Released
1998

Label
Jupiter Lodge Music

Reviewed by
S. Glitsos

Contact/Visit
Lo-fi Scorpio at IUMA

Live Photos
Last Sigh

Last Edit/Update
02 October, 1999

Lo-fi Scorpio

Track Listing

1. Before the Spire
2. Ultramatic
3. Dollhouse
4. Code
5. Glass Revolver
6. Letter from J. Anderson
7. Lash
8. Blackwater
*plus multimedia*

Lo-fi Scorpio is essentially a rock band. That isn't to say that they're trite and basically a rehashing of old material -- they are quite original. Actually, they reminded me a lot of Chris Randall's project Sister Machine Gun, although (of course) slightly different. It's probably no coincidence that they opened for SMG on their last tour!

This self-titled CD opens up with a small noisescape -- scattered radioesque noises that eventually give way to nicely done acoustic drums, a twangy guitar (which later gets *very* heavy and distorted) and electronics. The next track has an interesting trait that I started noticing throughout the CD: the drums sound like they're acoustic on top of programmed. Although if it's not like that, they're very well-played, or very well programmed. The songs are essentially the "same" throughout the CD -- that is, they have similar structures, a lot have soundscape intros and outros, and the same general "feel" of rock and roll grunge angst. However, there's a couple variations on that feeling, from more down-feeling songs("Glass Revolver"), to dancey tunes like "Dollhouse."

Even though the songs are definitely listenable, I'd have to say the by far the best thing about this CD is the multimedia. It contains a lot of band-related images and text, which is nice and all, but the great thing was the SOUND it put out! If you like noise collage and don't mind some well done rock music, I'd seriously suggest getting this CD, purely to listen to the insane noises, which come from everyday things like pigs to wildly unimaginable sources. It's a trip.