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SOPHOMOREPHONIC [2007]
01. Mile High Club
02. Suntan Lotion
03. Coca Sek
04. Dirt Is Country
05. Starbuck
06. Cake For You
07. Praise The Lord
08. The River Is High |
SOPHOMOREPHONIC [2007]
Sophomorephonic is the second album from enigmatic and politically satiric artist Elecphonic. The first, self-titled album was a "whimsically Mercurial collection of nine tracks simmered and steeped in a stew of electronica", and Sophomorephonic continues this quirky, bass-driven pedigree with eight well-polished and musically adept tracks.
Released on Daniel Gannaway's Truly Independent label, Sophomorephonic is similarly incisive in its commentary on social mores and the many-faceted maladies of consumerism, greed and hypocrisy.
The sharp-edged - though inherently humorous - lyrical content makes Sophomorephonic endearingly listenable, and feeds the wryly opinionated tradition of Elecphonic's previous release.
A stand-out track is Coca Sek, a beautiful, ditty-like offering with a truly addictive hook, rhythm and chorus. Coca Sek rues the innate contradiction of the US 'war' on coca leaf in South America while at the same time providing the world's single largest market for cocaine. "Chewing leaf sprayed with Roundup... Can't kill the leaf, can't kill the drug. The world loves the white lady..."
The vocal treatment is pure Elecphonic, with a rolling, rocking, thumping chorus that begs to be played loud - especially the song plays out.
Starbuck is another fun, bumping little track which hangs in the memory long after it's past. "Good hunting Starbuck, the best pilot in the colonial fleet. She'll kick the Cylons' ass. You're the one for me girl. She'll kick the Cylons' ass..." Long live Battlestar Galactica.
Like Elecphonic, Sophomorephonic is quirky and beautifully crafted, and can be enjoyed on a variety of levels. Thematically, it's the lyrical adeptness that once again holds the ear, with the nuanced melodies providing a stylish riposte.
At its heart, Sophomorephonic - like Elecphonic before it - is an infectious and original exercise in musical creationism. As an artistic endeavour, Elecphonic has established itself as a musically competent producer, and an engaging and varied alternative to homogenised, populist electronica. |
:: Review - NZ Musician Magazine
ELECPHONIC: SOPHOMOREPHONIC
By Ania Glowacz
The follow up to the act's self-titled debut, 'Sophomorephonic' follows on in a musically and lyrically similar vein. It's an acquired taste, but not one without merit. 'Interesting' (read off-beat) topics are espoused and commented on - the Mile High Club, coca leaf production, country folk moving to the cities, tanning, 'coming out' to your wife... Safe to say this isn't really pop! Elecphonic employ vintage synth sounds and masked, heavily treated vocals. The main vocals on most tracks are a deep, spoken male voice, slowed down and stretched, whilst the backing vocals are pitched higher into a more female-sounding palette. It's unusual as well as difficult to describe! Elecphonic aims to be elusive, so I can' tell you who's behind these creations. The music plods and weaves and squelches its way around the lyrics, including one track which is essentially a cake recipe... The words are hard to pick up and demand concentration or a read of the lyric sheet. If you have the patience, this is 'quirky' and different electronica with a sardonic and humourous edge.
