Mike Watt (Minutemen, fIREHOSE, The Stooges) Right away after receiving Václav Havelka's album A Snake Crawling Up A Broken Ladder, I started playing tracks from it on The Watt from Pedro Show and continue to do so. I remember it had been quite a while since I’d heard a solo album from him, and I also learned that he had faced a serious medical challenge in his life. Hearing him here, along with some of his friends, I can feel healing in the music and a sense of hope that I find deeply inspiring for all of us - a really good thing. Thank you so much, Václav!
John Grant I’ve just been listening again to Snakes Crawling up a Broken Ladder by Vaclav Havelka. We met the first time I played in Prague which I was very excited about. He walked by me backstage in the venue where we played and smiled at me like we had always been friends and he hadn’t seen me for a long time and missed me. And from then on we WERE friends. I didn’t know he could sing or had a band but I found out soon thereafter. The band is called Please The Trees. Vaclav has a rich, smooth voice that feels like it has always been your friend. But you haven’t heard it for a long time and you missed it. He also has great taste to go along with it. He carefully constructs fragile but at the same time powerful soundscapes in which to clothe that distinct yet familiar voice. I hear a lot of singers in him: Scott Walker, Brendon Perry, Tim Hardin, Lee Hazelwood but he sounds like himself, an individual. Do yourself a favor.
James Toth (Wooden Wand, DUNZA) Vaclav wrote to me out of the blue and very graciously asked me to contribute to his record. Something about his email told me to pay attention; I just instinctively and instantly had a good feeling about him. (I think Vaclav probably has this effect on most people!). I’m glad I trusted my instincts, because the music he sent me was exquisite: warm, deep, and beautiful. I’m grateful to him for inviting me to take some small part in this record. It’s a stunner!
Thor Harris (Thor & Friends, Water Damage, ex Swans, Shearwater) I can’t think of anyone who gets more out of music or puts more into music. Vaclav lives and breathes music. Václav is my brother and a friend for life. I immediately liked him, and he was always so encouraging. I don’t remember when we started sending tracks back and forth for A Snake Crawling Up a Broken Ladder, but I love that way of collaborating – it’s a way to keep in touch with a friend far away. I love his voice and his passion for music and people. Václav is a hub for a huge international network of friends.
Ben Chasny (Six Organs of Admittance, Rangda, Comets on Fire) My friend James Toth introduced me to Vaclav and his music and I immediately felt a kinship (and not just because of my 1/4 Czech heart, but because of his ideas and sounds). When Vaclav asked if I’d like to join in his newest project I was very pleased to be asked, knowing that he had taken such care and love into putting all the pieces together for it. Very happy to be a part of his musical world.
David Grubbs (Gastr del Sol, The Red Krayola, Bastro, Squirrel Bait, Codeine atc.) This deserves a good home for its release. I hadn't realized that your episode with the recovery from the broken back was that recent. I think that the fact of using the original vocal recordings from your recovery is a strong, wise choice -- it gives the record a quality of urgency, the sense that you will accomplish this music at any cost. I also appreciate the fact that as a listener I can understand every word of the lyrics from the first listen, even as the arrangements are rich and thoughtful. I welcome the album's directness and its sense of a mission.
Tim Kerr (The Big Boys, Poison 13, Bad Mutha Goose, Lord High Fixers, and The Monkeywrench) The new record from Václav Havelka , A Snake Crawling Up A Broken Ladder, is a nice atmospheric landscape of music with lyrics. The record sounds great! It made me remember my old Jimmie Spheeris records . It's really cool. A good listen for sure.
Tony Crow (Silver Jews, Lambchop) Vaclav, you’ve done it again! Finally had the chance to listen through uninterrupted and was amazed at how you tie this all together. Very meditative and soulful. Your worldwide inclusive approach proves we all have this common ground. The words have a deep communal interest. Clearly that is to keep our world alive so we can all have a place to go. Thanks for your continued boundless energy. I’m honored to be a part of your loving community. I think you know there was an immediate connection that rarely happens when we met in 2017 at a Silver Jews show. You’ve created an excellent record here.
Marisa Anderson In these times, it’s so important to reach out beyond national and regional boundaries, and to identify collaborators from across oceans and time zones. Václav reached out, and in the spirit of solidarity this felt like an important project to be part of.
Rebecca Vera (Slim Cessna's Auto Club, Munly and the Lupercalians, The Denver Broncos) Creating music with someone can be humbling as much as it is intimate. I rarely play music with anyone outside of my small group of friends. That however is not how one grows. Vaclav was nurturing and patient and gave fundamental feedback throughout our creative process. Now hearing the completed album in its entirety I'm in awe of the consistent resonants and weight all of the musicians contributed. The intertwining tones and grains are of Vaclav and he is the anchor. I'm truly so impressed and flattered to have been selected to contribute.
Munly Jay Munly (Slim Cessna's Auto Club, Munly and the Lupercalians, The Denver Broncos) When I met Vaclav's family I always thought that he had good taste. Then he asked me to participate on this album. I then questioned his taste. Then I listened to the album. Somehow he managed to not let me ruin such a beautiful thing. And it is beautiful. I am flattered and proud to be a part of it.