Synthesizers in Space commences with the chunky textures of amplified congas before multi-instrumentalist Shawn Lee, who plays all the instruments, adds drums, a fat bass line, and intermittent darts of synthesizer. But that description can’t be repeated for much else on this album. Lee’s created a smorgasbord of tracks; a boon to DJs in several different genres. With vocals by Earl Zinger, “Boogie Children (Saturn Day Night),” which Lee wrote with Rob Gallagher, is a clubby rock song a la NIN and Human League. But “Bossa Nova Seela” mixes tropical sounds with waves of synthesizer.

Bouncing  between digital and analog media, Lee’s created an immediacy that, with electronics, helps tie together the wide-ranging sounds on Synthesizers on Space. I can see why Gilles Peterson signed Lee, who’s also known for his Ping Pong Orchestra recordings, to the Talkin’ Loud label, enabling Lee to set up camp in London.

Shawn Lee’s on tour with AM, starting in August:
8/22 – Cafe Du Nord, San Francisco CA
8/24 – The Satellite, Los Angeles CA
8/28 – Great Scott, Boston MA
8/29 – New York State Fair, Syracuse NY
8/30 – Montserrat House, Washington DC
8/31 – Knitting Factory, Brooklyn NY
9/2 – Bumbershoot Festival, Seattle WA

You can access Synthesizers in Space and enter Lee’s trippy cyberworld here.

Post by Mary Leary