(le) poisson rouge

A free/punk/funk/experimental/psychedelic/post electronica collective, Ceramic Dog features Marc Ribot (cubanos postizos, john zorn, tom waits, etc etc), plus two of the best young players on the new york/california underground improv/experimental rock scene, Shahzad Ismaily - bass/electronics (Will Oldham, Secret Chiefs 3, Jolie Holland, 2 Foot Yard) and Ches Smith - drums (Xiu Xiu, Good for Cows, Secret Chiefs 3)

"Marc Ribot's new power trio, filled out by the remarkable versatile rhythm team of bassist Shahzad Ismaily and drummer Ches Smith, is his rawest band in ages." (TimeOut NY)

Eszter Balint's two releases to date, Flicker and Mud, were praised by the likes of The New York Times, The New Yorker and Billboard Magazine. Eszter has appeared on recordings by Michael Gira's Angels Of Light, Marc Ribot's Los Cubanos Postizos, and John Lurie's The Legendary Marvin Pontiac's Greatest Hits, among others. Eszter grew up in New York City as part of the avant-garde theater group Squat Theater, and her past acting work includes starring and featured roles in several films, including the seminal indie hits Stranger Than Paradise and Trees Lounge.

About her album Mud, Jon Pareles writes: "Her songs are full of characters on the run. Miss Balint has her own film-noir sensibility as a songwriter. She puts arty twists into back-alley Americana... But the cleverness is not the point. She slips inside her characters to project their restlessness and longing."

Her new collection of songs will be forthcoming in 2009.