We've launched an exciting new project of our own! Introducing the Kickstarter app for iPhone!

Funded! This project successfully raised its funding goal on December 6.

Expect delays / make lemonade.

Update #20 - For backers only · Apr 4, 2013 · 6 comments

For backers only. If you're a backer of this project, please log in to read this post.

Mutterings, musings, rustlings, wigglings, cacklings, happenings, chugging...ings!

Update #19 - For backers only · Feb 19, 2013 · 8 comments

For backers only. If you're a backer of this project, please log in to read this post.

The Parlour Trick Presents a "Shuttered House" Salon. To be held in Oakland, CA on February 7th, 7pm.

Update #18 - For backers only · Jan 29, 2013 · 2 comments

For backers only. If you're a backer of this project, please log in to read this post.

ATTN, LOS ANGELES. Century Guild Presents: The Great Theremin/Wax Cylinder Experiment of 2013. For SCIENCE! (Featuring YRS TRULY.)

Update #17 - For backers only · Jan 15, 2013 · comment

For backers only. If you're a backer of this project, please log in to read this post.

ATTN, BAY AREA! THE PARLOUR TRICK, LIVE, TONIGHT, (12/19/12), WITH JILL TRACY, DNA LOUNGE.

Update #16 · Dec 19, 2012 · 1 comment

Hiyeeee. Guess who's back in the guest room in the creaky, spooky ol' House that Built The Parlour Trick? And guess who just had a marathon rehearsal with duo partner Dan Cantrell? And guess who's gonna play a show with Dan tonight (Wed, the 19th)? And guess who's deliriously tired and happy and squeeful about all of these things?

YES! THE PARLOUR TRICK! LIVE! TONIGHT! (12/19/12!) DNA LOUNGE!

Dan Cantrell and I will be taking to the stage with a whole bunch of weird and archaic instruments to play a set of our haunted chamber music directly following Jill Tracy at the release party for Jill's own ravishing new Christmas album, Silver Smoke, Star of Night. I will also be sitting in on violin and theremin on a couple of Jill's beautiful tunes. Also playing: Face the Giant. AND! Cherished Parlour Trick art-conspirators Audrey Penven and Trista Musco will both be showing some gorgeous photos and paintings. (Including Trista's portrait of The Parlour Trick! Which is still for sale. Inquire at the show.)

All pertinent info is listed on the flyer below and at this link.* We will be documenting everything with photos and digital recordings... and hopefully video, if we can get out shit together. None of our merch is ready, yet, so we won't have anything to offer for sale but our strange and wistful songs... and also high-pitched squealing noises. Plenty of 'em.

Bay area folk, don't despair if you can't be there tonight; there will be another Parlour Trick performance at some point in early 2013, TBA. I'll be telling you more about that in another update soon.

Also! Two more backer updates:

1) A couple of people have asked about the "Half Sick of Shadows" music video starring Rachel Brice. It's nnnnot quite finished yet. As soon as it is, I'll be sending you more info.

2) If anyone is still having trouble downloading the full album from File Factory, just shoot me a message letting me know. I will get back to you with a Bandcamp download code as soon as I get a minute. (Which might take a day or two, but I promise I'll try to be quick about it! And my apologies again for the download issues. Still pathetically jet-lagged, still figuring out how to integrate spreadsheets.)

Eeeeee. So excited to see some of you tomorrow. Backers, please be sure to come and find me and say hello! I would love to thank you in person, if somewhat briefly, and while in a frazzled, cackling state. (True fact: I am almost always in a frazzled, cackling state. You have been warned.)

Ghostfully! Gratefully! Mer!

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  • Pledge $1 or more

    23 backers

    THE APPARITION: Backer only updates, inclusion on our Parlour Trick website's "thank you" page, and our gratitude. Every wee bit helps!

    Estimated delivery: Jan 2013
  • Pledge $5 or more

    23 backers

    THE SHADOW DANCER: A high-res download of the Parlour Trick's music video "Half Sick of Shadows" featuring world-renowned dancer Rachel Brice. Backer only updates and inclusion on our website's "thank you" page.

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $15 or more

    188 backers

    THE RESTLESS SPIRIT: High res download of the full Parlour Trick album "A Blessed Unrest" and the "Half Sick of Shadows" music video featuring Rachel Brice, backer only updates, and inclusion on our website's "thank you" page

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $20 or more

    78 backers

    THE DEAD LETTERS: A whimsically packaged postcard set featuring five original Parlour Trick designs. Plus high res digital downloads of the full Parlour Trick album "A Blessed Unrest" and the "Half Sick of Shadows" music video, backer only updates, and inclusion on our website's "thank you" page.

