Album Title: End:User
Song Title: Formica
Official Website: http://www.vixtrola.com/
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/vixtrola
Biography:
[Taken from the website]
Addictive and uplifting pop vocal melodies punctuate electric guitars and an alt-rock edge that is refreshingly invasive in today's "safe" pop environment. Casual listeners who like to compare may find this raw combination reminiscent of Garbage and No Doubt, while music enthusiasts will appreciate the impeccable production. Each sound breathes and stands on its own.
Not surprisingly, the band itself embodies its own contradictions. The tale of vixtrola is a story of Miss Jamie Blake, and Mr. Paul Andrews, and the ocean. In fact, if this story had a third character, it would be the Atlantic.
Paul is an English musician, writer, producer, and licensed hypnotherapist. He met Jamie, an American singer/songwriter in Boston in 1998. They were each promoting separate records they had recorded for the A&M label. Later that year, after his group had split, he returned to England to pursue studies in hypnotherapy. It was at this time that the duo started swapping the musical ideas back and forth across the ocean, that would become the foundation of the end:user album.
Although the two share a musical passion and hardcore work ethic, their tastes and personalities could not be more different. Their differences translate directly into their music: He is the reticent Brit who likes everything from black metal and Arabian folk to trance and Frank Sinatra; she is the outgoing, energetic American raised on the sounds of early Van Halen, The Ramones, The Velvet Underground, and Fleetwood Mac.
Jamie was born in Chicago, and graduated from New York University. A self-taught musician, Jamie plays guitar on end:user's title track, and piano on a number of the songs as well. Her lyrics and melodies give this album its uplifting and emotionally complex vibe throughout. Jamie's lyrics reflect an eloquent strength and mature optimism.
Paul, in contrast, was an English punk-rocker who joined his first band as a drummer at the age of 13, and has been making music ever since. He moved to the south coast from the small town of Emsworth then went on to Brighton, finally settling in London where he developed a fixation on Bauhaus. A taste of success came a few years later when Paul formed the Stratacruisers. Influenced by the Cramps and the B-52's, the band did well in England and toured Japan in 1988. Tragically, the lead singer died and the Stratacruisers broke up. Paul switched to bass guitar, and dedicated himself to learning Cubase as well as other aspects of the production side of making music.
When he got out of his deal at A&M Paul felt he needed something to fall back on, hypnotherapy. While practicing in South London, he created music to use in his sessions. "Music for hypnotherapy is another passion; translating the fundamentals of trance induction into music."
But fate intervened, and vixtrola was born. Paul and Jamie began by setting up shop in a Malibu horse ranch overlooking the Pacific and finished their album at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. The album is a system of opposites, electronic beats punctuate dense, distorted guitars, that blare alongside Jamie's pretty yet powerful voice. It is this unlikely combination that makes end:user at once unique and familiar.
The impeccable production defines the work, a coup for a band who never before had the luxury of exploring the intricacies of programming. The band is equally proud of the album's consistency and diversity of influences. "We get inspired by everything we listen to, and mush our ideas into a three minute pop song. We've always been a fan of a big chorus, and a big hook. It's what makes you whistle when you walk down the street."
Vixtrola's first release was the song "Gunboat" in 2003, which played at the end of the horror film Darkness Falls. This is where they gained some recognition. There have been no authorized releases of Vixtrola since then. Geffen Records shelved their debut album User, which was produced by Ric Ocasek (formerly of The Cars) and Danny Lohner (formerly of Nine Inch Nails and A Perfect Circle).
However, the project has not died. The band has tried to unsuccessfully buy back the masters from the record company in order to distribute it themselves. In the past, they have also unsuccessfully tried to make CDs available through their website.
However as of January 2008 Vixtrola have now made their debut album End:User available for purchase [via download] through their MySpace page and are working on releasing new material this year as well as revamping their official website.
Disclaimer: I do not own the song/image included in this video. All the material shown here belongs to its respective owner/s and I, in no way, profit from this video.
Author: selketxiii
Keywords: vixtrola end:user jamie blake paul andrews formica
Added: April 10, 2008
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