Biography
The experimental art rock studio collective known as the Book of Knots formed during spring 2003, centered on Matthias Bossi, Joel Hamilton, and Tony Maimone, who jointly operate Studio G recording studio. Brooklyn served as the group's base, where the participants already possessed extensive credits from prior work with Skeleton Key, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Shiner, Battle of Mice, Sparklehorse, Elvis Costello, Unsane, Pere Ubu, Frank Black, They Might Be Giants, and additional acts. Only after Austin's Arclight Records contacted the musicians and proposed issuing their material did they commit to developing the Book of Knots beyond its original casual scope. Recording commenced on the first album, yet midway through the process violinist/vocalist Carla Kihlstedt of Tin Hat Trio, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, and 2 Foot Yard entered the project, completing the core quartet. The ensemble then mapped out a trilogy of conceptual albums: the initial release would honor decaying coastal communities, the follow-up would salute the American rust belt, and the final entry would explore aeronautical themes. Their seafaring self-titled debut therefore surfaced in 2004. The band moved to Anti- in November 2006 and issued the Americana-tinged sophomore album Traineater the next April, featuring appearances by Tom Waits, Mike Watt, Jon Langford, and David Thomas. The 2011 release Garden of Fainting Stars, framed as a requiem for the space age, finished the "By Sea, by Land, by Air" series.
Albums
