Biography

Introduction

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone is the musical solo-project of musician Owen Ashworth (born 1977) of Redwood City, California.

History

Ashworth started CFTPA after he dropped out of film school in 1997. He has toured with other similarly acclaimed indie artists like The Donkeys, The Papercuts, Cass McCombs, Kill Me Tomorrow, P:ano, The Dead Science, David Bazan, The Rapture, and Xiu Xiu.

The musical style is characterized by the use of electronically produced beats, cheap keyboards, and slow, frank lyrics. On Etiquette, Ashworth widened his musical horizon and added more analog instruments and an overall more organic sound.

His brother is Gordon Ashworth, who makes experimental harsh noise as Oscillating Innards and ambient works as Concern.

Discography

Albums

Answering Machine Music CD, CD/LP (Cassingle USA, 1999) (reissue: Tomlab, 2001)
Pocket Symphonies for Lonesome Subway Cars - CD/LP (Tomlab, 2001)
Twinkle Echo - CD/LP (Tomlab, 2003)
Etiquette - CD/LP (Tomlab, 2006)
Vs. Children - CD/LP (Tomlab, 2009)

Compilations

The First Two Albums by Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - CD (Tomlab, 2005)
Town Topic EP - CD EP (Tomlab, 2008)
Advance Base Battery Life - CD/LP (Tomlab, 2009)

EPs, Splits, and Singles

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - 7" single (Train Bridge Recordings, 1998)
Alphabet Series G - 7" single (Tomlab, 2005)
Fox Pause / Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - 7" split (Stationary (Heart) Recordings), 2005)
Young Shields - 7" single & CD EP (Tomlab, 2005)
Bobby Malone Moves Home - 7" single & CD EP (Tomlab, 2006)
Graceland - 7" single (Rococo, 2006)
Foot Foot / Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - 7" split (Oedipus Records, 2007)
The Donkeys / Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - 7" split (Antenna Farm, 2007)
New Year's Kiss '08 - free download (cftpa.org, 2007)
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone & Concern - one-sided square 8 & 3/8" single (People in a Position to Know Recordings, Inc., 2008)
A David Horvitz Picture Disc with Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - 7" picture disc (Aagoo Records, 2008)
Town Topic EP - 7" EP (OIB Records, 2008)
STSNC Instrumentals - 7" EP (People in a Position to Know Recordings, Inc., 2008)

Compilation Appearances

Music for Baby! - CD (Amorfon Records, 2004)
Bro Zone - CD (States Rights Records, 2005)
Scumrock Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - CD (New York City Records, 2005)
Sneakmove Minicomp - 7" (Sneakmove, 2005)
David Shrigley's Worried Noodles - double CD (Tomlab, 2007)
Peace on Earth: A Charity Holiday Album - digital download (curated by hardtofindafriend.com, 2007)
A Soundtrack for a Polaroid of Two Trees in Indiana - CD included with Xiu Xiu: the Polaroid Project: the Book (Mark Batty Publisher, 2007)

Daytrotter Sessions

Taking Full Advantage of His Constitutional Right to Pursue Unhappiness (or Happiness) (Daytrotter, 2006)
Ghost Towns Can Be People Too (Daytrotter, 2007)
We Will Happily Watch, We Will Always Happily Watch (Daytrotter, 2008)