:: NZ Musician Magazine |
| SOPHOMOREPHONIC [2007] - LYRICS |
01. Mile High Club
Music & Words © 2007 Elecphonic
Quoted publicly about the plane Hammocks hung from the ceiling Stunningly successful IPO Refurbished on behalf of the duo Newly minted members of the billionaire's club Now they want to join the flying mile high club Joined together at the network router's hub Wireless flying billionaire's mile high club Boeing 767 Sworn deposition Uber-rich businessmen Bypassing the high end Newly minted members of the billionaire's club Now they want to join the flying mile high club Joined together at the network router's hub Wireless flying billionaire's mile high club Yeah baby Google me
02. Suntan Lotion
Music & Words © 2007 Elecphonic
Rub suntan lotion on you It's all I've got to do Rub suntan lotion on you Rub suntan lotion on you Rub suntan lotion on your body We're just tourists offending the locals In this exotic place they don't show their bodies Rub suntan lotion on you Rub suntan lotion on you Rub suntan lotion on your body That's the call to prayer I'll pray to your body
03. Coka Sek
Music & Words © 2007 Elecphonic
Chewed that leaf 2000 years Stimulant and digestion Sometime aphrodisiac Sometime life extension John had a morphine on his back Wanted wealth and fame for all time Threw in some good old Kola nut And improved the Corsican's coca wine The essence of your culture That's Coca Cola They just wanna drink Coca Sek Ain't gonna become cocaine addicts It'll become their national drink They're sick of drinking yours Will it lead to deformities? Chewing leaf sprayed with Roundup 20% of US aid Boliviana Negra turns up Can't kill the plant can't kill the drug The world loves the white lady Coke imports 8 ton of leaf To give a taste of cousin Charlie The essence of your culture That's Coca Cola They just wanna drink Coca Sek Ain't gonna become cocaine addicts It'll become their national drink They're sick of drinking yours
04. Dirt is country
Music & Words © 2007 Elecphonic
Our side walks are horse trails We ride down the main road of town We criss cross our neighbors land But all this is changing See LA is moving nearer Mansions appearing on our hills The price of a home is rising Along with troughs and hitching posts Dirt is country There is tremendous pressure From the Inland Empire Orange County style dollars Don't like the smell of manure Dirt is country People with no country values bring their city with they want the look and feel but they want to stay clean Dirt is country
05. Starbuck
Music & Words © 2007 Elecphonic
Good hunting Starbuck The best pilot in the colonial fleet Flying by the seat I'm on the edge of Best pilot in the colonial fleet Flying by the seat of her pants I wanna get into She'll kick the Cylon's ass She'll kick the Cylon's ass with some fracken class Starbuck you're the one for me girl She'll kick the Cylon's ass with some fracken class
06. Cake For You
Music & Words © 2007 Elecphonic
2 eggs 4oz of butter 8oz of flour 6oz of sugar 1/4 cup soy milk tble sp vanilla tea sp baking soda 2.5 banana Mmmm Not for your birthday Just for any day Cake for you Heat oven to 350 fahrenheit Pour mix into buttered baking tin Before you remove to let it cool Place into oven 40 - 60 minimum Mmmm Not for your birthday Just for any day This is a cake for you to eat at your Leisure Or gorge at your pleasure Cake for you
07. Praise The Lord
Music & Words © 2007 Elecphonic
Ted there's nothing wrong with being gay It's a completely natural thing Should of been more honest with your wife And your church congregation You better Praise the Lord So he'll forgive you Praise the Lord Reaccept you Now your name embarrased and shamed It's a natural God-fearing thing Internally conflicted preaching against the afflicted You just wanted to love your fellow man Praise the Lord So he'll forgive you Praise the Lord Reaccept you Oh Ted you're so straight with your wife
08. The River Is High
Music & Words © 2007 Elecphonic
I love ya baby We get wet in the summertime I love ya baby We swim naked when the river's high Rains are falling In a summer cloudburst Dirty water will soon pass us clear Tree stump check no animals upstream 303 locked & loaded No redneck on the bridge is gonna bother us here I love ya baby We get wet in the summertime I love ya baby We swim naked when the river's high When it's high High |
An NZ/NL/US/UK/DE conspiration
Added & Subtracted Between Sophomorephonic Hard Drives Across Continents
Mastered @ More Core Audio |
thankyou for supporting
truly independent music |
|
|
ELECPHONIC [2006]
01. Don’t Try Fool Me
02. Freakin On A Sneaka
03. Going To Goa
04. Had An Idea
05. Maria Duval
06. Data Broka
07. Ambien
08. SUV
09. LFA Sonar |
ELECPHONIC [2006]
The ELECPHONIC debut is a whimsically Mercurial collection of nine tracks simmered and steeped in a stew of electronica.
Released on Daniel Gannaway's Truly Independent label, ELECPHONIC presents an incisive socio-political commentary in its lyrical content and continues the wryly opinionated tradition of the label's various previous releases, such as OP-ED.
Going to Goa, for example, reflects on the cultivated ignorance of India's many tie-dyed faux-hippy tourists. "I don't really want to know about Goa's long history that stretches back to BC third century, I just want to get high by the Arabian Sea... I'm going to grow my hair and get braids and beads; I'm going to do yoga under the ubiquitous coconut tree."
