Fool's Gold (band)
Encyclopedia
Fool's Gold is a Los Angeles
collective that weaves together Western
pop
aesthetics with Africa
n rhythms and melodies. The group started as a side project of musicians Luke Top (a vocalist and bassist) and Lewis Pesacov (lead guitarist), who set out to explore their shared love of various forms of African music (specifically Congolese
, Ethiopian
, Eritrean
and Malian
), Krautrock
, and 1980s dance influenced pop music.
at age three, while Pesacov earned a degree in classical music
theory and composition while studying underneath American composers Mark Randall-Osborn and Franklin Cox
. Joining their cultural and musical backgrounds, the two began writing songs together, many of which would eventually appear on their self-titled debut album in 2009.
Top has said that the band's name came from a trip he and Pesacov took to Northern California in which a mutual friend described a time when she found fool's gold in the ocean.
Fool's Gold expanded to a sizable band composed of numerous accomplished and unique musicians. Among the members joining Top and Pesacov were Garrett Ray, Jimmy Vincent and Matt Popieluch of Pesacov's other band, Foreign Born
; Latin American pop star Erica Garcia
; former drummer for The Fall, Orpheo McCord; Michael Tapper, formerly of We Are Scientists
as well as several other percussionists, musicians and vocalists.
In late 2009, the band was chosen as of one Beyond Race
Magazines 50 Emerging Artists, resulting in a spot in the publication's #11 issue, as well as an exclusive Q&A for the magazine's site.
Fool’s Gold fiery live shows have earned them invitations to The Hollywood Bowl, The Summerstage in Central Park NYC and The Black Sessions in Paris. Fool’s Gold have played events such as Glastonbury, Reading, Leeds, Oya, Austin City Limits Music Festival and London Calling Fest (Amsterdam). Currently touring with The Red Hot Chili Peppers England tour (2011)
were mostly recorded live over a two-day session at the Sunset Lodge recording studio in Los Angeles in 2008; tracks were later completed in various apartment living rooms in the early parts of 2009. Top and Pesacov collaborated on the music, written over a three-year span.
The album was released on September 29, 2009 through Los Angeles label IAMSOUND Records
on both 12" vinyl
and compact disc
formats; it was subsequently released worldwide on January 25, 2010.
An obvious distinction in the new record is that it is sung predominately in English. This was an intuitive choice, much in the way the debut album leaned towards Hebrew. “Singing in Hebrew on the first record allowed me to find my voice; it helped me to come out of my shell and push myself into letting go, both as a performer and songwriter” says singer Luke Top. “As the words and themes for this record started to take shape, I knew I had to express them in English, my first language. Being that this is a far more personal and nuanced collection of songs, it was important to me that my ideas were expressed as clearly as possible, both to myself and to the listener.”
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
collective that weaves together Western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
aesthetics with Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n rhythms and melodies. The group started as a side project of musicians Luke Top (a vocalist and bassist) and Lewis Pesacov (lead guitarist), who set out to explore their shared love of various forms of African music (specifically Congolese
Music of the Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo is an African nation with close musical ties to its neighbor, the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, Ethiopian
Music of Ethiopia
The music of Ethiopia is extremely diverse, with each of Ethiopia's ethnic groups being associated with unique sounds. Some forms of traditional music are strongly influenced by folk music from elsewhere in the Horn of Africa, especially Somalia. However, Ethiopian religious music also has an...
, Eritrean
Music of Eritrea
Eritrea is a country in the Horn of Africa. Perhaps the most famous Eritrean musicians in history are Eng. Asghedom W.Micheal, Bereket Mengisteab, Yemane Baria, Osman Abderrehim, Alamin Abdeletif & Atowe Birhan Segid, some of whose music were banned by the Ethiopian government in the 1970s...
and Malian
Music of Mali
The Music of Mali is dominated by forms derived from the ancient Mande Empire. The Mande people make up most of the country's population, and their musicians, professional performers called jeliw , have produced a vibrant popular music scene alongside traditional folk music...
), Krautrock
Krautrock
Krautrock is a generic name for the experimental music scenes that appeared in Germany in the late 1960s and gained popularity throughout the 1970s, especially in Britain. The term is a result of the English-speaking world's reception of the music at the time and not a reference to any one...
, and 1980s dance influenced pop music.
Formation
The band was formed initially as a collaboration between Top and Pesacov in 2007. Top had immigrated to Los Angeles from IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
at age three, while Pesacov earned a degree in classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
theory and composition while studying underneath American composers Mark Randall-Osborn and Franklin Cox
Franklin Cox
Franklin Cox is an American composer and cellist. He composes music in the school of New Complexity and his performances range from new music to classical chamber works.-Life:...
. Joining their cultural and musical backgrounds, the two began writing songs together, many of which would eventually appear on their self-titled debut album in 2009.
Top has said that the band's name came from a trip he and Pesacov took to Northern California in which a mutual friend described a time when she found fool's gold in the ocean.
