Papa Woody

Recording

The project began in 1993 during the Lullaby Land recording sessions, intended as Vahnke's personal tribute to cartoon and jazz music.

Music

Although sampling is still prevalent in the music, the album is notably more influenced by the big bands of the 1930s and 1940s than anything Vahnke released with Vampire Rodents. The work of Carl Stalling, a composer of cartoon scores, has been said to be a primary influence on Ether Bunny's sound. The project has also been compared to the work of Foetus and Jack Dangers, although overall coming across as a more "polite experience". Similar to the Vampire Rodent's discography, Ether Bunny's sound relies heavily on the use of the drum machine to produce dance rhythms, which Vahnke had hoped would help the music reach a younger audience. This decision has been criticized as sounding derivative and two dimensional as well as detracting from the overall song at times.

Release and reception

Daniel Vahnke has called Papa Woody his favorite released project, even preferring it over his work in Vampire Rodents. Ned Raggett of Allmusic gave it three out of five stars, claiming that "Ether Bunny is onto something throughout its hour-long course" Aiding & Abetting gave it a more positive review, saying that each song is "demanding to be heard again and again" and praising "the artful way Vahnke splices solos and even full compositions into the same song, creating whole new improvisations."

Track listing

All music composed by Daniel Vahnke, except "Wee" by Jared Louche and Dylan Thomas More.

Personnel

Adapted from the Papa Woody liner notes.