A standout track is the humorously titled Freakin on a Sneaka, deriding the bizarre, though unstoppably popular sneaker culture/industry. "Pumping the price up with limited runs, vintages and retros and new combinations, they make crazy money while people slave in sweat shops off shoe addicts like me just hanging for the Quickstrike... 300 pair locked down in dry storage. Ain't even been worn, still got them in their boxes..."
In a later track, waxing philosophical on America's fascination with oversized 4x4s, ELECPHONIC prophetically states of the SUV: "I'll always be happy as long as I have my toys." It seems that feeding the West's need for distractions, indulgences and toys is a global preoccupation that we foolishly call 'growth and progress'...
Truly quirky, yet indulgently crafted, ELECPHONIC is at its heart an exercise in musical creationism in that it arrives fully-formed from the ether with not a hint of evolution or precedent. The album can be enjoyed on a variety of levels, for it is musically competent, engaging and varied, and also taps the rich vein of 'currency' offered by electronica.
It's the lyrical adeptness, though, that holds the ear. For while the compositions build, crescendo and fall with great personality, the words have a lingering resonance which gives each track a depth of character not entirely familiar to the electronic genre. |
:: Review - NZ Musician Magazine
ELECPHONIC: Self-titled
By Ania Glowacz
This is a somewhat unconventional foray into electronica. Unusual in that the lyrics are significant and important - yet are vocoded and treated with a variety of alien-type effects, rendering them a little incoherent on first or most listens. It takes a bit of patience and concentration to fully appreciate this work. There's a lot of retro synths and disco beats in the music, along with more trance-type and contemporary elements that also distract from the core of the material - the words (provided). So whilst the lyrics have something to say (topics include SUVs, wasted hippies in Goa, the violent effects of sonar on marine life, the sneaker industry), they're not immediately obvious. Some of it sounds dated and a bit clumsy, but the tweaked and twisted electronics with a slightly sinister feel are original (a touch Scritti Politti, Gary Numan, Kraftwerk, Marilyn Manson?) It's experimental, political and a bit of a grower. There's a healthy sense of humour behind it all, and some tracks would work well on a compilation or soundtrack. Truly quirky - give it a try.
:: NZ Musician Magazine |
| ELECPHONIC [DEBUT - 2006] - LYRICS |
01. Don't Try Fool Me
Music & Words © 2006 Elecphonic
I Know What You Want To Be Its Written Clear For All To See I Know What You Want To Be Dont Try Fool Me You'd Wrestle The Moon If You Could Pull It Down Bring You Closer To The Sky Walk On The Heads Of Those That Clothed & Fed & Those That Helped You Get By
02. Freakin On A Sneaka
Music & Words © 2006 Elecphonic
Pumping The Price Up With Limited Runs Vintages & Retros & New Combinations This One Shop Only Release In Soho Who That Owner He Designer So I Go They Make Crazy Money While People Slave In Sweat Shops Off Shoe Addicts Like Me Just Hanging For the Quickstrike I've Got A Serious Problem Building Up On My Visa Card Got A Serious Problem On My Visa Card Freakin Freakin On A Sneaka Three Hundred Pair Locked Down In Dry Storage Ain't Even Been Worn Still Got Them In Their Boxes Ebay Some Air Max Got A Price Tip On NT My Girls Going Crazy For New Kicks By Gwen Stefani I Got To Get A Pair Customized By Jor One But For Sure They Wont Be Anything By Air Jordan Then Me & Her Can Fly Back To London Think Back To The First Posting By The Former Iron Lung Freakin Freakin On A Sneaka A Shoe Is Only Worth As Much As You're Willing To Pay For It
03. Going To Goa
Music & Words © 2006 Elecphonic
