Album Notes

group:
Tory - vocals, guitars, ebow, synthesizer, piano, organ, percussion, treatments.
Venus Slick - synthesizers, short wave radio, treatments.
Chuck Nowakowski - bass, ebow, treatments.
Aaron Evans - drums, cymbals, electronic percussion.

The album "Androidal Tissue" was made whilst under the influence of BAUHAUS. CHROME. 73-77 era PINK FLOYD. newer RADIOHEAD. JOHN CAGE. MORTON SUBOTNICK. A blend of dark art rock/space rock and experimental improvisation. Perfect to listen to in the dark whilst painting a rusty water tank with dayglo paints.

REVIEWS:

By Kevin Renick

It’s probably about time that Tory Z. Starbuck got a little more respect. The local rock icon has garnered most of his column inches in recent years for his dramatic hairstyles and flamboyant attire (Tory has always sculpted his appearance to suit his mood and aesthetic). But musically speaking, a lot of locals simply shrug Tory off as a quaint Bowie wanna-be or a hopelessly retro ’80s synth player. Their loss. The actual Tory story is a far more intricate one, with the depths of his musical adventurousness seldom acknowledged except by a handful of devotees. With a fascinating new album, Androidal Tissue, now out, several more albums complete but for cover art (more on that later), a growing collection of exotic instruments, and a healthy artistic partnership with wife Venus Slick in his comfortable U. City abode, Tory couldn’t be a better example of an individual pursuing his muse and breaking down creative barriers with enthusiasm and panache.
(this is continued at www.playbackstl.com/current/profiles/toryz.)

RIVERFRONT TIMES JORDAN HARPER
Tory Z. Starbuck, Androidal Tissue: I really mean no disrespect when I say that the most interesting thing about local legend Tory Z. Starbuck is his hair. Really, just look at it. Go to www.toryzstarbuck.com right now and look at his hair. Androidal Tissue would have to be the new Magical Mystery Tour to be as interesting as his hair.

The Beatles, Starbuck ain't. His music, which is mostly grinding goth rock and spooky ambient, is a mixed bag: The rock (in particular, the spacey, insistent "Scans Pictures") captures the gritty, sexy sounds of low-end rock pretty well, but the soundscapes never really jell and feel pretty wanky. If you edited out the ethereal stuff, you'd have a great getting-ready-to-party soundtrack for those nights when you're wearing all black

BIO: Tory Z Starbuck started recording as a solo artist in 1996. He had now been in the avant pop/rock and improvisational noise band Next Radio since 1990. His first solo recordings were more soundscape oriented, ambient and experimental. After Next Radio disbanded in 1998 Tory focused on going solo exclusively and put together a live band to play his music. Venus Slick has been with his group since 1998 and is on most of his recordings. There have been a few lineup changes and recycling musicians. In fact Next Radio members even come and go from time to time. The styles that seem to consistantly stay with his muzik are dark minor key melodies, electronic concrete sounds and his love of middle eastern influence and the more "avant garde" David Bowie.