Welcome to Mr C.J.'s Website

Mr C.J. is a project for recording lyrically driven original material.   The contemporary progressive urban folk rock music derives principally from thoughtfully esoteric lyrics served on a bed of 12-string rhythm guitar, bass and percussion, then garnished with harmonica, keyboards and 12-string electric guitar. The result is a combination of Nick Drake, John Cale, Billy Bragg, Nick Cave and early Genesis.

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Mr C.J.'s albums Erebus and And So Forth are available from chaosmusic.com which contains further information.

www.chaosmusic.com

Above - Mr C.J. in a formal pose. Left - the cover sleeve from Erebus.

Email Mr C.J. on

noahsaardvark@hotmail.com

In December 2000 Mr C.J. independently released his first professionally recorded album Erebus.  The 8 songs are described as a dark tale of exorcism in which the terrors of enlightenment are explored at a safe distance, and has a touch of the blues. "I got some good airplay and Adelaide/Melbourne press coverage with Erebus", Mr C.J. said.  A review is below.

In September 2001 Mr C.J. released And So Forth, with many of the 9 songs written in the Northern Territory.  "The songs are a good mixture of my recurring themes of melancholy and hope, incorporating some country and blues song-writing styles" Mr C.J. said. Danny Bryan, who has worked with John Swan and Spy vs Spy, not only recorded and produced the album but also played on many of the tracks.

Mr C.J.'s Biography Mr C.J. first appeared on the Australian music scene in the mid-1980's as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Adelaide cover band The Urge. He spent the period 1988-1992 working with the Kakadu-based behemoth Crocodile Tears, a band devoted to original material, during which time they supported touring acts such as Paul Kelly and The Reels.  They produced some 8-track recordings with limited distribution. Mr C.J. started recording songs in 1983 and produced several collections of four-track recorded songs for limited distribution on tape up until 1995. He produced his first CD Archaeology in 2000 which was a selection of material previously released on tape. Mr C.J. releaseed his first professionally recorded CD Erebus in December 2000. In September 2001 he released his second CD And So Forth. In 1998 Mr C.J. joined with Mr Potatohead to form Noah's Aaardvark who released their first CD Potatoes and Handkerchiefs in March 2000 and heir second CD The Clumsy Dirges of Risty Kremen and Enis Binhead in August 2000.  Both these CDs have been for promotion, but they plan to release an EP in 2002.

Erebus Review            Adelaide Advertiser 30/11/00 Cleanness of sound and obvious years of persistence weave a pervading thread of quality for Chris Uren, the artist who tested our pop perceptions with the oddball disc Noah's Aardvark.  But this is a new instalment from his prolific Mr C.J. (following on from Archaeology).  Uren plays most instruments and, with a rich, honest voice, his conviction is charged by an intriguing, often dramatic, vocal delivery.  Witness the expressive gusto of Who Are You.  Uren ducks and weaves through the shadows he casts from every oblique direction; variously sermon-like, then cathartic and ultimately lilting into moments of refrain and deep, ponderous philosophy.  This outpouring is not for the faint and fickle.  Uren is in for the long haul. Mike Gribble.

And So Forth is available from the following stockists: Adelaide - Big Star Records Brisbane - Skinny's Records Canberra - Impact Records Darwin - Redbak Records Melbourne - Gaslight Music Perth - 78 Records Sydney - Red Eye Records (stockists in the USA and UK soon)

And So Forth was "feature album of the week" for 10-14 September 2001 on Darwin radio station 8TOP FM.