Space Team Electra

The United Kingdom and Indie Rock

admin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Though often overshadowed these days by the nation’s experimental electronic acts, the United Kingdom has numerous artists creating interesting, challenging independent rock. These are just a few examples of recent albums by British indie artists that are being praised by critics both in the UK and the US.

Theatrical rock group Wild Things retreated to a secluded studio in Northern Wales to record their third album, “Smother,” which perfects their signature blend of theatricality and sensuality.

One of the most anticipated new British indie rock albums of the year is “Go Tell Fire On The Mountain,” from mysterious Manchester group Wu Lyf.Is this new to you? Catch up here The band’s songs, including single “We Bros,” combine anthem-like, soaring melodies with abrasive sonic textures, and their reluctance to engage in interviews and photo shoots has only augmented their strange allure.

PJ Harvey has released some of the most acclaimed independent rock albums of the last two decades, and her latest, “Let England Shake,” is one of the more bracing and immediate records that she’s put out in years. It’s loosely a concept album about her native country’s history in World War I, and at turns functions as both an ode to, and an indictment of, her homeland.

African Music Invades Indie Rock Sound

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Anyone who has avidly listened to Indie rock will tell you that they have noticed more and more of a presence with African Music. Vampire Weekend, to Amadou & Mariam, to BLK JKS; the invasion of African Music into the Indie Rock scene is not only promised, but predicted by the NY Times. Sub Pop, the same record label to put out the hit “Nirvana”, has one of it’s best releases recently in the hit “I Speak Fula” by Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba. Thrill Jockey is following suit with the release last week of Sidi Toure and friends “Sahel Folk”.The full explanation can be found at http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebthebestofafricanmusic/12/prweb4916184.htm

We are experiencing a joy in music as more than 50 countries come together and we are treated to everything from flute and singing in African language, to unamplified guitars, to a rock sound blended to give the listener thoughts of King Crimson.

The African groups that are making their invasion hale from countries like South Africa, Sierra Leone, Kenya, and Rwanda. The mass majority, though, are coming from Mali. The country has a reputation as a “musical powerhouse” even though their population is one-tenth that of Nigeria.

Be on the look out, an invasion is on it’s way; and a welcomed one at that.

Alternative Rock and Indie Rock Music

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

From the underground to the mainstream, alternative and indie rock music first became popular in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, with dozens of sub-genres, these styles of music continue to make-up the bulk of modern rock music. From electronic to punk revival, indie rock bands are always finding new, innovative ways to express their sound.

Indie rock, which includes emo, lo-fi and grunge music, started out as a way to describe bands that existed on the fringe. They were not mainstream, but they were playing in venues across the United States and United Kingdom and many groups were building followings. They were the alternative to styles such as heavy metal and pop, which dominated the commercial airwaves in the 1980s. The raw, more authentic sound was more appealing to many music fans, particularly the teenage and college aged crowd. The music industry didn’t hesitate for long on the new trend. By the 1990s alternative music was one of the most popular genres.

Today many indie rock bands are playing at the independent level, either without a label or for a small, independent record label. They are underground and free to play and say what they want, rather than being restricted by the expectations of a major label. This is the true spirit of alternative and indie music.

Other Bands You’ll Like…

admin — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The next time you get online to find out more about wireless internet for laptops, tune into Pandora and check out one of these other great bands that have the same sound as our favorite, Space Team Electra:
Maurice Avatar: Also from Colorado, Avatar plays mostly instrumental guitar and speedy jams. You’ll recognize his sound and if you listen closely you might even be able to tell how he says he was once influenced by Space Team.
The Shift: The Shift is Denver based and they specialize in Math Metal. They don’t do any vocals whatsoever but their sound is loud and heavy and if you like Space Team you’re going to find something to love about The Shift.
Yamn: Even their name is a play on words. Yamn defines their sound as punk electric pop jam and we think that’s pretty close. They’re all about the techno beats on a slower scale and they use a lot of the same instruments you’re used to from listening to Space Team.
Time to update your playlist!

The origins of dream pop

www.spaceteamelectra.com — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 19:37:15 +0000

The 1980s had their share of darkness, but there was light, too. The two styles intertwine in the genre of dream pop, which arose in the United Kingdom during this time. As the genre which Space Team Electra is most commonly included, dream pop holds an undeniable fascination for the group’s fans.Dream pop had its origins in other musical genres of the era, most notably post-punk and ethereal wave. Many early practitioners of the form made music that crossed all of these boundaries. The Cocteau Twins, who formed in 1979, are an archetypal band of the genre. Singer Elizabeth Fraser, in particular, was a notable influence. Her vocals were often undecipherable, and delivered in the soprano vocal range. Many listeners found that the emotion of the lyrics came directly through her voice, rather than through any understandable lines. Guitarist Robin Guthrie and bassist Will Heggie (later replaced by Simon Raymonde) provided a rhythmic and shimmering backdrop to Fraser’s vocals, punctuated by Guthrie’s fascination with guitar effects. 1983′s Head Over Heels and 1984′s Treasure best showcase the band’s style.Although the majority of early artists were British (The Chameleons, The Passions, Dif Juz, and A.R. Kane), the term was primarily used in the United States. Nevertheless, UK journalists Simon Reynolds and Chris Roberts are said to be the developers of the term, writing for the UK music magazine Melody Maker. Early listeners could detect other influences in these artists’ music in addition to contemporary bands: there were strains of The Velvet Underground and John Lennon as well, to name just a few.The United States did contribute a number of artists to the genre, including Alison’s Halo, For Against, Frownland, Love Spirals Downward, Low, Mazzy Star, and Velour 100. Some of these bands also practiced the off-shoot genre of shoegazea faster, more rocking variation of dream pop that still maintained its own mysterious allure. The term comes from the detached personalities of the musicians that made up the movementduring live performances, they often seemed hardly aware that they were up on stage and rarely even looked at the audience, instead looking out in the distance or down at their shoes.The long-lived group The Flaming Lips (formed in 1983) is another example of a variation of the dream pop aesthetic, capturing the genre’s ethereal properties while combining them with a warped sense of humor. The Lips are a common reference point for listeners trying to describe Space Team Electra’s sound, but if there’s anything music history has shown us, it’s that comparisons and labels can only take you so far. If you’re intrigued by what you’ve read above, check out Space Team Electra for yourself and experience a one-of-a-kind journey that only they can provide.

More Colorado Groups

www.spaceteamelectra.com — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 10:10:09 +0000

With the demise of Space Team, you’re no doubt looking for your next Colorado live music fix. Do yourself a favor and check out these musicians when they come by your town. While they can’t replicate the experience of STE, they do offer their own unique feel.Maurice Avatar (mauriceavatar.com): Avatar plays a complex blend of instrumental guitar-based rock, letting his grooves speak for themselves. Imagine a more worldly, less snarly version of some of Jack White’s stuff, or Santana if he had a thing for Middle-Eastern traditional music. Maurice Avatar’s Ten Thousand Kisses was released in 2010, so we imagine he’ll be back on the road soon.Yamn (yamnit.com): Yamn is a jam band for people who don’t like jam-bands. Their improvisation is structured with the humor of Frank Zappa or Leftover Salmon. The group calls their genre “progressive-electro-trance-fusion-grass-rock.” Check them out live, or sample their wares on their 2008 self-titled debut.The Shift (www.myspace.com/shiftorama): The Boulder-based group The Shift plays intellectual math-metal. No vocals, but this is some heavy music right here. Download their debut album Thunder Goggles for free at theshift.bandcamp.com (featuring some highly-inspired comic-book-style art), and look for them to be rocking a club near you soon.