Editorial Reviews Art and music, never the twain shall meet. When in 1998 Matthew Dingee, Dan Searing and Kristaps Kreslins set out to form LU, it was as if they had instructions. Where art and music have always been immiscible, LU adhered to their own aesthetic map and in doing so blended a love of the avant-garde with commercial tendencies. LU songs are free of 'messages' and contain no lyrics, only sparse, clean arrangements that outline blurry, negative space. The effect is minimal and beautiful music. Binary drums, angular guitars, and Japanese noise. On/off. Kick/snare. Dan Searing's simple kit has been the basis of countless DC bands. As part of LU he has produced something very distinct, beats that seem visual. A kick beat that looks like a black square, a snare hit like a spark. Kristaps Kreslins has a knack for 70's TV, cop-drama basslines. Sonically muted and dry, his phrases rely more on brevity than indulging every urge. As part of Lorelei Matthew Dingee's guitar tones were, well, famous. In LU he creates a huge variety of voices--relying both on standard and prepared tunings. LU has made an aural cut-up of electronic music's past and future. LU are as likely to reference Steve Reich (on "Amateurs Talk Strategy") as they are early '80s New York label 99 Records (on "Cartoon Mouse Tail"). The group have found a niche between avant garde exploration and post-punk firepower. Still eschewing lyrics in favor of intricate guitar and keyboard melodies, "Share the load", their second full length release, transpires in movements. The first three tracks could each be singles in their own right. In fact, "A La Casa" was culled for Teenbeat Records' 2004 sampler. The next three tracks slow the tempo and darken the mood with dub influenced reverbs and negative space. Then it's a return to a bump and grind mix of metronomic rhythms and angular guitar suggesting a perforated future threatening to tear itself apart. On the whole, "Share the load" is more contemplative and exploratory than LU's debut. It is road trip music for the rail commuter; liberation doled out one station stop at a time; furniture music taken outside of the! house.
Share the load, Music, LU
About the Artist
LU features former members of Washington DC's Lorelei, Gloworm, the Saturday People, Whorl, and The Lilys. This, their debut, hits sonically between Neu! and New Order. LU is something new, almost like the musical manifestation of op-art. Or, like early Squarepusher working from a hi-fi, live-band context.
Album Description
In 1999 post-rock outfit Lorelei split, spinning off into two forward thinking projects. Bass player Stephen Gardner formed Chessie, hailed by the editors of the Washington Post and the New York Times as one of the best new artists of 2001. Guitarist Matthew Dingee assembled LU, releasing a self-titled CD on Trevor HollAnd's pulCec label (a subsidiary of Darla) the same year, which was also met with enthusiasm. Both men continue to race for the prize, expanding on the work they started in Lorelei, with Chessie recording for Plug Research and LU for Dingee's Textilesounds imprint. The two groups share a use of traditional rock instrumentation blended with a palette of sampled or synthesized drums and an array of keyboards to produce electronic compositions that combine the tonality and textures of modern dance music with the warm comfort of independent pop music.
Average customer rating: 
|
Share the load
Manufacturer: textilesounds ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Alternative Rock
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
General
| Dance & DJ
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
ASIN: B00022W3X8 Release Date: 2004-04-19 |
Tracks:
Album Description
In 1999 post-rock outfit Lorelei split, spinning off into two forward thinking projects. Bass player Stephen Gardner formed Chessie, hailed by the editors of the Washington Post and the New York Times as one of the best new artists of 2001. Guitarist Matthew Dingee assembled LU, releasing a self-titled CD on Trevor HollAnd's pulCec label (a subsidiary of Darla) the same year, which was also met with enthusiasm. Both men continue to race for the prize, expanding on the work they started in Lorelei, with Chessie recording for Plug Research and LU for Dingee's Textilesounds imprint. The two groups share a use of traditional rock instrumentation blended with a palette of sampled or synthesized drums and an array of keyboards to produce electronic compositions that combine the tonality and textures of modern dance music with the warm comfort of independent pop music.LU are as likely to reference Steve Reich (on "Amateurs Talk Strategy") as they are early '80s New York label 99 Records (on "Cartoon Mouse Tail"). The group have found a niche between avant garde exploration and post-punk firepower. Still eschewing lyrics in favor of intricate guitar and keyboard melodies, "Share the load", their second full length release, transpires in movements. The first three tracks could each be singles in their own right. In fact, "A La Casa" was culled for Teenbeat Records' 2004 sampler. The next three tracks slow the tempo and darken the mood with dub influenced reverbs and negative space. Then it's a return to a bump and grind mix of metronomic rhythms and angular guitar suggesting a perforated future threatening to tear itself apart. On the whole, "Share the load" is more contemplative and exploratory than LU's debut. It is road trip music for the rail commuter; liberation doled out one station stop at a time; furniture music taken outside of the! house.
Music:
Music
Whitney Houston: The Greatest Hits [Import]
Very Best of Asleep at the Wheel