Pale Young Gentlemen formed in a large unused bedroom in Madison, WI in August of 2004.  Brothers Michael & Matt Reisenauer and friend Brett Randall started out as a three-piece (piano, drums, guitar) but soon added Milwaukee-based musician Andrew Brawner (bass) and cellist Elizabeth Weamer.  This unlikely group made an unlikely brand of music and speedily gathered the attention of local show-goers from coffeehouses to capacity crowds of 400+ at larger venues.  The Onion was quick to take note: "Pale Young Gentlemen won over the audience with a combination of Ben Folds pop, Tom Waits oddity, and Eastern European influences."

Recorded in November of 2006 at Smart Studios, Pale Young Gentlemen's self-titled debut is a demonstration of musical imaginativeness.  The songs, carefully thought out by songwriter and pianist Michael Reisenauer, range from dark tales of pulsing theatricality ("Fraulein", "Clap Your Hands") to delicate and powerful narratives depicting a shared human condition ("Saturday Night", "Single Days"). As their music has evolved, so has the band's lineup.  Currently, the band consists of original members Brett Randall, Matt Reisenauer, and Michael Reisenauer, accompanied by Liz Weamer on cello, Gwen Miller on viola, Derek Powell on violin, and Beth Morgan on vocals and bells.  Drawing upon the folk-classical movements of Brahms, the evocative storytelling of Randy Newman, and the pop orchestration and sensibilities of Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney, Pale Young Gentlemen fashion a unique and compelling sound in the chilly atmosphere of Wisconsin's capitol.

In October 2008, Pale Young Gentlemen will release the follow-up to their critically acclaimed, self-titled debut. Musically and emotionally expansive, Black Forest (tra la la) is distinct from their previous release. Trading the bouncy piano and old dancehall beats for finger-plucked guitar and quivering strings, Pale Young Gentlemen craft a unique and uncompromising musical vision--a stirring sprawling 43 minutes.

Black Forest twists and flows and weaves like scenery on an uncertain path. The tracks tie together by shared musical and narrative threads, with each building upon the next for an astounding, cinematic effect. Black Forest is rich and diverse, ranging from the frantic guitar-and-drum-driven “Coal/Ivory”, to the languid lyrical meanderings of “Kettle Drum (I Left a Note)”. Touches of glockenspiel, flute, french horn, and harp vary and fortify PYG’s core of acoustic guitar, bass, drums, cello, viola, and violin.

As with their debut, Black Forest was recorded at Smart Studios in the band’s hometown of Madison, Wisconsin and produced by Beau Sorenson (Death Cab For Cutie, Sparklehorse). Recorded and mixed in less than two weeks, Black Forest is Pale Young Gentlemen’s first release with Madison-based label Science of Sound.

The album’s release in the beginning of October will coincide with the PYG's first national tour. They have had local and regional touring success, playing with such acclaimed acts as White Rabbits, Basia Bulat, Cloud Cult, Clientele, and Beach House.

Black Forest (tra la la) announces the maturation of a band. It is ambitious, but it is honest. Here, in these twelve songs, the unique vision of Pale Young Gentlemen finds a clarity not found among their contemporaries.