superclustergroup

It could be argued that Athens music exists under the shadow of Pylon, one of the most influential bands to define the Athens scene in the late 70’s and early 80’s, the group that R.E.M. once called the best band in America.  Pylon–propulsive, energetic, at times deliriously chaotic–split early, though they periodically reunited, and in recent years seemed poised for a major resurgence.  This coincided with the emergence of lead singer Vanessa Briscoe Hay’s new project Supercluster, which was also significant because it represented a merging between two generations of Athens music, as she began to collaborate with musicians best known for their ties to the Elephant 6 Collective.  Supercluster (which has also featured Pylon’s Randy Bewley, Bill Hay and Bob Hay of Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars, Hannah Jones of Sound Houses/The New Sound of Numbers, Kay Stanton and Jason NeSmith of Casper & the Cookies, Heather McIntosh of The Instruments, John Fernandes of Circulatory System, and Bill David)  released an EP called Special 5, and began to perform regularly around Athens clubs, with a shifting and ever-expanding lineup.  But all of Athens was shaken with the sudden passing of guitarist Randy Bewley earlier this year.  It’s somewhat heartening, then, to see that Supercluster has endured:  on October 6th, Cloud Recordings will release Waves, the debut full-length by the band, which features Bewley’s last recordings, as well as intriguing new directions as Hay expands her sounds to embrace the talents of the new full Supercluster roster (excepting of Montreal’s B.P. Helium, who joined a mite too late to make this disc).

Waves includes all of the tracks from the earlier limited edition EP, including singalong standouts “Mermaid’s Tale” and “Anyone.”  But what’s most interesting is the truly collaborative spirit of the album.  Hay trades lead vocals with Hannah Jones and Kay Stanton, so if you detect sonic similarities with their projects, it’s no accident.  And Hay, with vocals like Patti Smith and lyrics like David Byrne, maintains a balance between New Wave, punk, and the experimental while appropriating sounds from the Appalachian to the Eastern.  (It should be noted that Supercluster as a whole is gentler than Pylon, but no less subversive.)  E6 fans will recognize a touch of Circulatory System as the cello and clarinet lend the melodies a twisting, serpentine quality.  But every bit of it is playful and fun, from protest songs (”Time to End the War,” “Peace Disco Song”) to the darker and surreal (”Too Many Eights”).  Supercluster no longer feels like an obscure side-project, but a worthy successor to the Pylon legend.  An MP3 is included below.

Waves,
by Supercluster

1. Superhero
2. Peace Disco Song
3. Brave Tree
4. Sunflower Clock
5. River
6. I Got The Answer
7. Mermaid’s Tale
8. Copper Palo
9. The Night I Died
10. Too Many Eights
11. Anyone
12. Time To End The War
13. 316