    Estimated delivery: Jan 2013
    Add $5 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $25 or more

    196 backers

    THE RESTLESS PARCEL: The audio CD of "A Blessed Unrest" mailed to you with the five-postcard set, plus high res digital downloads of the full album and the "Half Sick of Shadows" music video featuring Rachel Brice. Backer only updates and online "thank you" web page inclusion.

    Estimated delivery: Jan 2013
    Add $5 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $35 or more

    10 backers All gone!

    THE WINDING SHEET: Sumptuously printed and sheathed sheet music for the song "Half Sick of Shadows", an original composition by Dan Cantrell and arranged by The Parlour Trick, with design including cover art by indie comics legend, Ben Catmull. Autographed. Plus, high-res digital downloads of the Parlour Trick's album "A Blessed Unrest" and the music video "Half Sick of Shadows" featuring dancer Rachel Brice, and inclusion on our website's "thank you" page.

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2013
    Add $3 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $45 or more

    10 backers All gone!

    THE WINDING SHEET (WITH CD): Sumptuously printed and sheathed sheet music for the song "Half Sick of Shadows", an original composition by Dan Cantrell and arranged by The Parlour Trick, with design including cover art by indie comics legend, Ben Catmull. Autographed. Plus the audio CD of the Parlour Trick's album "A Blessed Unrest", digital download of the music video "Half Sick of Shadows" featuring dancer Rachel Brice, and inclusion on our website's "thank you" page.

    Estimated delivery: Apr 2013
    Add $10 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $45 or more

    18 backers

    THE LAUDANUM HOLE: A big, breathtaking 18"x26” poster designed for The Parlour Trick by PRIZME, featuring otherworldly photography by Ellen Rogers. Printed on 13pt recycled matte paper. Plus high res download of the full Parlour Trick album "A Blessed Unrest" and the "Half Sick of Shadows" music video featuring Rachel Brice, backer only updates, and inclusion on our website's "thank you" page.

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2013
    Add $5 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $50 or more

    29 backers

    THE LADY OF THE HOUSE OF LOVE (HEART): A mirror-backed, laser-cut cameo brooch pin designed by Lee Dotson and Nadya Lev. Features the distinctive profile of Parlour Trick thereminist/violinist/vocalist Meredith Yayanos. High res download of the full Parlour Trick album "A Blessed Unrest" and the "Half Sick of Shadows" music video featuring Rachel Brice. Plus backer-only updates, our grateful acknowledgement in the CD and vinyl liner notes of "A Blessed Unrest", and inclusion on our online "thank you" webpage.

    Estimated delivery: Feb 2013
    Add $5 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $55 or more

    26 backers

    THE LADY OF THE HOUSE OF LOVE (THROAT): A laser-cut, mirror-backed cameo necklace designed by Lee Dotson and Nadya Lev, featuring the distinctive profile of Parlour Trick thereminist/violinist/vocalist Meredith Yayanos. High res download of the full Parlour Trick album "A Blessed Unrest" and the "Half Sick of Shadows" music video featuring Rachel Brice. Plus backer-only updates, our grateful acknowledgement in the CD and vinyl liner notes, and inclusion on our online "thank you" webpage.

    Estimated delivery: Feb 2013
    Add $5 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $60 or more

    22 backers

    THE WAX & WANE: Copy of "A Blessed Unrest" in blood red vinyl. Plus, high res digital downloads of the full album and the "Half Sick of Shadows" music video featuring Rachel Brice. Plus backer-only updates, our grateful acknowledgement in the CD and vinyl liner notes of "A Blessed Unrest", and a webpage "thank you".

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2013
    Add $8 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $65 or more

    5 backers Limited (5 of 10 left)

    THE TWO GHEDE: A pair of talismanic artisanal candy skulls wrought in dark chocolate and white chocolate, infused with homemade mugwort and organic rose tinctures, and lavishly packaged. Comes with the postcard set. Plus: high res digital downloads of "A Blessed Unrest" and "Half Sick of Shadows", our grateful acknowledgement in the CD and vinyl liner notes, and inclusion on our "thank you" webpage.

