Producer Brian Deck's credits include releases by Loftus, Cash Money (Black Hearts & Broken Wills, There's a Star Above the Manger Tonight), Fondly, Orso, Kid Million (Heaven Smiles on Every Bastard), Chris Mills, Tortoise, the Sea and the Cake, and Shrimpboat. His reputation is built on his strong production sense and his drumming skills, which are used during some sessions at the appropriate times to bring out more of the act's flair. Deck was born in Chicago and attended the city's Northwestern University, graduating with a degree in percussion from the school's world music department in 1987. He decided to stay in Chicago, enraptured with the city's music scene and appreciating its lack of inflated pretense -- something he would find in other music business centers. Deck played in the band Red Red Meat (Bunny Gets Paid). He started producing bands for various independent labels, such as Scratchie, Sugar Free, Sub Pop, Mint Aundry, FlyBy, Honeymoon Records, and Hairy Parrot. Teaming with producer/engineer Brad Wood, Deck opened Idful Music in 1989. Wood produced the debut of Liz Phair. Afterwards, Deck opened his own studio, Clava, with John McEntire in fall 1998. Some of Brian Deck's work can be heard on Fondly (F is for Fondly), the Sublunars, Sweeder, Boom Hank (Ishly Ghost Fly Your E & Y), Chris Mills (Kiss It Goodbye), Every Night Fight for Your Life), Wheat (Medeiros), Shrimp Boat (Cavale, Duende), Rex (3,C,Star Power), Atombombpocketknife's self-titled CD, Cash Audio (Green Bullet), Lois (Snap Shot Radio), and Specula (Erupt). In 2000, Deck produced the major-label debut of Modest Mouse, The Moon and Antartica on Epic. ~ Ed Hogan