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Emperor Norton/Ryko Disc
Released: August 17, 2004 |
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Midnight Movies
Midnight Movies’ rich, haunting sound provides a backdrop that’s simultaneously endless and claustrophobic in the way that, say, a David Lynch film is inescapably David Lynch. Cinematic in its own right, the music is driving, spacey art-rock with psychedelic electronics coupled with eerie melodies sung by drummer and vocalist Gena Olivier, whose voice inhabits space as pervasively as dye inhabits water. The other two members of the band are guitarist Larry Schemel and keyboardist/guitarist Jason Hammons.
One thing that accounts for Midnight Movies’ distinct sound is their departure from the standard band dynamic. First off, the notion of a singer/drummer is a rarity in and of itself. Also, the band’s not so much a product of roles fulfilled, as it is a trio of three creative minds, each a songwriter and each with disparate tastes, playing music none of them could’ve foreseen prior to forming the group. The end result of this collaboration is an outwardly evolving, organic sound that has never been heard quite in this combination, but is strangely familiar nonetheless. Evoking Los Angeles’s vibrant, cryptic landscape, Midnight Movies are, in a sense, an outgrowth of that city, with its dark undercurrent—or perhaps of any city that takes on a life of its own after most people have gone to sleep.
Formed in LA in 2002, Midnight Movies spawned fairly typically when Olivier and Schemel found each other via dual wanted ads. After Hammons joined upon Schemel’s invitation the natural chemistry between the three was undeniable, and with minds and temperaments aligned, this left the task of finding a drummer. Olivier surprised everyone when she took a seat at a drumset that had been left at their studio and started banging out exactly what was needed. She coolly filled out that last missing element of the band, even though Olivier’s entire playing experience to this point consisted of dabbling in drums for a few weeks in junior high.
Over the past two years, Midnight Movies have grown to be one of the most extraordinary and unique fixtures on the LA music scene. In May of 2003, they were nominated for Best New Artist at the L.A. Weekly Music Awards and in 2004 graduated to a nomination for Best Pop/Rock band.
After the the self-release of their six-song EP, Midnight Movies took on a Monday night residency at Spaceland, one of L.A.’s premiere rock venues. The sold-out shows and the local buzz on the EP led to unsolicited features in magazines such as Filter, NME, Planet, Fader, Fugue and the cover of the O.C. Weekly as well as touring with bands such as Clinic, Broadcast, The Von Bondies and The Stills.
Midnight Movies signed a record deal with Emperor Norton Records at the beginning of 2004 and will see their self-titled debut album released August 31st.
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