Lights Out Asia
Encyclopedia
Lights Out Asia is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin
based post-rock
and Electronic
band that formed in February 2003.
musical project that formed in February 2003 when Chris Schafer and Mike Ystad, themselves members of Aurore Rien, decided to abandon the traditional post-rock band concept of their previous group and explore the intersection of post-rock, electronic and ambient music. In a short period, the two had written enough material for a full length album
. This work would come to be known as 'Garmonia', Lights Out Asia's first documented recording as a band. 'Garmonia' was released in 2004 to favorable reviews.
Shortly after the release of 'Garmonia,' Lights Out Asia added bassist/guitarist Mike Rush to the lineup. The band was signed to electronic label n5MD in 2007, and has released three albums on that imprint, as well as several remixes and contributions to the Chicago-based electronic/industrial label Tympanik. The band is currently working on a follow-up to 2010's 'In the Days of Jupiter.'
The band is known for their blending of synthesized atmospheres, samples and electronic beats with tracks of effects-laden delayed guitars. Chris Schafer's vocals are often mixed low, treated almost as another instrument, akin to dream-pop or shoegazing arrangements.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
based post-rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
and Electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
band that formed in February 2003.
History
Lights Out Asia is an electronicElectronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
musical project that formed in February 2003 when Chris Schafer and Mike Ystad, themselves members of Aurore Rien, decided to abandon the traditional post-rock band concept of their previous group and explore the intersection of post-rock, electronic and ambient music. In a short period, the two had written enough material for a full length album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
. This work would come to be known as 'Garmonia', Lights Out Asia's first documented recording as a band. 'Garmonia' was released in 2004 to favorable reviews.
Shortly after the release of 'Garmonia,' Lights Out Asia added bassist/guitarist Mike Rush to the lineup. The band was signed to electronic label n5MD in 2007, and has released three albums on that imprint, as well as several remixes and contributions to the Chicago-based electronic/industrial label Tympanik. The band is currently working on a follow-up to 2010's 'In the Days of Jupiter.'
The band is known for their blending of synthesized atmospheres, samples and electronic beats with tracks of effects-laden delayed guitars. Chris Schafer's vocals are often mixed low, treated almost as another instrument, akin to dream-pop or shoegazing arrangements.
Current members
- Mike Ystad : Electronics
- Chris Schafer: Guitar, Vox
- Mike Rush : Guitar, Bass
Albums
- Garmonia (Sun Sea Sky, 2003)
- Tanks and Recognizers (n5MD, 2007)
- Eyes Like Brontide (n5MD, 2008)
- In The Days of Jupiter (n5MD, 2010)
- TBA (n5MD, 2012)
Compilations
- Test Tones Vol. 4 (Clairecords, 2005) - "Knock Knock"
- Little Darla Has A Treat For You Vol.25 (Darla Records, 2007) - "Airports, Crying Airplanes"
- Emerging Organisms Vol.2 (Tympanik Audio, 2008) - "Outstretched To The Middle Of The Sky"
- One Five Zero (n5MD, 2009) - "Psiu! Puxa!"