen years ago)

Your mom's pretty cool, huh?

Andi Headphones (Andi Headphones), Saturday, 6 January 2007 21:00 (nineteen years ago)

Caleb got this, so I will burn it from him rather than buy CDs I will never listen to. Orig LPs to pls glut ebay now pls kthx.

be home by 11 (orion), Sunday, 7 January 2007 16:06 (nineteen years ago)

dude, i don't know that there are that many originals out there. plus most of the people that own them prob. aren't casual "GOT IT ON CD, FUCK VINYL" types.

GOD PUNCH TO HAWKWIND (yournullfame), Sunday, 7 January 2007 16:13 (nineteen years ago)

yeah that was kind of a joke :\ i know the originals are out of my price range anyway. but, my friend did get it over the holidays so i'm about 80% less likely to go to kim's and buy it now.

be home by 11 (orion), Monday, 8 January 2007 05:59 (nineteen years ago)

I ordered this last night.

The other Trees thread: "The Christ Tree" A day in Hell?

Raw Patrick (Raw Patrick), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 13:04 (nineteen years ago)

seven months pass...

this album is incredible. im totally blown away by it. i think i want to join a cult. i want to hear more stuff like this!

-- *@*.* (gareth), Friday, 12 November 2004 20:57 (2 years ago) Link

artdamages, Saturday, 11 August 2007 00:23 (eighteen years ago)

yes

Filey Camp, Saturday, 11 August 2007 02:05 (eighteen years ago)

yeah, it's good. still haven't bought my mom a copy, though. I need to get on that.

sleeve, Saturday, 11 August 2007 02:25 (eighteen years ago)

i think i want to join a cult

email me.

Richard Wood Johnson, Saturday, 11 August 2007 02:26 (eighteen years ago)

still jamming this. is it worth it to get the box?

artdamages, Sunday, 12 August 2007 18:03 (eighteen years ago)

yes, the extra stuff is good. plus it's cheap!

sleeve, Sunday, 12 August 2007 19:09 (eighteen years ago)

and out of print.

GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ, Monday, 13 August 2007 02:14 (eighteen years ago)

so if you see the box, buy it.

GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ, Monday, 13 August 2007 02:15 (eighteen years ago)

five years pass...

I was hoping there was a thread -- the backstory of the Trees Community

http://www.thetreescommunity.blogspot.com/

Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 22 January 2013 21:46 (thirteen years ago)

i sometimes wish i could live my life like this.

Poliopolice, Tuesday, 22 January 2013 22:34 (thirteen years ago)

i sometimes wish you would too.

Butt Trump tweet (Matt P), Tuesday, 22 January 2013 22:39 (thirteen years ago)

Jesus, he knows about the textures of mexico

"Turkey In The Straw" coming from someplace in the clouds (Sparkle Motion), Wednesday, 23 January 2013 05:11 (thirteen years ago)


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