    Estimated delivery: Feb 2013
    Add $5 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $100 or more

    21 backers

    THE SPIRITUALIST: Ultra limited-edition, deluxe boxed vinyl of "A Blessed Unrest". Autographed. Comes with the Parlour Trick postcard set. Plus digital downloads of the album and the "Half Sick of Shadows" music video starring Rachel Brice, backer-only updates, grateful acknowledgment in the CD/vinyl liner notes, and online "thank you" web page inclusion.

    Estimated delivery: Apr 2013
    Add $10 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $140 or more

    3 backers Limited (7 of 10 left)

    THE EDISON (BATCH II): The first batch of this limited edition reward tier items nearly sold out within days, so we've scrambled to get our hands on some more ancient Edison canisters. Hooray. Second verse, same as the first: you get a century-old wax cylinder canister, repurposed to be packed full of Parlour Trick dainties and fancies, including a handwritten calligraphed message scroll, a one-of-a-kind Victorian key pendant assembled by Meredith Yayanos, a talismanic artisanal red chocolate/mugwort/rose ghede skull, a thumbdrive packed with tons of different tunes from Mer & Dan (including "A Blessed Unrest", of course!) as well as some gems from Mer's previous work as a session player with a multitude of incredible bands. Also, a Lady of the House of Love cameo brooch or necklace (please specify). Plus high res download of the "Half Sick of Shadows" music video featuring Rachel Brice, backer only updates, and inclusion on our website's "thank you" page.

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2013
    Add $15 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $140 or more

    10 backers All gone!

    THE EDISON: A century-old wax cylinder canister, repurposed to be packed full of Parlour Trick dainties and fancies, including a handwritten calligraphed message scroll, a one-of-a-kind Victorian key pendant assembled by Meredith Yayanos, a talismanic artisanal red chocolate/mugwort/rose ghede skull, a thumbdrive packed with tons of different tunes from both Dan Cantrell and Meredith Yayanos (including "A Blessed Unrest", of course!), and a Lady of the House of Love cameo brooch or necklace (please specify).

    Estimated delivery: Feb 2013
    Add $5 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $170 or more

    2 backers Limited (8 of 10 left)

    THE EDISON & THE WINDING SHEET: Combo tier! (Both the limited edition EDISON tier and the WINDING SHEET tier were so popular that we rustled up a bunch more antique canisters, and we're game for printing up a slightly larger run on the sheet music.) A century-old wax cylinder canister, repurposed to be packed full of Parlour Trick dainties and fancies, including a handwritten calligraphed message scroll, a one-of-a-kind Victorian key pendant assembled by Meredith Yayanos, a talismanic artisanal red chocolate/mugwort/rose ghede skull, a thumbdrive packed with tons of different tunes from both Mer and Dan (including "A Blessed Unrest", of course!), and a Lady of the House of Love cameo brooch or necklace (please specify). Sumptuously printed and sheathed sheet music for the song "Half Sick of Shadows", an original composition by Dan Cantrell and arranged by The Parlour Trick, with design including cover art by indie comics legend, Ben Catmull. Autographed. Plus digital downloads of The Parlour Trick's album "A Blessed Unrest" and the music video "Half Sick of Shadows" featuring dancer Rachel Brice, and inclusion on our website's "thank you" page.

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2013
    Add $15 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $175 or more

    1 backer Limited (9 of 10 left)

    THE PLANCHETTE: Limited edition laser-cut, hand-painted, wooden divining planchette, numbered and autographed. Plus, a thumbdrive packed with tons of original music by Mer & Dan, as well as some gems from Mer's extensive previous work as a session musician with a multitude of incredible bands. Additionally, THE PLANCHETTE tier comes with a postcard set and your choice of a LADY OF THE HOUSE OF LOVE cameo jewelry, *or* the WAX AND WANE vinyl. (Choose one.) High res download of the full Parlour Trick album "A Blessed Unrest" and the "Half Sick of Shadows" music video featuring Rachel Brice. Plus backer only updates, and inclusion on our website's "thank you" page.

    Estimated delivery: Apr 2013
    Add $15 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $270 or more

    3 backers Limited (5 of 8 left)

    THE SPIRIT TRUMPET: Limited edition, acid-etched, painstakingly hand-wrought brass trumpet by Jake Von Slatt of the Steampunk Workshop. Features several Parlour Trick-centric panels from Surrealist artist Max Ernst's famous collaged, public-domain graphic novel, "Une semaine de bonté". Comes with pledger's choice of LADY OF THE HOUSE OF LOVE cameo jewelry or blood-red WAX & WANE tier vinyl. Plus the postcard set, digital downloads of the album and the "Half Sick of Shadows" music video starring Rachel Brice, backer-only updates, grateful acknowledgment in the CD/vinyl liner notes, and online "thank you" web page inclusion.

