Copal's new release "Into the Shadow Garden," (11.04.10), is a rich sonic tapestry of cultural influences and textural palettes, including Eastern European, Middle Eastern, and Nordic melodic inspirations fused with indie rock and ethereal moods. Where the dreams and memories of an old world elegance meet the rakish flair of a ruffled modernity, join Copal in a forgotten land of the imagination... Hannah Thiem, violinist, vocalist, composer and producer of "Into the Shadow Garden" says, "This project is deeply personal—a merging of experiences, musical influences, and the internal landscape of my thoughts and dreams." The album is intended to be a journey, from dusk to dawn, through the shadow garden and out the other side into the bright light of morning. It's also intended to inspire visions and movement. "Into the Shadow Garden" is an amalgam of the musical influences and cultures inspired by Hannah's travels and living abroad in Europe and North Africa. The talented collaborators featured on the album come from a variety of backgrounds and influences, which helped to shape and form the music: Isabel Castellvi (cello), Robin Ryczek (cello), Chris Brown (bass, keys, sound design), Karl Grohmann (drums), and Engin Gunaydin (darbuka, frame drum, riq). "Into The Shadow Garden is music to recreate your world by...made today, but enlightened by a deep sensitivity to the ancient past..." -Scott Shuster, World Dance New York "Call it genre splicing, call it a steam punk amalgam of a contemporary vibed take on Oregon's debut, this world wide world beat set just concerns itself with turning out compelling sounds above all else. With so many sounds and vibes thrown into the mixmaster, all to good effect, this is belly dance music for a Turkish strip club on Mars, and yet, it's not for weirdos. Everybody on board here knows their stuff and the chops keep it all on an even keel. Just what you are looking for when you need a sonic travelogue to uncharted places." (Midwest Records) "Much of what’s marketed as “world music” is thin stuff with roots barely an inch deep and often in poor soil. Copal is among the exceptions. On their debut album, the New York group is at once deeply grounded yet universal, electronic and organic, hypnotic and gently ecstatic." (Express Milwaukee) "Hypnotic string band Copal’s brand-new second album Into the Shadow Garden is for dancing in the dark. Alternately lush and stark, vibrant and mysterious, bouncy and sultry, their violin-fueled grooves mix elements of Middle Eastern, Celtic, Nordic and Mediterranean styles...it's awfully easy to get lost in this." (Lucid Culture) "Into the Shadow Garden" will be released in November 2010. Catch Copal's NYC CD Release on Nov. 4 at Drom, LES, and their Boston CD Release on Nov. 7 at the Middle East Upstairs, Cambridge. For more info, visit http://copalmusic.com