(Alternative Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Folk-Rock, Important Records) [WEB] Citay - Citay - 2006, FLAC (tracks), lossless

Citay is a new project from ex-Piano Magic man Ezra Feinberg and Tim Green from Drag City’s The F**king Champs. Don’t think that’s going to give you a handle on what Citay sound like though, oh no – they are not ready to be pinned down easily. Feinberg has been quoted as saying that when he started the album he had Led Zeppelin firmly in mind, and you can hear that loud and clear, and to be perfectly honest, I was thinking of mentioning the ‘Zep before I’d even read what Mr. Feinberg had to say! I can also hear traces of Bill Nelson (Bebop Deluxe era) and even a smattering of Yes. The prog and classic rock leanings here are no bad thing, in fact it makes listening to this record a damn sight more interesting than most recent copyist records – Citay have gone for the least obvious source for their inspiration and their commitment and heart shines through magnificently. As cheesy as this should be, ‘Citay’ is really difficult not to fall in love with and it is a real triumph for the band. One thing should be noted though, floral shirts, long hair and red shades are not optional here, they are a crucial part of the listening process. Go find yourself! - Boomkat
Led Zeppelin’s “Battle of Evermore”; Black Sabbath’s “Planet Caravan”; Heart’s “Soul of the Sea”; Uriah Heep’s “The Wizard.” You get it: the quieter acoustic songs by bands that were generally loud and rocking. Take those as your jumping off point, and you’re on your way to the Citay. Mandolins, acoustic guitars, flutes, keyboards, minimal percussion, and treated vocals, with some soaring (but not too loud) electric guitars for melodies and harmonies, make up the sound of this new band, and they do their influences proud. While the music is pretty much uniformly beautiful, it is my no means wimpy — anyone who thought Jimmy Page was a wimp because he could play acoustic was an idiot. The keyboards all sound vintage, to keep the sound timeless. The electric guitar leads (often harmonized by a second guitar) remind me of Brian May’s sweet tone. Vocals only appear on a few tracks, and they are very nicely done, whether given warbly effects or providing walls of harmony. Citay is a labor of love of Ezra Feinberg, whose indie credentials include 4AD band Piano Magic, who teamed up with Tim Soate and Tim Green of indie-prog heavyweights The Fucking Champs. It’ll be interesting to see if the fickle college radio crowd picks up on this. I would recommend the prog crowd to give it a chance: its lush melodies and intricate arrangements put it squarely on the path to symphonic rock. - expose.org

Strings Arranged By – Tim Green
Flute – Lorraine Rath
Guitar, Bass, Organ, Synthesizer, Percussion, Vibraphone, Vocals – Ezra Feinberg
Piano, Organ, Vibraphone, Vocals, Electric Guitar – Tim Green
Vocals, 12-String Guitar – Tim Soete