March 22, Handsome Daughter
by Stiff Wiggle
The prairies have long been identified as fertile grounds for more than merely vegetation — music springs from our soil like so much sage and clover. Much has been said about the way our winters seem purpose-built for the intense woodshedding and creative hermitage which characterizes the habits of artists of legend. But there’s a flip to this that’s much less frequently considered. I feel that when you’re prairie-bound, inspiration can be hard to come by.
If I were to guess what inspires Alison Hain, I’d reckon it’s the tense, visceral soundscapes that colour the galaxies of contemporary science fiction. Performing as Mutable Body, she showcased her tremendous capabilities at harnessing the endless possibilities of digital sound design, all to a captivating end. We got tastes of Aphexian drill; we got Reznorian lurching stomp, we got seasick soundtracky spooks, we got strident videogamey bleeps. Even better, the music got more compelling as it got more outlandish — a rare, appreciated quality. The tone was set; a night of affecting electronic sonics awaited the audience.
I *know* what inspires C. Samms: It’s the UK synth-pop of the early ’80s, made immortal by icons such as Depeche Mode, New Order, and Human League. His latest project, nominally a solo endeavour, features six hands-on stage deeply devoted to crafting note-perfect homages to the bands that perfected the form of coldly emotional synth-pop that Samms delights in revisiting. You’ve got your obligatory baritone croon; You’ve got your Peter Hook basslines. This would be a tiresome schtick if the music wasn’t deftly executed and the hooks weren’t expertly deployed, and mercifully, that’s what we get. As chief creative of more projects than I could ever hope to name — many will remember Not Animals, but am I the last one who remembers Two Knots Is Lots? — Samms makes good with his latest crew of collaborators. If that sounds tasty, check the album Bouquet, which recently dropped, and you can relive the moment in your own mind.
Finally, we know what inspires Antonio Mazza of LUANA MOTH. From his own telling, it’s his own backyard — our own backyard. The LUANA MOTH live experience features Antonio and his sister Giovanna staging a skillful recreation of their project’s debut song cycle, apparently the first in what will be an evolving self-contained mythological universe of sorts.
No time is wasted. A brief peaceful intro (which foreshadows the gentle dénouement, perhaps?) hastily dissolves, revealing the project’s sonic signature: frenetic psych- and synth-inflected prog-math-glitch, polished to a sheen and presented with impressive attention to texture and melodicism. It’s a lot of music per minute, and they make a good show out of it. Antonio *lays it down* on guitar and synth over ornate backing tracks while Giovanna captivates alongside with requisite Nicksian grace. Remember a band called Battles? This stuff pounds some of the same pleasure centers as that band did, albeit with more attention to melody and gestalt. *Caveat auditor* — this can be highly aggravating music if not met with the appropriate setting and set; passive consumption will not spark joy.
Maybe, though, you’re more like me. If so, perhaps your inspiration comes from a similar place as mine. We need not go any further than the Handsome Daughter on the right night to find plenty to write, draw or dance about. I suppose when you’re prairie-bound, inspiration can be easy to find, after all.