FUTURE BIBLE HEROES began with the fortuitous meeting of Stephin Merritt
and Chris Ewen on a miniature golf course in the late 80’s. They formed a
bond through their mutual love of chanteuse Yma Sumac, composer John Cage,
and the collecting of exotic instruments and Tiki art. After many years of
friendship and musical rapport, the duo bring forth their first album
together, “Memories of Love.” “Memories of Love” may be their debut as a pair, but Merritt and Ewen
individually are established musicians. Merritt is the ringleader of the
magnificent pop band THE MAGNETIC FIELDS (look out for their records on
Elefant!) and also the all-star band THE 6THS (featuring Lou Barlow, Amelia
Fletcher...), and Ewen is the former keyboardist for the 80’s alternative
rock band FIGURES ON A BEACH (Sire Recs). After that band dissolved, Ewen
focused more strongly on composing in his home studio. At night, he studied
all the forms of dance music by working as a DJ at a prominent Boston,
Massachusetts, club, and soon became an aficionado of all styles from 50’s
lounge to 90’s synth-pop. FUTURE BIBLE HEROES is the fruitful product of Ewen’s exotic electro-pop
instrumentation, replete with samples ranging from Hawaiian birds to
computer printers, overlaid with Merritt’s exquisite pop songwriting and
brilliant, often humorous lyrical style. Vocals on “Memories of Love” are provided by Merritt, whose somber
baritone is also to be heard on three of the five MAGNETIC FIELDS albums,
and Claudia Gonson, a mutual friend of the boys, whose high flutey vocals
offset Merritt’s low, Leonard Cohen-esque style. Departing from her usual
behind-the-scenes role of band manager and MAGNETIC FIELDS drummer (and live
drummer with the HONEYBUNCH), Gonson joins the FUTURE BIBLE HEROES to embark on the multifarious career path of pop singing. Elefant Records proudly presents FUTURE BIBLE HEROES, music that will
appeal equally to clubgoers, indie rockers, and you. |
