Michael Brook, composer-producer-innovator, readies third solo release

Features Contributions From Paul Buchanan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Lisa Germano…

LOS ANGELES, CA. – Musicians' musician and sound innovator Michael Brook has put the finishing touches to his highly anticipated third solo disc RockPaperScissors due out July 18 on bigHelium/Canadian Rational. Recorded in Los Angeles, England, Scotland and Bulgaria, the disc features contributions from renowned artists Richard Evans (Peter Gabriel), Paul Buchanan (Blue Nile), Claude Chalhoub, Ben Christophers and Lisa Germano, as well as an exquisite posthumous collaboration with the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

With several arrangements for full orchestra, and the celebrated Bulgarian Women's Cosmic Voices choir, the album is the culmination of three years' work -- which Brook has described as “excavating your muse!” The sound is unique: beautifully arranged, atmospheric and ambient elements create the space for his self-described “deconstructed rock” to flourish.

Collaboration has been at the heart of Brook's career, working with a diversity of international artists such as Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Youssou N'Dour, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Bryan Ferry, and The Pogues, to scratch the surface. He invented the infinite guitar , as played by U2's Edge. He has also contributed scores or individual pieces to movies such as “Heat,” “Albino Alligator,” and “Affliction”.

With his latest collection of songs, Brook worked with co-producer Richard Evans and an eclectic cast of talent. Lisa Germano's personal lyrics and haunting vocal set the tone for “Want,” while singer/songwriter Shira Myrow's lyrical contribution to the infectious title track was interpreted by beloved Blue Nile vocalist Paul Buchanan.

Widely known to music connoisseurs, Brook feels that RockPaperScissors is for him, relatively mainstream: “It is accessible music, more accessible than what I've done in the past.” He adds, ”the record is a kind of travelogue… so I hope people find it evocative and that it takes them somewhere intriguing.”

Brook debuted in 1985 with the critically acclaimed Hybrid on EG Records. His 1992 follow-up Cobalt Blue was released on 4AD along with the 1993 recording Live at the Aquarium . Recent projects include production for Jorane (Six Degrees), the music for the much lauded ”Ashes and Snow” exhibition, currently in L.A., and the score for Paramount Classics' upcoming global warming documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.”

A U.S. tour is planned in support of RockPaperScissors . Details to follow.

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