Album Notes

"Coming from Portland label Lucky Madison, Talkdemonic's debut release, Mutiny Sunshine, highlighted the promise and originality which can be found in bedrooms, basements, and smaller, upstart labels. Largely a one man effort, Kevin O'Connor mixed together beats, loops, samples, guitar, viola, flute, synthesizer, and live drumming to create an immediately accessible album for fans of both rock and electronic music. Though Talkdemonic may best be known for the drumming played over the tracks, the programming, beats, and instrumentation brought together a complete sound on Mutiny Sunshine, providing a consistency lacking on many first releases. From the cozy and forlorn title track to the grand optimism of "Andean Twilight," the album proved to be versatile and multifaceted, fitting many moods and environments. With a first-rate debut and an impressive live show, O'Connor has situated himself to be positioned in a flighty echelon of up-and-coming musicmakers. 4.5 out of 5."

-Derek Cockle, Tiny Mix Tapes


"On the album O'Connor's musicianship is apparent, but the mix is so subtle and unobtrusive that at times the drums become just another instrument. In live shows, though O'Connor puts his drumming on display. While the prerecorded tracks pulse from his laptop, O'Connor transforms his drum kit from a metronome into an instrument he can manipulate. Pushing and pulling rhythms, O'Connor leads the listener step by step from a steady hip-hop rhythm to a manic musical pitch filled with cymbal crashes and improvised fills. O'Connor's subtle body language and his taste for both the bombastic and the measured help him emote anger as deftly as joy or sadness--all this without opening his mouth."

-Mark Baumgarten, Willamette Week


"Imagine DJ Shadow swearing off turntables and samplers and turning to live instruments. Talkdemonic's Kevin O'Connor doesn't work completely sample free, but he does play live drums over what sounds like proprietary guitar loops and sequencing. I'll be damned if Thom Yorke's vocals wouldn't fit these tracks like a glove."

-3Hive.com


"Usually, technology affords single-person bands to replace drummers with drum machines. Talkdemonic's Kevin O'Connor, on the other hand, works the inverse, playing live drums over pre-programmed guitars, synth sequencing, strings, erhu samples, IDMmy loops, and the occasional gianormous throb of sub-bass to get the pelvises jittery. It's emotive, rhythmic music that would be just as comfortable on Temporary Residence as it would backing rhymes by some of the somberer emcees, like maybe Awol ONE."

-Julianne Shepherd, Portland Mercury


"Kevin sits behind a drum kit and accompanies his own loops and electronic orchestrations of music that sounds like travels, embedding influences of foreign culture into the eerie loveliness of the songs."

-Marjorie Skinner, Portland Mercury