    Estimated delivery: Jun 2013
    Add $40 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $300 or more

    1 backer Limited (9 of 10 left)

    THE MESMER: An ethereal, hour-long solo theremin performance by Meredith Yayanos, from her parlour to yours, anywhere in the world, via Skype. Followed by informal tea & chit chat, if you like! High res digital download of the full Parlour Trick album "A Blessed Unrest" and the "Half Sick of Shadows" music video featuring Rachel Brice. Plus backer-only updates, our grateful acknowledgement in the CD and vinyl liner notes of "A Blessed Unrest", and inclusion on our "thank you" webpage. (High speed broadband required. High-def computer speakers highly encouraged. Together, we will schedule the concert for some time between February and June of 2013.)

    Estimated delivery: Jun 2013
  • Pledge $325 or more

    0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)

    THE MOTHER OF LONDON: A stunning, multi-faceted, one-of-a-kind brown Mother of London "Three-Belt", custom made by world-acclaimed fashion designer Mildred Von expressly for this Kickstarter. Soft mixed kidskin with mixed metal fixtures and studs. 32"-40" adjustable. Unisex. Comes with high res digital downloads of the full Parlour Trick album "A Blessed Unrest" and the "Half Sick of Shadows" music video featuring Rachel Brice. Plus backer-only updates, our grateful acknowledgement in the CD and vinyl liner notes of "A Blessed Unrest", and inclusion on our "thank you" webpage.

    Estimated delivery: Jan 2013
    Add $15 to ship outside the US
  • Pledge $350 or more

    4 backers Limited (6 of 10 left)

    THE OUIJA: An limited edition, hand-painted, felt-backed, pressed wood laser-cut tabletop talking board and planchette which "divine" both words and music. (Designed by Ariana Osborne in cahoots with Meredith Yayanos.) Plus high res digital downloads of the full Parlour Trick album "A Blessed Unrest" and the "Half Sick of Shadows" music video featuring Rachel Brice. Plus backer-only updates, our grateful acknowledgement in the CD and vinyl liner notes of "A Blessed Unrest", and inclusion on our "thank you" webpage.

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2013
  • Pledge $500 or more

    0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)

    THE INCANTATION: An enchanting, one-of-a-kind portrait of Meredith Yayanos and Dan Cantrell of The Parlour Trick summoning the spirit world with song. Painted by San Francisco-based artist Trista Musco on a 12"x36", 1" thick wood panel. Plus high res digital download of the full Parlour Trick album "A Blessed Unrest" and the "Half Sick of Shadows" music video featuring Rachel Brice, backer-only updates, our grateful acknowledgement in the CD and vinyl liner notes of "A Blessed Unrest", and inclusion on our "thank you" webpage. (With apologies, this one-of-a-kind item can only ship within the continental US.)

    Estimated delivery: Feb 2013
    Ships within the US only
  • Pledge $2,000 or more

    0 backers Limited (10 of 10 left)

    THE BLESSED BUNDLE: Shipped to your doorstep, the deluxe boxed vinyl of "A Blessed Unrest", plus digital downloads. The limited edition talking board and planchette. The full set of five Parlour Trick postcards. The autographed "Half Sick of Shadows" sheet music. The talismanic artisanal chocolate ghede skulls. A century-old wax cylinder canister chock full o' handmade Parlour Trick merch items, including one-of-a-kind Victorian key pendant, a thumbdrive packed with tons of original music, and the Lady of the House of Love cameo or necklace (please specify). Plus links to high res downloads of the full album, the backer only updates, grateful acknowledgment in the CD/vinyl liner notes, and online "thank you" web page inclusion. (Mailed, insured, from New Zealand to just about anywhere in the world. All shipping costs factored in.)

    Estimated delivery: Apr 2013
  • Pledge $6,000 or more

    0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)

    THE TRUE BELIEVER: Every single reward item listed above. All of them. Plus, a large one-of-a-kind, angelically soft mohair shawl with 1250 crystal beads threaded into it, courtesy of master knitter Sandra Lee Yayanos. Created just for you, in your choice of Ectoplasm Green (a minty celery with emerald and clear glass beading), or Sepia Dream (a rusty beige cream with amber and clear glass beading). Mailed, insured, from New Zealand to just about anywhere in the world. All shipping costs factored in.

    Estimated delivery: Apr 2013