About Falik

"Falik" is a showcase for Charlie Pecot's musical endeavors on the Irish bouzouki using Middle Eastern/Celtic modalities and rhythms and contemporary beats. Although most known for his "belly dance electronica" the Falik catalogue covers a vast array, from mellow/new age to hardcore goth, to rock, electronica, house, and a lot in between. He actually prefers the label "non-genre" as he doesn't restrict himself when it comes to making music, which is what Falik is all about. It's like he said to himself "If I could only use the colors red and blue and the white of the canvas what kinds of pictures could I paint?"

After decades of being a multi-instrumentalist Charlie started "Falik" when he purchased an Irish bouzouki in 2000, playing at Renaissance faires and in belly dance troupes. He immediately began writing and recording material which culminated in his first release, "Streaks and Strokes", in 2003, which consisted of 12 of his most favorite tracks. This CD was pivotol to Charlie's musical growth as it demonstrated to his fans that, yes, even though he was using an "ethnic" instrument he could in fact make it rock, and do so in a way that did not alient those used to a more "traditional" approach to ethnic instruments. His success in the belly dance community continues to grow largely based on those original recordings.

In 2005 Falik released two CDs, the first of which was "The Ballad of el Efe'", arguably his most diverse work. This CD has it all: rock, experimental, goth, new age, acoustic. There was something for every everyone's mood (swing).

Later that same year "Dreams from the Machine" was released. This brooding disk serves as a counterpoint to its bouncy predecessor. Many consider this CD to be "by far his most consistent and solid work.." and now consider Falik "a hidden talent in the world fusion electronica genre." Ok...

A year later saw the release of "Elvolution" which started out as a concept album. Four of the tunes - "The Will of Love", "New Falik City", "Seduction", and "And Finally" were originally part of a larger 5 song cycle. As the CD progressed, however, other songs were written that didn't fit into the master concept but were too good to not put on the record. So the orginal concept was abandoned so that a better CD could be produced. Ironically, the songs on 2006's "Elvolution" were written specifically for belly dancers - something new for an artist 4 CDs into an already established career as a belly dance music maker.

"Falik's Revenge" is a completely different story. I hope you bought a hat because you're going to need something to hold on to.

The concept goes something like this...

As an artist who has been making music for around three decades Charlie's "Falik" project has seen the most success. "Falik" began as the character Charlie created for himself while playing the bouzouki in Renaissance faires eight years previous. "Falik" the character turned into "Falik" the project, which was then absorbed by Charlie as a personna, much like the "Alice Cooper" character. Charlie, who has a pretty objective and logical personality thought it strange that he now has to refer to himself as "Falik" so that people will know who he is. But Charlie can also be extremely empathetic, as well. He postulated that if he is a person, then so must be "Falik", even though he didn't start out that way. He concluded that if he were in Falik's shoes - and he actually was - then he would be pretty upset with his host - Charlie - because he now is completely subservient to Charlie's wishes. And Falik definitely had different ideas about what he wanted to do on the next record.

Consequently, 2008's "Falik's Revenge" is just that - Falik's revenge on Charlie.

Falik wanted to sing. He wanted to rock. He wanted to do with the bouzouki all the things that Charlie as a respected "belly dance musician" might be afraid to do. Cover a song. Play slide bouzouki. Write a pop tune.

So here are, come full circle. Falik is now doing (again) exactly what he wanted to do - has wanted to do - all along. Back to his roots, before he even picked up the bouzouki. Playing what the hell he wants to play in only the way he can.

Falik (pronounced "fa - leek'") is an American world fusion electronica band formed in Yucaipa, California circa 2003 by Charlie Pecot. As its main producer, composer, and instrumentalist, Pecot is the only official member of Falik and is solely responsible for the musical direction of the band. Live perfomances are rare, but intense; Pecot prefers to perform as Falik alone backed up by banks of pre-recorded material.

The music of Falik encompasses a wide range of genres while retaining a characteristically unique sound. Blending samples of ethnic instruments and rhythms, urban, groove-oriented textures, and his own performances, the aural of Falik is a sound at once both exotic and familiar. The arrangements are typically subtle and well balanced, which serve well Pecot's provocative punctuations on the Irish bouzouki.

Audiences from such widely diverse disciplines as belly dance, sculpting, painting, music, teaching, and technology have warmly received Falik's efforts, due to a complex synthesis of Mediterranean and Middle East influences and contemporary beats. The appeal is further enhanced by the emergence of Pecot as arguably one of the country's leading Irish bouzouki players, using the instrument in ways not entirely embraced by the traditional community in which it was forged.

Other musical artists have picked up on Pecot's unique style of playing and have incorporated samples of his work into their own. The track most notably being "Cuckoo - Passive Aggressive Mix" by HisBoyElroy and Lisa DeBenedictis which was released on the Magnatune.com compilation "The Art of Persuasion". Tracks "All I Need is a Rhyme Zook" and "dysFunk" demonstrate Pecot's playing as hooks in a rap songs. A more comprehensive list of artists who have used Falik samples can be found on CCMixter.org.

As of April 2007 Falik's 2006 release "Elvolution" has held the 11th position on Magnatune.com's list of highest valued albums since its release.

Falik has also found its way onto podcasts of all sorts.

Bio

Not content with the shirt and tie world of the government contract software engineer, Charlie Pecot traded it all in for the life of rock and roll. After discovering the raw power of ethnic instruments and the world fusion scene he "wanted to transcend all that and make it rock." So, now no longer bound to the regulations and codices of the work-a-day world Charlie now punctuates his own musical treatise with melodic essays and articulated grooves.

This is the book on "Falik".

Charlie plays the following instruments on his CDs: Irish bouzouki, guitar (acoustic and electric), bass guitar, doumbec, and keyboards. He also produces a lot of his own samples.

Falik sends thanks to...
Elloree Guitars who makes beautiful custom instruments, including Charlie's bouzouki and 12 string electric guitar.