The Tain (EP) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Tain |
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| EP by
The Decemberists
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| Released | March 4, 2004 | |||
| Recorded | Hall of Justice, Seattle, Washington, August 2003 |
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| Genre | Progressive rock, indie rock, folk rock, baroque pop | |||
| Length | 18:35 | |||
| Label | Kill Rock Stars | |||
| Producer | The Decemberists, Christopher Walla |
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| The Decemberists EP chronology | ||||
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The Tain is an EP (which means "Extended Play") by the American band The Decemberists. It was first released in 2004. An EP is like a mini-album, usually shorter than a full album but longer than a single song. This EP is special because it has just one long song, divided into five parts, that lasts over 18 minutes!
The name of the EP, The Tain, comes from a very old and famous Irish story called Táin Bó Cúailnge. This ancient tale is often simply called The Táin.
About The Tain EP
The Tain EP was recorded in August 2003. The band, The Decemberists, worked on it for four days. They got help from Chris Walla, who is a member of another band called Death Cab for Cutie. They recorded the music in Chris Walla's studio, which is located in Seattle, Washington.
The Story Behind the Music
The EP's single long track is inspired by the ancient Irish epic Táin Bó Cúailnge. This story is one of the most important tales from early Irish literature. It tells about a great cattle raid and the heroic deeds of warriors. The Decemberists used this old legend as a creative spark for their music.
How The Tain Was Made
The recording process for The Tain was quite fast, taking only four days. This quick recording time helped the band capture a raw and energetic sound. Working with Chris Walla as a producer also helped shape the unique sound of the EP. Producers help bands make their music sound its best.
The Album Art and Video
The cover art for The Tain was designed by an artist named Carson Ellis. She is from Portland, Oregon, and is also the wife of Colin Meloy, who is the lead singer of The Decemberists. Carson Ellis has created the artwork for all of the band's albums, giving them a special look.
A music video was also made for the track. It was created by Andy Smetanka. This video tells the traditional Táin story using silhouettes. Silhouettes are dark shapes seen against a lighter background. The video looks a bit like a silent movie because it uses minimal captions (short text explanations) and the action in the video happens independently of the music. The entire video was made using a technique called stop-motion animation with crepe paper silhouettes. You can find this unique music video on The Decemberists: A Practical Handbook DVD and on the band's YouTube page.
