Self-professed “post-punk electronic balladeers” the London duo of Erik Stein (lead vocals/rhythm piano) and Jon Boux (lead piano/rhythm vocals) have created a unique piano/vocal sound that uncannily captures both the subtlety and sophistication of Erik Stein’s personal lyrical stylings.
Hot on the heels of their 2007 debut ‘Paper Wraps Rock’ (highlighted by leading British music journalist Mick Mercer as one of his albums of the year), Cult With No Name’s returned with ‘Careful What You Wish For’. It’s an album that takes positive delight in exploiting their influences, complete with a stunning version of The Stranglers’ ‘Golden Brown’ and some quite remarkable violin from Tuxedomoon legend Blaine L. Reininger.
Their more minimal first release with Trakwerx Records, “Paper Wraps Rock” would be impossible to categorize without references to such important artists ranging in time (and style) as Erik Satie, George Gershwin, Keith Jarrett, Court and Spark era Joni Mitchell and Honky Chateau era Elton John. “80’s” references would have to include Wire, Shriekback, Roxy Music, Tuxedomoon and 17 Pygmies.
Varyingly described as ‘clever, subtle, sophisticated’, ‘simply unforgettable’ and (their all-time favourite) ‘the anticoldplay’, it’s fitting that Cult With No Name have now turned their attention to cinema, for their first DVD release “Lightwerx: The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari”. And it’s even more fitting that the German expressionist classic gets the CWNN treatment. Cult With No Name’s compulsive and compelling soundtrack extends their ability to instantly create evocative moods over 51 breathtaking minutes. As the bleak story unfolds, each piece seamlessly drifts and merges into the next, along a journey that takes in warm ambience, nerve-shredding distortion, popular (and maybe even unpopular) song, and vast, expansive futurist soundscapes.
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