This was a project I embarked upon several months ago, the idea was to sift thru a decade's worth of material shared with me by my closest friend, Shawn Terry, and compile that into a retrospective to share with him on his birthday. Hours of audio, and nearly an hour of video material were digitized, cleaned-up and the only thing I had left to do was create some packaging to accompany the collection. Unfortunately, as that process began, events unfolded that suggested, to complete the project would be unheeded at this time. So, a generic cover was made and I decided to put this out in the world because it does present a musician and artist of such great talent and diversity, that it's almost criminal to lock it away. I hope this finds a good, music-loving home among people who love to share.
Enclosed on the disc are various bands that San Antonio-based, Shawn Terry has been involved with prior to and during our friendship. First is Berlin Black. Very little material exists from this deathrock ensemble, but it's clear that they had rehearsed and begun to perfect their influences. The time between Berlin Black and the next project I was exposed to, Veronica's Veil is a grey area for me - but in that time span it's evident that Shawn had explored a lot of new material. VV touches upon elements of The Cure, Pixies, some deathrock, and some fringes of metal. Though the band was on the cusp of expanding their reach, only one track emerged officially before the band became defunct. Please note, that if you scour the web looking for more material from Veronica's Veil, you are likely only to find a band of the same name that emerged a few years after, and musically they are on a much less impressive plane of existence. In the years following, Shawn performed and recorded with Hammered (featuring Suzy Bravo), and The Mechanical Walking Robot Boy. Each new partnership garnered different interests throughout the music scene, but it was the work of Guilty Strangers that spread across the U.S. and Europe that ushered the praise of music lovers and critics alike. The band were stalwarts of the San Antonio scene and opened for national acts including Christian Death and Peter Murphy. Shawn's creativity and talents weren't only bound within Guilty Strangers, collaborative efforts with Madame B and a stunning demo session featuring Heidi Buchhorn on vocals resulted in some of the most stunning and strongest material to date; it also further illustrated the diverse musical background from which Shawn's mind operates. Rounding out the collection are the solo efforts that Shawn dubbed, Green Building, an ambient, guitar-driven recording, and Dusklands - an effort that channels Shawn's inner Sisters Of Mercy and Mission.
You are unlikely to find a more eclectic mix than is what's presented on this disc, though I do hope you find something you enjoy; something you wish to share; and possible something you will want to seek out more of.
