Epitonic Newsletter: Vol. 4, No. 34 'Yesterday's Sounds of Tomorrow, Today'
10/11/02
STREAM THIS PAGE
The first sentence of this newsletter will be the only time we
mention the word "electroclash." That silly fad, now big enough
to receive notice in mainstream periodicals, is in fact only a
manifestation of a larger phenomenon that has taken the underground
music world by storm in recent years. Which is that rock and
electronic musicians alike, now in their late 20s and early 30s,
seem to have been afflicted by an irresistable temptation to
revisit the oddball sounds of their childhoods. Vocoders, processed
synthesizers, robot beeps, video game bleeps -- all the accoutrements
of sonic futurism circa 1982 have suddenly become du jour all over
again. For some, this has meant mindlessly rehashing A Flock of
Seagulls and Human League, but for others this trend has created
myriad opportunities for engaging musical innovation. From the
tongue-in-cheek bubblegum electro of Figurine to the robot disco
of the Ghostly comp "Disco Nouveau" (featuring Adult.) to the funky
new wave of Zero Zero to the charming electro vamping of Ladytron
to the computerized emotions of Gamers in Exile, the artists of the
early 21st century have found countless ways to use this brand of
retro futurism to create daring, fun, and often suprisingly
emotionally resonant work.
While this week's newsletter focuses more on the electronic side
of things, we should note that nostalgia for the early '80s is a
far broader sonic phenomonen that what we have represented here --
like you needed us to tell you that. But with post-punk, new
wave, and no wave influences abounding in the music of bands
like Interpol, The Faint, The Rapture, Radio 4, Erase Errata,
and Life Without Buildings, the early '80s are back in a big way.
And we can't say we're complaining. Though the zeitgeist sure is
a funny thing. Question is, will we in the year 2007 see an ironic
resurgence of hairspray and spandex, and a return to favor of the
pioneering sounds created by Def Leppard, Winger, Warrant, Firehouse,
Cinderella, and Slaughter? If so, Andrew W.K. would seem to have a
mighty head start on the game.
On a separate note, if you're in the New York area, be sure you don't
miss RESFEST, which runs from October 16-20 at the Tishman Auditorium
at the New School in Manhattan. To buy tickets, visit resfest.com.
More info on the festival below.
"Way Too Good"
by
Figurine
Channeling the sugar sweet melodies and
catchy songwriting of '80s New Wave icons
OMD, Pet Shop Boys, and Depeche Mode, the
L.A.-via-San Francisco-via-Northampton,
Massachusetts trio Figurine hook you into a
singalong with every electronic bleep, boing,
and blip.
"A Panel Of Experts"
by
Solvent
Toronto's Jason Amm produces an instantly addictive and achingly beautiful classic electro sound, appreciating New Wave while forging a refreshing new path.
"Nite Life"
by
Adult.
The enigmatic Detroit duo Adult. are boundary pushers of the highest order, orchestrating a spectacular collision between synth-based electro sounds and punk ethics, and doing so with compelling insouciance and swaggering panache.
"By The Time I Get To Venus"
by
Juan Maclean
John Maclean of Six Finger Satellite is now solo artist Juan Maclean. He's working with NYC producer duo The DFA to produce some great new stark yet danceable electro cuts.
"Rainbow City"
by
Denver McCarthy
New Zealander Denver McCarthy makes spine-tingling techno that harks back to the golden years of Detroit masters Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, and Derrick May. This is raw electro-inspired techno for both the dance floor and the headphones.
"Sleeping Cat"
by
Skanfrom
If you're craving some Kraftwerk-inspired electro-pop straight from the heart of the German underground, look no further than Skanfrom. After years of self-released and limited edition recordings, this talented musician is finally seeing his work exposed to the world at large.
"It's All So"
by
B. Fleischmann
You've had a long, hard, day at work. You sit
on your couch. You pet your
cat. You need soothing beats and mellow
electronic music. You need B. Fleischmann.
"True Zero"
by
Zero Zero
A weird hybrid kind of dance-rock that draws on the golden glory of AM radio, the geeky retro keyboard chic of Stereolab, and the spirit of punk. Featuring former members of the Jersey hardcore band Lifetime.
"Saturday Afternoon Plans"
by
I Am Robot And Proud
If you long for the computer game music of old and don't have the quarters or the attention span to make it through an entire game of pole position then I Am Robot And Proud is what you've been waiting for. This disc sounds as if all the techies who made music for the Colecovision back in the early '80s got together to make an album...
"I Am A Decent Man"
by
Gamers in Exile
Gamers in Exile are a mysterious Italian duo that surfaces every few months to release limited edition colored seven-inches full of computer voice, vocoder, and synthesized beats. Don't miss this rare chance to hear their twisted and lovely work.
"Seventeen"
by
Ladytron
Ladytron, the most appropriately named group in music, takes you on a backwards journey through synth-pop, New Wave, and glam with their ecstatic, often experimental robot music.
"Still Love in the Midwest"
by
Midwest Product
Ann Arbor's Midwest Product orchestrates a strange fusion of analog and digital with deeply rhythmic electro-acoustic compositions that stun with their languid beauty even as they unsettle with their unpredictable atmospherics.
"Collapse"
by
Codebase
From his Seattle studio, Tom Butcher (sometimes with collaborator Mike Perkowitz) makes spiky, ethereal techno and crisp Detroit electro for Orbitrecords, Seatech, and Swayzak's 240 Volts.
"Kasey Keller"
by
Barcelona
Smile as the sweet voices coo sweet nothings and sway your hips to the Casio's bounce. These featherweight Atari-pop songs from this merry band of New Wave nostalgists will tickle anyone who remembers the early '80s fondly.
"Madame Hollywood (Tiga's Mister Hollywood Version)"
by
Felix Da Housecat
This Chicago house music impresario has been around forever, though you may have encountered him under other names, e.g. Aphrohead, Sharkimax, Wonderboy, Elekrikboy, or TheeMaddkatt Courtship. Let the Housecat drop in for a little house call with his slinky and seductive style of glam-bam-thank ya ma'am Eurodisco.
