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Stephen Malkmus, former Pavement frontman and lead rabble rouser of his cohorts The Jicks, had no interest in indulging in the electronic end of the musical spectrum, back in the day. Nope. Not for him. His heart and mind were unapologetically committed to the lo-fi school of thought. Raw imperfection, all the way.
Many years later, after spending time in Berlin exploring the many layers of Berlin’s underground dance scene, Malkmus’ fascination with those experiences led to some very inspired moments with his latest LP, Groove Denied, his first solo effort since 2001 sans The Jicks.
Most of the album was written by Malkmus while living in Berlin, then recorded in his home studio in Oregon, where he began experimenting with digital sound and editing equipment – all the stuff he largely avoided previously. But all of this thinking outside his comfort zone helped him weave what he’s described as “warped psych,” among other assorted killer cool post-punkish British vibes.
Soak it up. Don’t miss Stephen Malkmus tonight at 3Ten at ACL Live. Austin-based electronic artist Dylan Cameron starts the show. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Recommended.
-Photography by Robbie Augspurger.
