BOY IN STATIC SETS A DATE
One of Circuits' favorite local acts, Boy In Static (a.k.a. Alex Chen), is perparing to release Violet, the follow-up to his remarkable debut, Newborn, on May 29. As previously reported here, the album was picked up by Mush Records, and if the first single is any indication, it's a gem. What Chen does so well is integrate electronic production with typical rock stylings for an eloquent blend of modern sounds, one part dreamy ambience, one part rock riffs.
"Where It Ends" is endowed with strings, covered in reverb, and soaked in melancholy. "It's based pretty closely on real events from my life," writes Chen via email. It's sort of a pre-break up song about predicting the inevitable. I played all the strings on this recording. Playing in school orchestras as a kid got me interested in classical arrangement." Chen's production abilities then take over. "I write out string arrangements on paper, like a traditional orchestra score. Then I perform each part on the viola. It's like cloning myself 20 times to form a live orchestra in my apartment."
Chen created a special web site for the video (http://www.where.boyinstatic.tv/) that includes a bonus stream of Japanese only remixes, one from Her Space Holiday and one from local producer Helios (a.k.a. Keith Kenniff), another Circuits favorite. Kenniff's rework is a marvel of string-heavy ambience. "We both just happened to be listening to each others' music," Chen says of Helios, "and started emailing. He has actually joined the Boy In Static live band, which has expanded to six people now, for upcoming shows later this year." The pairing of Chen and Kenniff sends shivers down the spine. "We definitely found things in common. We both record in our apartments and are big fans of early Depeche Mode. Also, neither of us has a car, so we haul all our gear to gigs in taxis."
- DAVID DAY