I Dream of Eclectic Sheep

The second album of 2006. Ten songs by Nick Triani, Astrid Swan, Janne Lehtinen and Michael McDonald. Given away on treeball.com, with a cover and a disc label to print yourself. It still is. Download, print, fold.

Seven of the basic tracks came from the Pink Noise sessions of April 2005. Everything else recorded and mixed at home between April 2005 and June 2006. About 26 minutes. The last Treeball record.

Credits

1. Denial of the Fittest. Music & lyrics: Nick Triani. Triani: vocals, BVs, acoustic & electric guitars. Michael: drums, bass, lap steel. Benita: voice.
2. Favourite Enemy. Music: Janne Lehtinen. Lyrics: Triani/Lehtinen. Triani: vocals, BVs, guitar. Lehtinen: drums, guitars. Michael: electric guitars, acoustic 12-string. Aleksi: bass.
3. Could You Love Me Now? Music & lyrics: Nick Triani. All instruments and voices: Triani.
4. The Ghost Will Come. Music & lyrics: Astrid Swan. Astrid: vocals, BVs, accordion. Triani: vocals, BVs, acoustic, nylon-string acoustic and electric guitars, shaker. Michael: drums. Lehtinen: bass.
5. Chess. Music: Nick Triani. Lyrics: Triani/Swan. Triani: vocals, acoustic & electric guitars. Astrid: vocals, synths, strings. Michael: drums, bass, lap steel.
6. Soul to Heaven. Music & lyrics: Michael McDonald. Triani: vocals, BVs, electric & acoustic guitars. Michael: drums, bass, guitar.
7. Sweet Murder (Song for Doug Yule). Music & lyrics: Nick Triani. All instruments and voices: Triani.
8. Ambulance. Music: Triani. Lyrics: Triani/Swan. Triani: vocals, BVs, acoustic & electric guitars, solo. Astrid: vocals, BVs. Lehtinen: drums, guitar. Michael: bass, guitar.
9. Grace Falls. Music: Triani. Lyrics: Triani/Swan. Triani: vocals, BVs, electric & acoustic guitars, harmonica, piano. Astrid: vocals, BVs. Lehtinen: bass. Michael: drums.
10. What a Wise Guy. Music & lyrics: Astrid Swan. Astrid: vocals, piano. Triani: vocals, nylon-string acoustic.

Recorded, produced and mixed by Nick Triani. Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9: basic tracks at Pink Noise, April 2005. Mastered by Janne Lehtinen. Cover design: Nick Triani, Astrid Swan, Janne Lehtinen. Photographs: Astrid Swan, Jenni Vepsä, Sanna Mattila, Janne Lehtinen.

Reviews

The album is available on the band’s website as a free download. Which is a little ironic, as ‘I Dream of Eclectic Sheep’ could be Treeball’s best album.

Jean Ramsay, Rumba, 2006, ★★★★

In the time it would take to watch a typical sitcom, you get something that may not change your life, but just might leave a smile on your face.

Evan Sawdey, PopMatters, 2 April 2007, 7/10

I Dream of Eclectic Sheep shows how many talented songwriters there are in the band. My favourite songs of the album are all from different songwriters. Nick Triani (Denial Of The Fittest), Janne Lehtinen (Favourite Enemy), Astrid Swan (The Ghost Will Come) and Michael McDonald (Soul To Heaven) can all write wonderful pop songs and this is another strong Treeball album.

Onechord.net, 2006

Sure, the band could have released I Dream of Eclectic Sheep and made some sort of profit, but they seem to value quality reception and support from fans instead of financial benefaction.

Obscuresound.com, 2006

I Dream of Eclectic Sheep is beautiful, catchy… an incredible gem of a record.

Veritas Lux Mea, November 2006

Beautiful and diverse feel-good pop.

Ilkka Valpasvuo, Desibeli.net, 30 November 2006