Xploding Plastix: Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents (2001) 03/01/2009

Just as contentious as the classification “post-rock” is the term “livetronica.” Essentially a fusion of electronic music and live instrumentation, it’s typically associated with the jam band scene, since groups like the Disco Biscuits and Sound Tribe Sector 9 are among its most famous practitioners. Like many jam-related subgeneres, however, livetronica has a more inclusive appeal than one might think. I mean, I don’t like to dance at all, but having actual musicians involved takes away a lot of the anonymous monotony that bores me in regular dance music. Although they’re more likely to play to bespectacled hipster crowds, I would personally include bands like Ratatat, The Octopus Project, Sleepy Eyes of Death and Xploding Plastix under the livetronica heading. The last of these is a Norwegian duo, comprised of Jens Petter Nilsen and Hallvard Wennersberg Hagen (once the keyboardist of unfortunately forgotten black metallists Kvist). Their invigorating debut, the amusingly-titled Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents, crossbreeds flavors of jazz and trip-hop with whirlwind IDM rhythms, exotica’s velvet cocktail lounge opulence and the moody ambience of a film noir soundtrack. It feels like a spy movie, and copious dialogue samples — the only vocals heard — reinforce the retro-modern cinematic aesthetic. Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents makes great background music, while the kinetic percussion on singles “Behind the Eightball” and “Treat Me Mean, I Need the Reputation,” as well as highlights like “Having Smarter Babies” and “Comatose Luck” perking up the album’s mellower latter half, make it just as suited to active listening. Its shifting mélange is immersive enough to reel in even those who think they hate electronic music.

“Doubletalk Gets Through to You” (fan-created video)

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