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Kurt Swinghammer
Vostok 6
Here's another gooey smooch for Ani DiFranco, whose Righteous Babe imprint has become one of the most adventurous labels in indie land. Her latest option is a magnificent electronic excursion by Toronto programmer Kurt Swinghammer (a member of the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band and sometimes guitarist for DiFranco's touring unit), with a quirky, conceptual ode to Valentina Tereshkova, the first female cosmonaut. The swirling Sputnik sounds are perfect for Swinghammer's compelling take of moog pop, resurrecting the dark, spectre balladry of Scott Walker with the low-key ambient treatments of Brian Eno (and perhaps your fave Krautrock band). Extra thick on the analog ear candy, Swinghammer's tunes thrive on long-drawn introspection and a headphone-happy mix, that turn the most private revelations in a widescreen, spectacle of sound. Cosmic and ethereal, but in a pop framework that's making a direct launch into my year end Top Ten. -virginia reed (Righteous Babe, P.O. Box 95, Ellicott Station, Buffalo, NY 14205)
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