Silver Apples (self-titled)
Of all records that are considered “ahead of its time,” this may be the modern age’s strongest contender. There are thousands of albums from the sixties that didn’t jive with the times, and many that are still too ahead of its time; what happens in the evolution of music since then determines what we consider to be the most influential. In terms of popular electronic music, nothing really touches what the Silver Apples started up in 68.
To best understand what the Apples are all about, you have to check the diagram in the liner notes. They are only a duo, comprising equally complicated setups: Danny Taylors’ expansive drum kit and Simeon’s boggling assortment of electronic treats. Custom synths maintain several layers of oscillating drones over sequenced looping bass lines, while tape machines implement found sound recordings (bewilderingly predicting the sampling craze and adding even more their legendary status). Taylors’ drumming seals the deal with programmatic beats that would spawn or influence kit players from Can’s Jaki Liebezeit all the way to hip hop drummers such as ?uestlove. The Silver Apples were staggeringly prescient in their technical setup, but perhaps even more influential was their use of the drone. Hypnotic and trance inducing, I can’t imagine any modern day electronic pop that shouldn’t show some allegiance to this groundbreaking record.
Period vocal stylings sometimes distract modern day electro fiends, but they are surely missing out. The tunework and lyrics are the match of most good psych records from the time, and this record consistently continues to blow minds just as hard today as it must have back then, to the few who listened. The new Phoenix vinyl reissue carries a pretty high price tag, but looks like its worth the price, limited to 1,000 copies. For those looking to dive in at cost, check out the MCA twofer CD reissue, which also contains their next album, Contact. Positively essential for electronic and psych listeners.
“Lovefingers”
Vinyl Reissue | 2008 | Phoenix | 180G | buy from dustygroove ]
CD Reissue | 1997 | MCA | w/ Contact | buy from amazon
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Cork Marcheschi of Fifty Foot Hose was also building electronic instruments, and other bands such as White Noise are worth checking out. But yeah, Silver Apples are the rulers of the universe in that regard.
The Matching Mole May 7, 2008 @ 10:58 am
I remember the first time I ever heard them. I was working at a now-defunct record shop called Yesterday Discs, and I came across it in the test stacks. It just blew my mind – it was techno before techno was techno! So I had to buy it (I think I paid $40? It was mint)….It’s still a favorite, I’ve opened sets with it.
deusdiabolus May 7, 2008 @ 11:48 am