Friday, December 8th, 2000
764-HERO Lose Bassist, Side Project Due Soon
Don't confuse them with 976-EVIL
A recent post on the 764-HERO website revealed the recent departure of bass player James Bertrand, who also plays for the indie prog-rock supergroup Red Stars Theory; he left as of mid-November, citing the usual rock star "creative differences." Fortunately, within a matter of days, core members John Atkins (guitar, vocals) and Polly Johnson (drums) were able to find a suitable replacement, Robin Perringer, the additional touring guitarist for Modest Mouse. He's since taken over the slot. The new line-up will be playing a trio of shows in the Northwest this month, including a New Year's Eve gig at Sit & Spin in Seattle.
Meanwhile, Suicide Squeeze Records will be releasing Girls, the debut from John Atkins' side project, the Magic Magicians, which also features Joe Plummer of the Black Heart Procession. The album was recorded in various spots around Seattle, and is a supposed stylistic attempt to blatantly rip off such bands as Big Star, T.Rex, and the Beatles. Early reports indicate that the final sound may be slightly removed from those influences. Thank God. The world needs another Beatles-esque indie-pop band like we need a hole in the head, or a new Frank Sinatra. Hey, Cracker were great, weren't they?
Laika to Take Time-Out from Each Other
"If you two don't stop making that ethereal racket..."
Eclectic electric London band Laika are on a short hiatus from working together, according to the Too Pure website. They have, however, already begun writing for their next recorded entry into the public consciousness, due out in early 2002. The album is likely to be self-produced, as always, and recorded at Guy Fixen and Margaret Fiedler's London studio.
Even though we'd love to tell you that the infighting, backstabbing, and general dislike that engenders hiatuses in most bands is happening here, we have to admit that Laika is really taking a break so that Margaret can tour the globe with PJ Harvey. Look for her to contribute cello, guitar, and the odd sample to PJ's band.
Emperor Penguin Just Can't Stop Recording
It's like The Red Shoes, except no one's dancing
My Pal God's official site reports that the cartoonishly prolific duo Emperor Penguin are set to release yet another record on March 26th. This one's just a single, but after cranking out three full-length albums in eleven months, you'd think they'd be a little, well, tired or something. The single is titled, elegantly enough, "Damn," and also features one new b-side and a couple of live tracks. No word on whether or not the single precedes a new album, but don't be terribly surprised if it does.
Mel Stanke and DJ Minimart formed Emperor Penguin in 1998 and immediately latched on to a mixture of found sound, loops, beats and, good golly, real instruments, winding up with a clever, if somewhat goofy, wordless stew. At their current rate, they'll have released more albums than Pearl Jam by 2005, unless Stone Gossard has some other stash of 8,000 bootlegs we don't yet know about. Or if you're getting stoned on our stash. 'Cause then you won't live long enough to buy any Emperor Pinky records, man.