Im Going To Goa Now Smallest State On The Indian Sub-Continent Im Taking No Luggage With Me So When I Arrive Ill Hire My Own Motorcycle Pilot I Don't Really Want To Know About Goa's Long History That Stretches Back To BC 3rd Century I Just Want To Get High By The Arabian Sea Get Ready For The Next Full Moon Party Im Going To Goa Now Im Going To Grow My Hair & Get Braids & Beads Im Going To Do Yoga Under The Ubiquitous Coconut Tree I Want To Discuss The Difference Between Psychedelic & Goan Trance Is It Organic Metallic Will It Even Matter To Me? I Don't Care About The Environmental Havoc Caused By The Party I Dont Care How It Effects The Local Villages I Just Want To Find My Alternative Consciousness Then I Want To Find Others In A Meeting Of Consequence Im Going To Goa Now I Guess I'm Most Looking Forward To Learning About Spirituality Smoking Dropping With My New Best Friends That Are Really Deep We'll Dance In Fluorescent Colors Until The Sun Tells Our Feet Go Find The Lotus Flower That The Aliens Eat
04. Had An Idea
Music & Words © 2006 Elecphonic
Had An Idea Got Told It Was A Good One Had An Idea I Had It Made Got A Problem Now Small Fish In A Big Bowl Big Fish Stole My Idea Now Big Fish Found A Loophole Had An Idea Got Told It Was A Good One Had An Idea I Had It Made Had An Idea I Had It Made They Stole It My Idea With Sugar On Top Their Legal Team Wont Stop
05. Maria Duval
Music & Words © 2006 Elecphonic
I Fell In Love With Maria Duval She Sent Me A Letter She Said That She Tell Me How To Save My Health To Make Myself Rich She Added Me To Her Scammer Suckers List Dear Mr Sucker I've Just Seen You In My Crystal Ball Driving A New Ferrari With A Glamorous Woman On Your Arm Your Health Could Be Perfect But There's Just One Thing Send A Cheque For $35 & We'll Soon Talk Again Dear Mr Sucker This Offer Is Too Good To Be True! Your Should Rip This Up But You Wont 'Cause I'm Exploiting A Weakness In You Send Another Cheque To Learn How To Cure Aging In Just 3 Weeks Oh & Look Out For Mail From My Associates Who Have Some Products That Are Truly Neat! Maria's A Scammer A Scammer A Scammer Dear Mr Sucker I'm Afraid I Can't Accept Your Invitation Out Though I am Flattered By Your Interest In My Psychic Development To This Date I Don't Want To Tell I'm Really Just A Mail Order Marketing Firm Or That You'd Have Been Better To Throw Your Money On The Fire & Watched It Burn Burn Burn
06. Data Broka
Music & Words © 2006 Elecphonic
Never Mind What Your Employer Says Tracking Your Movements With GPS It's Built Into Your Mobile Phone So If You Carry One You're Never Really Alone They're Gonna Locate Your Cell This Data Broka Never Mind What The Government Says Tracking Your Movements With GPS It's Built Into Your Mobile Phone So If You Carry One You're Never Really Alone Selling Your Details To Complete Strangers Thank God For America Blog Minimal Regulations From The Federal Government
07. Ambien
Music & Words © 2006 Elecphonic
When I Want To Sleep I Take This Pill Calms Me Mind Helps Me Chill Yeah I Like It I Think It's A Bit Of Alright But I Don't Know What Happens When It Turns Out Me Lights Don't Go To Sleep To Get Fat On Ambien Me Girl Is From LA She's Really Really Health Conscious & Concerned About Me Late Night Sleep Food Binges I Don't Remember A Thing & I Always Eat Me Brekky Me Girl Says This Side Effect Is An Unknown Quantity Between You & Me I Think It's About The BMW I Got Stopped On The PCH To San Francisco It Was 4 AM I Was Stuffing My Face With KitKats Driving Asleep On The Ambien
08. SUV
Music & Words © 2006 Elecphonic
I Drive This Big Car It's A 4 x 4 It's An SUV But I Live In The City American Made Zero Miles To The Gallon It's An SUV But I Live In The City Ohhhh I've Run Out Of Gas Again They Call It Gas Gouge Gouging My Pocket It's An SUV But I live In The City Conspicuous Consumption I Don't Drive Off Road It's An SUV But I Live In The City Bush Gave Me A Tax Break Should Have Bought A Prius It's An SUV But I Live In The City I'll Always Be Happy As Long As I Have My Toys It's An SUV But I Live In The City
09. LFA Sonar
Music & Words © 2006 Elecphonic
Imagine You Lived In The Sea Bombarded By Sonar So Strong It Destroyed Your Ears & Body Imagine You Used Sound To See Now Can Your Hear Me? Do Your Hear Me? State Of The Art Technology Brought Into The Ocean By The US Navy Noise Pollution Filling The Sea Killing Our Friends Do Your Hear Me? |
An NZ/NL/US/UK/DE conspiration
Added & Subtracted Between Hard Drives Across Continents
Mastered @ More Core Audio |
thankyou for supporting
truly independent music |
|
|
| thankyou for supporting truly independent music |
|
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