Quindar is Wilco keyboardist Mikael Jorgensen and art historian James Merle Thomas making electronic music that includes archival audio from actual space missions of the '60s and '70s. The group is named after small communication beeps from Apollo space missions called Quindar Tones. The use of vintage analog synths and found sound techniques enhance the retro-sci-fi vibe.
One act similarly interested in this era and subject matter is seminal duo Boards of Canada, and while trip-hop-ish tracks "Twin Pole Sunshade for Rusty Schweickart" and "Body Techniques" bear this influence, the rest of the record reaches beyond that. Notable examples of the sonic variety here are the acoustic strumming on "Italian Conversation" and the piano and string sounds on "Arabella & Anita."
"Oranganus" surprisingly ups the rhythmic energy with a futuristic house beat full of clicks and classic four-on-the-floor bass drum, all accompanying warped chords. "Honeysuckle This Is Houston" ends the record on a fun, upbeat tone, with an opening NASA sample providing the rhythmic basis for a slightly goofy beat.
For the relative specificity of thematic focus, Hip Mobility is varied in its sound. More than just mining the past for interesting artifacts, Quindar have created something surprisingly new here, and in having done so, project their art into the future.
(Butterscotch)One act similarly interested in this era and subject matter is seminal duo Boards of Canada, and while trip-hop-ish tracks "Twin Pole Sunshade for Rusty Schweickart" and "Body Techniques" bear this influence, the rest of the record reaches beyond that. Notable examples of the sonic variety here are the acoustic strumming on "Italian Conversation" and the piano and string sounds on "Arabella & Anita."
"Oranganus" surprisingly ups the rhythmic energy with a futuristic house beat full of clicks and classic four-on-the-floor bass drum, all accompanying warped chords. "Honeysuckle This Is Houston" ends the record on a fun, upbeat tone, with an opening NASA sample providing the rhythmic basis for a slightly goofy beat.
For the relative specificity of thematic focus, Hip Mobility is varied in its sound. More than just mining the past for interesting artifacts, Quindar have created something surprisingly new here, and in having done so, project their art into the future.