Fool's Gold expanded to a sizable band composed of numerous accomplished and unique musicians. Among the members joining Top and Pesacov were Garrett Ray, Jimmy Vincent and Matt Popieluch of Pesacov's other band, Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Foreign Born is an American folk rock band. They began in San Francisco during the late summer months of 2003, but soon relocated to Los Angeles. They self-released their first 12" single , and then their debut EP "In the Remote Woods" via StarTime International Records...
; Latin American pop star Erica Garcia
Erica Garcia
Erica García, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is a composer, singer and an actress of Argentinian-American descent. She has been nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2000 for Best Female Rock Artist for her popular tune "Vete Destino".-Musical career:...
; former drummer for The Fall, Orpheo McCord; Michael Tapper, formerly of We Are Scientists
We Are Scientists
We Are Scientists is a New York-based indie rock band that formed in Berkeley, California in 2000. Originally formed of Keith Murray on drums, Chris Cain playing bass guitar and Scott Lamb providing vocals and guitar, before Michael Tapper became drummer and Keith became vocalist and guitarist...
as well as several other percussionists, musicians and vocalists.
In late 2009, the band was chosen as of one Beyond Race
Beyond Race
Beyond Race Magazine is a quarterly magazine based in New York primarily centered on independent and emerging artists, covering music, film, and other arts, such as literature, graffiti, tattooing, and visual arts...
Magazines 50 Emerging Artists, resulting in a spot in the publication's #11 issue, as well as an exclusive Q&A for the magazine's site.
Fool’s Gold fiery live shows have earned them invitations to The Hollywood Bowl, The Summerstage in Central Park NYC and The Black Sessions in Paris. Fool’s Gold have played events such as Glastonbury, Reading, Leeds, Oya, Austin City Limits Music Festival and London Calling Fest (Amsterdam). Currently touring with The Red Hot Chili Peppers England tour (2011)
Debut album
The songs for the band's self-titled album Fool's GoldFool's Gold (album)
Fool's Gold is the first studio album by the American indie band Fool's Gold. It was released on September 29, 2009 by IAMSOUND Records in the United States, and on January 25, 2010 in the United Kingdom.-Track listing:# "Surprise Hotel" – 6:48...
were mostly recorded live over a two-day session at the Sunset Lodge recording studio in Los Angeles in 2008; tracks were later completed in various apartment living rooms in the early parts of 2009. Top and Pesacov collaborated on the music, written over a three-year span.
The album was released on September 29, 2009 through Los Angeles label IAMSOUND Records
IAMSOUND Records
IAMSOUND Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label. Started as a part of Worlds End Management , one of the largest producer management companies in America, it was created in 2006....
on both 12" vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
and compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
formats; it was subsequently released worldwide on January 25, 2010.
Leave No Trace
After many tours following the release of their self-titled debut, the once sizeable collective organically evolved into a tight-knit five-member “Band,” featuring vocalist/bassist Luke Top, guitarist Lewis Pesacov, drummer Garrett Ray, multi-instrumentalist Brad Caulkins, and percussionist Salvador Placencia. Confident, focused and much more personal, this new line-up allowed for the dynamic of the group to blossom, redefining and sculpting their sound for their sophomore LP.An obvious distinction in the new record is that it is sung predominately in English. This was an intuitive choice, much in the way the debut album leaned towards Hebrew. “Singing in Hebrew on the first record allowed me to find my voice; it helped me to come out of my shell and push myself into letting go, both as a performer and songwriter” says singer Luke Top. “As the words and themes for this record started to take shape, I knew I had to express them in English, my first language. Being that this is a far more personal and nuanced collection of songs, it was important to me that my ideas were expressed as clearly as possible, both to myself and to the listener.”
Studio albums
- Fool's GoldFool's Gold (album)Fool's Gold is the first studio album by the American indie band Fool's Gold. It was released on September 29, 2009 by IAMSOUND Records in the United States, and on January 25, 2010 in the United Kingdom.-Track listing:# "Surprise Hotel" – 6:48...
CD/12" (IAMSOUND RecordsIAMSOUND RecordsIAMSOUND Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label. Started as a part of Worlds End Management , one of the largest producer management companies in America, it was created in 2006....
, 2009) - Leave No TraceLeave No Trace (album)Leave No Trace is the second studio album by the American indie band Fool's Gold. Released on August 16, 2011 by IAMSOUND Records in the United States.-Critical response:Spin gave "Leave No Trace" a score of 6/10...
CD/12" (IAMSOUND RecordsIAMSOUND RecordsIAMSOUND Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label. Started as a part of Worlds End Management , one of the largest producer management companies in America, it was created in 2006....
, 2011)
Singles
- "Surprise Hotel", Limited Edition 7" (IAMSOUND Records, 2009)
- "Nadine", Limited Edition 7" (IAMSOUND Records, 2010)
External links
- Official website
- MySpace
- Band profile at their record label, IAMSOUND Records
- [ Fool's Gold] at allmusic.com