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Over the course of some 16 years and 6 remarkable albums, The Ladybug Transistor have confirmed their standing as the preeminent exponents of lush, formalist pop music. With a superlative new record, Clutching Stems, at the ready, their pursuit of a singular musical vision remains as true as ever. Formed in the mid-90s around Brooklyn native Gary Olson's collaborations with friends, they released Marlborough Farms (1995), named for their now-renowned Flatbush headquarters, and Beverley Atonale (1997). From these somewhat ad hoc beginnings, The Ladybug Transistor soon developed into a full-fledged outfit, Olson's distinctive measured baritone augmented by the multi-instrumental talents of San Fadyl, Julia Rydholm, Sasha Bell, and siblings Jeff and Jennifer Baron. The group's growing confidence and ambition can be traced through their subsequent three albums: The Albemarle Sound (1999), which was hailed as "the last great pop album of the century"; Argyle Heir (2001); and The Ladybug Transistor (2003).
Their penchant for classic pop remained, but the band had gradually forsaken their baroque, even psychedelic origins for a more expansive, timeless sound. By this time, Jennifer Baron had left the band and Bell soon followed. For Can't Wait Another Day (2007), welcomed into the fold in their stead were Kyle Forester and Ben Crum. The result was a fuller sound and an occasionally darker edge to The Ladybug Transistor. Shortly after the completion of Can't Wait Another Day, however-before the album was released-the band was confronted with the tragic loss of longtime drummer San Fadyl, who died suddenly as the result of an asthma attack. For a time, the idea of continuing without their beloved friend seemed unthinkable.
Eventually, though, the band quietly gathered new recruits (Mark Dzula, Eric Farber, Michael O'Neill) and embarked on writing a new album with Fadyl's memory squarely in mind. The resulting effort is their forthcoming release Clutching Stems, a stunning collection of potent refrains and brought-to-one's-knees ballads. As ever, Olson is in fine form; here, his lyrics compel, detailing an overarching search to find one's voice in the face of moments that knock the wind and words right out of a person. These are stories of humbling heartbreak, profound longing, undoing distress, nagging regret, and coming-of-age awakenings-all set to invigorated pop arrangements featuring backing vocals by Frida Eklund.
Tracklist: "Clutching Stems", "Light on the Narrow Gauge", "Fallen and Falling", "Ignore the Bell", "Oh Cristina", "Caught Don't Walk", "Breaking Up on the Beat", "Into the Strait", "Hey Jack I'm on Fire" and "Life Less True ".".
Fortuna Pop! FPOP1257
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