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So we were impressed with some of the preview debut Wail To God EP (see review HERE) but as an album, it makes more sense.

The interesting ‘geek’ fact behind Ape School is that it was at the Uni, Johnson happened upon what turned out to be the only the fourth ever Moog Modular synthesizer that Robert Moog made in 1965! And just in case this is a new name to you, Dr. Moog’s synths expertise has been at the forefront on modern electronic music since it’s invention from Jean Jaques Perrey to ELP to Brian Eno to Stereolab to Luke Vibert and countless others (if not done so, worth checking out the documentary by Hans Fjellestad on this one off electronic musical instrument pioneer - see links below).

So Johnson had the good sense to fix it up and start recording songs that are in a totally different direction his past musical adventures of Kurt Heasley’s Lilys and SubPop’s Holopaw. He’s used the Modular to craft a combination of sparse, lush, angular soundtracks that at times fall into 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s pop along with providing guitar, drums and vocals himself.

Perhaps it’s due to this, the album sounds more like Bowie in his Berlin/Eno period with the leftfield lo-fi brilliance of ‘founder’ Alfred Daedelus Darlington (like ‘Floridian Grime’ and ‘Deathstomp’) that can also flip to the experimental leftfield of ‘Caveman Vs. Canary’ or warped Country of ‘The Underground’.

As an aside, whilst we’re mentioning Daedelus, my current iPod favourites are the Daedelus remix of ‘Wail To God’ and the XXXChange remix of Deadelus’ ‘Make It So’ that you should know by now features Johnson on vocals).

Anyway, back to the Ape School album, comparisons have been made to Todd Rundgren, possibly due to the pop elements when the Runt was at his peak, or possibly his control freak obsessions. ‘Did What I Did’ certainly flirts with 60s pop and whilst I love ‘My Intention’, its half U2, half synth-pop demo nature is disturbing.

The rumours were that Ape School was going to be a joint release with Daedelus “upon graduation from Primate U” but Counter got Michael Pecchio to mix the album in a strange sub-The Long Lost feel (particularly ‘It’s Over’). It’s Daedelus and then it’s not but I think fans of both will fall for synth zoo enclosure of Ape School.

Forthcoming Gigs:
8th July 2009 North Star w/ Folklore, Madeline & The White Flag Band, The Ginger Envelope Philadelphia
24th July 2009 Littlefield w/ Malajube Brooklyn, New York
27th Sept 2009 Jonny Brenda’s w/ Still Flyin, Folklore, Philadelphia

Reviewed: Ape School - Ape School (Counter Records) Cat. No: COUNTCD019 Release date: 6th July 2009
Tracklisting:
1 Wail To God (2:22)
2 That’s OK (2:48)
3 Did What I Did (2:16)
4 My Intention (3:53)
5 Be An Encore (3:41)
6 It’s Over (2:47)
7 Caveman Vs Canary (4:02)
8 The Underground (2:44)
9 Deathstomp (3:24)
10 Floridian Grime (2:06)
11 In Time You Are (2:59)
12 Rip Together, Rip Apart (4:12)
13 No Shame (3:50)

Links:
www.myspace.com/apeschool
www.myspace.com/counterspace
www.myspace.com/holopaw
Moog (2004) imdb
www.bobmoog.com
www.moogfoundation.org