Thursday 25 March 2010



NEW MUSiC: The Robots

(photo: mysopace.com/thebandrobots)

It may sound clichéd, but when I think of East Coast music, Celtic fiddling and rootsy pop always comes to mind.  That’s silly, because bands like Sloan and Hey Rosetta! (along with Thrush Hermit and Eric’s Trip) have smashed that stereotype to bits ages ago, but I still cocked an eyebrow and gave a sideways glance at the press release for Prince Edward Island’s The Robots when I saw them compared to Radiohead, Deerhunter and Interpol.

There is truth in advertising here, folks.  The Robots make an unholy noise that blends a stark, minimalist aesthetic with soaring climaxes and layered sonic textures.  Peter  Rankin (guitar, vocals),  Keith Baglole (keyboards), Chris Doiron (bass)  and Phil MacIssac (drums) recorded Hey Buddy, Dummy with  Charles Austin (Superfriendz, Buck 65) at Echo Chamber in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  “I Didn’t Know What I Was Saying” is my first exposure to the band, so I don’t know if this is their first record or if there have been others, but I’m certainly eager to hear more (and can’t find any mention of previous LPs on their Myspace site or their CBC Radio 3 band page).  The track is a gritty, propulsive no-wave beast that effortlessly mixes elements of punk, surf rock and garage rock.

Hey Buddy, Dummy gets it’s official release on April 6 via Night Danger Records.

MP3: The Robots “I Didn’t Know What I Was Saying”
Myspace: The Robots





by J. Di Gioia | Comments Off

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