THE EX & TOM CORA - AND THE WEATHERMEN SHRUG THEIR SHOULDERS THE EX & TOM CORA

1991's Scrabbling At The Lock became a turning point for The Ex in several ways. It was their first collaboration with New York-based improviser Tom Cora, who would play nearly 100 concerts with the band. It also expanded their range considerably and turned them into a force that steered their balance of invention and intensity to new heights. It was not only a creative benchmark, it also won them a new audience, as they became one of the first 'punk' bands to cross over into the world of improvised music, and a recurring guest at free music festivals all over Europe.

Follow-up album And The Weathermen Shrug Their Shoulders continued that winning streak with another stellar batch of songs that combine scorching energy, with limitless eclecticism and a confident, improvisatory glee. Artful punk, Oriental and European folk inspirations, inventive and passionate lyrics, and a knack for real time-creation seamlessly blend together in a cocktail that is highly combustible and occasionally ominous, but also consistently adventurous and strikingly infectious. By this point, The Ex had become one of the most consistently challenging and forward-thinking bands of their generation. And now And The Weathermen Shrug Their Shoulders is finally available again on vinyl!

THE EX: Terrie (guitar), G.W. Sok (vocals), Andy (guitar), Katrin (drums), Luc (bass), Tom Cora (cello)