Album Notes

The Starfolk took shape in 2008 when renowned songwriter Brian Tighe (the Hang Ups, the Owls) and Allison LaBonne (The Owls, The Legendary Jim Ruiz Group) teamed up with drummer and long time collaborator Stephen Ittner (the Hang Ups, the Owls) and cellist Jacqueline Ultan (Jelloslave, AntiGravity). Together they infused Tighe’s penchant for melodic pop with a dose of dissonance; conjuring a sound ranging from chamber pop to psych/folk/rock to atmospheric experimental.  
They are currently working on their debut LP. Their style can be compared to Stereolab, The  Pixies, Joanna Newsome, and Belle and Sebastian.

Typsy Panthre formed in 2008 when illustrious guitarist and songwriter John Crozier (Ninian Hawick, Ninotchka, the Hang Ups, Shebrews) enlisted Allison LaBonne (the Owls) to sing on a demo of his new material. Intrigued by the results, Crozier produced more and more songs for LaBonne to sing; cultivating an electronic sound that fuses elements of trip hop, Euro-dance and melodic avant-pop. Typsy Panthre is also at work on their debut LP, and their sound can be compared to Portishead, Kraftwerk, and Metric.

Lemon-Lime EP features two sonic gems by each band, providing a satisfying taste of the albums to come and an extremely listenable soundscape for lovers of indie pop/rock. Allison LaBonne’s guileless voice is the consistent thread running through the EP; taking the listener through musical terrain both expansively diverse and gratifyingly whole.
Brian Tighe’s music with the Hang Ups and The Owls has received widespread critical acclaim and radio play, and his songs have appeared in the motion pictures Chasing Amy and Mozart and the Whale. In the Starfolk, Tighe’s ever-enamoring sense of chord progression and melody is made keenly dramatic when gilded with Jacqueline Ultan’s ferociously beautiful cello work.

John Crozier is one of Minneapolis’ cult music icons. Known for his brilliant guitar work in countless collaborations as well as his creation of provocative underground recording projects; Lemon-Lime EP marks his first release in 8 years. The simplicity of LaBonne’s voice against Crozier’s complex, textural arrangements breathes humanity into this artfully mechanized musical realm. Consummate director Philip Harder (Low, Liz Phair, Foo  Fighters) has taken the project under his wing; creating stunning music videos for “All Fall Down” and “Hitch-Hiker.”

Together, on Lemon-Lime EP, The Starfolk and Typsy Panthre deliver a concise, densely-packed, yet surprisingly vast  sonic experience.