Vrassa District Records to re-Release "Reimagining Stepanov"
The 553 Year old Album is considered to be a "masterpiece" by generationsVrassa City, Duchy of Vrassa
April 7, 5462Jennifer Stepanov, one of Kalistan's greatest, at her home in 4901The legendary alt-folk artist
Jennifer Stepanov, who took home the victory at the 4905's FOMAT XV held in Vascania, is being reintroduced to Kalistani music lovers with a special re-issue of "Reimagining Stepanov", a tribute album of her music done by her contemporaries following her untimely death in 4907. The record, produced by Alt-Folk legend and mentor Joanie Yeardley, is a fitting tribute to a master craftsperson in Stepanov, and is an excellent time capsule for the culture of that time. While Kalistan's music industry is still considered the premier music industry in Terra, it has never surpassed the volume, nor the diversity in styles prevalent in the Republic of Kalistan in the late 4800s and very early 4900s. VDR therefore felt that the time was right for the re-issue. "We wanted to make this music available once more to audiences in Kalistan," said VDR spokesperson Annie McGough. "Jennifer Stepanov was one of the shining stars in the Kalistani Musical Galaxy and her legacy deserves to be remembered and celebrated."
The re-release honors the 553rd anniversary of the initial release of the classic album, which is considered by many to be the height of Kalistani cultural influence in Terra. The creatively explosive era featured the rise of several genres of music which still can be heard across Kalistan these days including Ska Punk from Dana, Grit and Alt Folk in Vrassa and KME in Sulari. Within a span of 16 years, Kalistani singers and bands won 3 FOMATs, starting with KME artist La Sol at FOMAT X in 4888, and including Dana ska artists Red Tone Ten Years Later at FOMAT XIII and Stepanov in 4904. Kalistan would not win another FOMAT until FOMAT XXIII in 5399.
Stepanov herself didn't handle her new and sudden fame well: Within three years following her FOMAT win in Vascania, she was dead of an overdose of alcohol and barbiturates. For all of Stepanov's notoriety, she never herself recorded a single full length LP, though she did release a number of singles. Her reluctance to record her music was increasingly frustrating to her label, VDR, who signed her and then fought with her over her reputation of being unreliable in the studio. But Stepanov has, for half a millennium, been considered one of Kalistan's greatest songwriters, having penned more than thirteen hundred songs in a dozen genres, many of which are considered masterpieces and exemplars of the genre. 16 of those songs were recorded by close friends and fans of Stepanov in 4909 and released as "Reimagining Stepanov," with the proceeds of the album going to recoup costs of production and then the album being made free to all.
The album features tracks from such early 50th century musicians as Red Tone, whose lead singer Monica Pella, herself a FOMAT winner, was a very close friend to Stepanov, as well as fellow Alt-Folk luminaries Joanie Yeardley, Jorgenson, and country musician Tom Duckat. It also features some of the earliest examples of proto noise Alternative in the songs provided by Alt rockers Salgo, Danica Dystemper and Severe Biter. A Psychobilly tune is provided by Lion Pack, who took Stepanov's place as host of the FOMAT XIV in Kalistan, KME is represented by Gaduri band Hola Unicorn!, Hard Rock is represented by The Jinglies from Sulari, and Alternative is present in abundance with songs by Davis Dulces, Hutori rockers Clash, Sunshine Alternative musicians 10 Foot Front, and The Murjras. Dub even makes an appearance on "Killer Meteor" by the Vrassa Dub All Stars. And Stepanov appeared on the record postumously, with the posthumously released single "Bombshell." All songs were composed by Stepanov, but the artists themselves were allowed to arrange them how they liked, to highlight Stepanov's versatility in song writing.
The reissued album features both the original single disc LP with all 16 original songs remastered, as well as a second disc containing 8 singles that Stepanov released individually on VDR, many of which were very popular in Kalistan at the time, and 4 additional tracks that VDR did not release but, but which Stepanov released independently and circulated on bootleg and dubbed tapes (nearly all of which has been since lost in the general public). The 2 disc double play LP will be available at record stores free of charge, with VDR paying all costs. "Stepanov was opposed to selling her art," said McGough. "To dust it off, remaster it, and sell it now that she is a ghost would be some of the worst violence that could be done to her memory. So we made the decision to put it out again for free, exactly as she would have wanted if she were alive today."
Original Front Album Cover is retained for 5462 reissueReimagining Stepanov, the 5462 Re-Issue from VDR can be streamed in full hereTrack List for 5462 Re-release:
Disc OneSide A1.
Jennifer Stepanov- "Bombshell"2.
Davis Dulces- "You Don't Know"3.
Clash- "The Hammer"4.
Joanie Yeardly and the Kaliburg Philharmonic Orchestra- "The Sacred Chord"5.
Lion Pack- "Creature of the Night"6.
Severe Biter- "So Much to Say"7.
Red Tone- "Let You Go"8.
Vrassa Dub All Stars, with Angela Burnette, Ras Diamond and Vernie Dellarosa- "Killer Meteor"Side B1.
Hola Unicorn!- "La Ingrávida"2.
10 Foot Front- "I Know"3.
Jorgenson- "No Love's For Sure"4.
The Jinglies- "Winter in High Bong"5.
Danica Dystemper- "Simplicity"6.
Salgo- "25"7.
Tom Duckat- "My Sweetest Friend"8.
The Murjras- "Help Me Get Down"Disc TwoSide C"How Can I?" (VDR, 4903)
"Don't Leave Me" (VDR, 4903)
"Song for the Radio" (VDR, 4903)
"Faith" (VDR, 4903)
"Statue on a Mountaintop"" (VDR, 4904)
"If I kiss you..." (VDR, 4905)
Side D"My Sweetest Downfall' (VDR, 4905)
"Watching Each Other" (VDR, 4906)
"God Can be Funny" (Independent Recording, 4906)
"Todo La Armada" (Independent Recording 4907)
"What a Strange Strange World We live in" (Independent Recording, 4907)
"Chips and Rocc Cola" (Independent Recording, 4907)
Original Story Published in Kalistani Rawk Monthly, Jan 8, 4909