After releasing 2007's Hello, Avalanche, an engaging album that netted praise from Rolling Stone, The Village Voice, Wired, Pitchfork, Stereogum and a zillion blogs, The Octopus Project settled into a relentless touring schedule that took the band to nine countries and a handful of major music festivals. As the band members added thousands of miles to their odometer, long drives soundtracked by minimal classic composers Terry Riley and Steve Reich led to thoughts about how to expand the scope of their own endeavors. Already known for concise blasts of experimental pop and energetic stage shows, The Octopus Project wanted to create a deeper sound, a more enveloping experience.
As an early experiment, the band scored original music to a series of short, psychedelic films from the previous century and performed the sold-out set in a favorite Austin arthouse theater. The overwhelmingly successful shows prompted invitations for repeat performances and talk of taking the production on the road. But the band was still in search of something bigger. They wanted to completely surround the audience with sound and vision – total immersion.
In late 2009, the band took some time off from touring to start writing new material and tinkering with electronics, and Hexadecagon began to take shape. The band members quickly realized that in order to achieve their creative vision, they would need more than the standard two-channel stereo audio and a single projection, but the equipment didn't exist, so they built it. Using custom electronics (The Bend Matrix) and pushing existing software (Ableton Live, VDMX, OSCulator) to its limits, the band spent the next three months writing songs specifically for an eight-channel surround sound system. Eight speakers would be arranged in a circle around the audience, with the audience surrounding the band at the center. Overhead, the music would be accompanied by eight synchronized video projections designed by Austin digital artist Wiley Wiggins.
The Octopus Project finally performed Hexadecagon twice to over-capacity crowds during SXSW 2010. The reception was emphatically positive. Paste Magazine said of the show, “if there’s a such thing as a happiness seizure, be prepared to have one,” while The Austin American Statesman described the event as, “the trippiest, most elaborate thing the Octopus Project have ever done, and that's a very tall order.” USA Today ranked the performance one of its top five shows of SXSW.
Buzzing from the performance, the band dove head-first into putting the songs to tape. After two months of recording in their home studio, the band members took everything up to Dallas to finish up and mix down with John Congleton (St. Vincent, Explosions In the Sky, Clinic, The Walkmen), who then blew up the sound environment the band had created into a high-definition, ultra-widescreen sonic universe. The music is written to work in layers - originally for an audio canvas of eight-channels, but here re-arranged and re-orchestrated to create an engrossing experience for anyone with a pair of speakers (or headphones, ideally).
Hexadecagon, more than any previous release by The Octopus Project, feels like a true album in the classic sense. It's not so much eight distinct songs as one epic suite with mood swings. Peek-A-Boo Records is thrilled to release Hexadecagon on CD, 2xLP and digital formats on October 26, 2010.
The Octopus Project website
TARFUCKER (STRFKR) founded in 2006 in Portland, Oregon, United States. Made up of multi-instrumentalists Joshua Hodges (vocals, keyboards, guitar, drums), Ryan Biornstad (guitar, keyboard, vocals, turntables) Shawn Glassford (bass, keyboards, drums) Keil Corcoran (drums, keyboards, vocals).
Starting as a solo project for Joshua Hodges, Starfucker quickly became a three piece with the addition of former Sexton Blake bandmate Ryan Biornstad, and new friend Shawn Glassford.
As a three piece, the band released their self titled debut album on Badman Recording Co. on September 23rd. of 2008. followed by their first tour of the United States in fall of 2008. Including performances at CMJ and MFNW.
In January of 2009, the band brought aboard Keil Corcoran, and shortly after released Jupiter on May 5th of 2009, which they consider to be an EP, or the dancing little sister to the debut.
As a four piece they did extensive touring of the United States throughout all of 2009.
Including performances at SXSW, Capital Hill Block Party, and Monolith.
In late 2009 the band suffered a brief identity crisis and released “Medicine” as a 7” single in UK/Europe under the name Pyramiddd. Which included a short tour of UK/Europe, in November of 2009.
Coming back to their senses in 2010, by keeping the name STARFUCKER and also embracing STRFKR as a family friendly option. The band road tested new material with a tour of the West Coast Spring 2010. And in August of 2010 announced signing to Polyvinyl Record Co. And released the “Julius” 7” single in September of 2010.
Which will be followed by a full US tour in Fall 2010. Starting September 23rd.
New Full Length expected out on Polyvinyl early 2011.
Starfucker on Facebook
an astounding entertainment experience... Spectralux was formed by Henry Watts, Jimmy Martin, Nate Fackler and Peter Roets in Atlanta, 1998. Influenced by David Bowie, Pixies and Wire, the band took the stage with a handful of songs and homemade props from malfunctioning television sets (ABOUT 40) to dismembered mannequins performing up the East Coast with such acts as Melt Bananna from Japan, Jucifer from Athens and His Name Is Alive (see TOP ALBUM COVERS OF ALL TIME-Rolling Stone). The band recorded three independent releases and underwent a series of line-up changes including the addition of guitarist Jeff Cobb in 2002. Their 3rd studio album was recorded in East Atlanta. The sound of Spectralux was further expanded in the summer of 2005 with the addition of keyboardist Jonathan Whiteside. With 808 and 909 as a drummer and the help of Mike London, the band completed its 4th studio album in November 2005 under the direction of producer/engineer Kris Sampson at the now defunct NICKEL N' DIME STUDIOS (TLC, TRAIN, The B52's). The self-titled album took a fresh, stylish approach to modern music with atmospheres and futuristic imagery that are uniquely Spectralux. 2006 brought the release of the album and the addition of veteran drummer Patrick Boggs. Soon thereafter, Stickfigure Distribution announced it would distribute spectralux. In 2007, the band began recording their 5th studio album under the direction of Engineer Joel Mullis of Fatback Sound Studio.The album should be ready for release by the fall of 2010 and will include a previously recorded and unreleased demo (Engineered by Bruce Butkovich) of "Deer of the Underground" and a version of "Majik Beach Motel" initially recorded by Bruce Butkovich. The album will be released sometime in 2010- which is here now and the band has once again reformed with original drummer Jimmy Martin, Adam Wildstein on bass guitar and a plethora of synthesizers and drum machines. The sound is taking us in new and interesting directions.
Spectralux on Facebook
$10 in adv, 18+
Doors @ 9 pm
Advance tickets available @ Ticket Alternative, Criminal Records,
Decatur CD, Fantasyland Records and the following CD Warehouse locations: Buford, Duluth, Kennesaw, Lawrenceville and Roswell.
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