Press Release, 2009/12/16
Vostok Lake, the Auckland-based "melodramatic electroclash" outfit, are pleased to announce the release of their first full-length album, Small Group Psychosis, on Random Static Music.
Vostok Lake's singer-songwriter Daphne Lawless says that this is "the culmination of seven years hard work and bashing my head against a brick wall".
The album - described by Lawless as "thirteen cheerful pop songs about alienation, lust, insanity, and revenge" has been produced according to the "Weightless Music" ethos. This means it has been produced entirely on open-source software and consumer-standard equipment, without any involvement with professional studios.
"Vostok Lake is 100% within the Kiwi do-it-yourself tradition", says Lawless. "Electronic, open-source music is the wave of the 21st century. It's democratic, and it's punk."
Lawless admits to 80's synth-pop influences such as Kate Bush, Gary Numan and Depeche Mode. There are also hints of the Kiwi art-pop tradition, with nods to early Split Enz or Flying Nun bands such as the Chills or Look Blue Go Purple.
Many of the songs on Small Group Psychosis reflect a leftish and feminist commitment. "Abomination" is a smackdown of Destiny Church homophobia, while "For My Sister" is, according to the author, "my Louise Nicholas song."
Another influence is revealed by the inclusion of a cover of "Teachers", an early Leonard Cohen song.
"I love Laughing Lenny to bits," says Lawless. "I don't know why people keep saying he's depressing. He's hilarious."
Vostok Lake hopes to tour New Zealand in early 2010 to promote "Small Group Psychosis".
For more information, contact Random Static Music, or Daphne Lawless directly.About Daphne Lawless
Daphne originally comes from Wellington, where she played keyboards in various indie bands. Discovering Depeche Mode's "Black Celebration" album led to a major breakthrough, as she adopted sequencers and struck out as a solo act. She signed with independent publishing house Random Static in 2001, and adopted the name of Vostok Lake for her musical project in 2007. When not making melodramatic electroclash music, Daphne is a political activist, football goalkeeper, science fiction fan and cat lover. She has a PhD in New Zealand literature, and lives in Grey Lynn.
Albums released on Random Static Music:
- Facing Image (2001)
- Undinal Songs (2002)
- Anastasia (2006)
- Magical Internet (2008, as "Vostok Lake Auxillary Choir")
- Small Group Psychosis (2009, as Vostok Lake)
About Vostok Lake
Lake Vostok lies under four miles of ice in Antarctica, heated by underground streams. No-one knows whether life exists in it or not. Daphne Lawless adopted this name to reflect the themes of her music - "the cold of the electronics meets the subterranean warmth of the songwriting, and the whole thing is very mysterious."
This website and all materials on it are © 2008 Vostok Lake and Random Static. Please contact us for reproduction and dissemination rights. Last updated 2009/12/17.
Deklaro de 2009/12/16
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Ĉi tiu TTTej kaj ĉiuj eneroj © 2009 Vostok Lake kaj Random Static. Bonvolu kontaku al ni pri rajtoj al kopiado kaj dissendado. Laste ĝisdatigata 2009/12/17.

