This Seattle band recorded what became one of my favorite CDs of last year, "Submariner." Actually, the album was recorded in 2003, but it didn't come to my attention until August of last year, when it arrived belatedly as promo for the band's local appearance at Total Fest.
Total Fest had come and gone, but I listened anyway. And listened. And listened.
A lot of bands try to perform this kind of music, in parts. Some focus on the complex rhythms and arty structures; others focus on the moody atmospherics; others think they can sound like Radiohead simply by employing a singer with a breathy falsetto voice.
The Dead Science pulls it all together. The band knows when to paint, when to sketch, when to scribble and when to clean up.
That said, the Dead Science probably isn't for everyone. This is generally dark, sometimes even rather disturbing music n all echoes and mist, with lead singer Sam Mickens hovering overhead like a castaway ghost.
It's also worth mentioning that, as an album, "Submariner" suffers from an ultimately damning technical problem: The entire thing is poorly mastered, sounding like it was recorded from the next room.
Happily, that problem is fixed in the band's most recent release, the five-song EP, "Bird Bones in the Bughouse." The new record ventures even further toward skeletal noir impressionism, perhaps best exemplified by the band's surprisingly effective take on Terence Trent D'Arby's mid-80s hit, "Sign Your Name." In the hands of the Dead Science, that song is transformed from pop come-on to dreamy dirge n a doped, rainy-day reverie to bitterly unrequited love.
The Dead Science performs at the Other Side next Monday, March 28. They'll be joined by fellow Seattle band Xiu Xiu, a band which occasionally shares some members with the Dead Science. Actually, for some, Xiu Xiu will be the real attraction here: Their four full-length albums are considered must-haves among the Cure revival set.
JAZZ AMONG THE ROCKS
If you've ever heard Donna Lee Smith sing, chances are you really like rocks.
That's because Smith is most frequently heard singing as she carries out her work as a staff scientist in UM's Geology Department.
"Everyone's pretty used to that," laughs Smith about her habit of singing at work. "You know, sometimes if you're involved in a repetitive task, singing is really a great way to keep things interesting."
Smith must keep things interesting indeed for her coworkers. Floating somewhere between the curious timbre of Erykah Badu and the distinctively unorthodox word-shaping of Rickie Lee Jones, Smith has a knack for turning words into sound-sculptures, and notes into poetry.
No voice teacher in America would encourage someone to sing this way; maybe that's why Smith is so fascinating to listen to.
That such a voice spends its days bottled inside a UM staff scientist is either a testament to the incredible depth of artistic talent in this town, or a sad reflection of how difficult it can be for even the most talented musician to make a living from art.
Actually, it's both.
"I have to have a day job right now because I really haven't had commercial success with my music," explains Smith. "But it's totally worth it; I love the job, and living here is great."
Like so many people in Missoula, Smith moved here (in her case, from Oakland, Calif., about two years ago) for the quality of life and more relaxed pace.
Doing so meant some trade-offs n among them, the dearth of performance opportunities open to jazz musicians. But all in all, the decision has proven good for Smith.
"I walk to work, I don't have a commute, and I have time to work on my music," says Smith. "Creativity is an outlet for me rather than a be-all, end-all career; so I think the balance of work and play is working out good."
The good news is that Smith is starting to share her talents with the part of Missoula that doesn't hang out around the UM Geology Department. She has performed a handful of gigs at the Old Post with local musicians Mike Freemole and Bob Ledbetter; and she has made fast friends with some of Missoula's best and brightest musicians, including jazz chanteuse Eden Atwood.
"She's awesome, I love Donna," says Atwood. "She has a fantastic voice, she's kooky … I can't believe we have her in this town."
Back in 2003, Smith recorded a CD with what was then a pick-up backing band, dubbed the Junkmen. The resulting album, titled "Habit Breaks Habit," is a 12-song collection of soulful, funk-infused jazz. Since releasing the album, Smith has occasionally played with the Junk Men, though not in Missoula n not until now.
This weekend, that'll change when Smith and the Junkmen make their Missoula debut. With Boise bassist Bill Liles and drummer Dave John laying down their extremely tasty grooves, and local guitarist Barrett Meigs adding his fretwork, it should be a show that's both fun to listen to and fun to dance to.
Donna Smith and the Junkmen will perform this Friday, March 25, at the Roxy Theater. Doors open at 7:30, and the show starts at 8. Tickets are $8.
BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES
Think of it as the Mini-Me to Total Fest. This weekend, local indie label Wantage Records will bring together six bands from around the Northwest for a one-night event, dubbed the Western Invasion.
While only one of the bands officially hails from Missoula, the local connections run deep.
Book of Maps, for example, is a band that currently bases out of Portland, Ore.; but which includes all of the original members of late Missoula band One Point Plan.
Similarly, Jamie Henkensiefken currently calls Seattle home; but she is better known around here as "Jamie, from Switch" n the former Missoula band from the late heyday of Jay's Upstairs.
There's also one current-resident Missoula band on the night's roster: Two Year Touqe. Filling out the evening are two bands from Bellingham n Racetrack and USS Horsewhip n and Portland's Desperately Waiting.
Ultimately, the local and regional connections are about the closest ties between the bands to perform on Saturday. It would be hard to otherwise explain the juxtaposition of Henkensiefken's darkly ethereal solo musical explorations with Book of Maps' prog-punk punch; or Two Year Touqe's cute garage-pop with USS Horsewhip's fearfully aggressive punk.
All in all, it should be a pretty diverse show. With each band promising just a half-hour set, rest assured that if you don't like one band, the next one will be on stage by the time you get back from smoking a cigarette.
The whole thing goes down at Union Hall, at 208 E. Main, at 8 pm on Saturday, March 26. Tickets are $5 in advance (available at Ear Candy) or $6 at the door. This is an all-ages show.
Reach Joe Nickell at 523-5358 or at jnickell@missoulian.com.
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