Cool Hunting

Christopher Willits: Surf Boundaries by Mike Reger

gi54_200.jpgChristopher Willits may not yet be a household name but with previous releases for experimental labels like 12K, Sub Rosa and Plop and a list of collaborations with the likes of Kid606, Matmos, Taylor Deupree (12K), Latrice Barnett (Handsome Boy Modelling School), Paul D'Amour (Tool), and even Ryuichi Sakamoto, Willits has already laid a foundation for a strong following in indie electronic music circles and beyond. His upcoming album, Surf Boundaries (due out 17 October 2006), is a gorgeous blend of shoegazer guitar, custom-designed software, glitchery, lush 5-part vocal harmonies, treated brass and strings, and jazz improvisation, perfectly timed for the changing colors of fall. Willits' label Ghostly International bills it "Avant Pop" and while the juxtaposition of those terms may seem ironic or contrary to the uninitiated, Surf Boundaries is no hipster fodder. It's genuinely beautiful mature song-craft, unafraid of taking on the bleeding edge.

Hear a free mp3 now at Ghostly International or pre-order from Amazon.

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This entry posted on 03 October 2006 at 3:11 AM
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