Lightfromadeadstar

Infobox musical artist
Name = Lightfromadeadstar


Img_capt = Adrien McCarthy
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Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = New York, New York, USA
Genre = Electronic rock
Years_active = 2001–present
Label = Suspicious Records 2008-present
Associated_acts =
URL =
Current_members = Adrien McCarthy
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Lightfromadeadstar is an American electronic rock band from New York. Their name (the words, Light From a Dead Star, strung together as one) is taken from the title of a song by Lush. The band is currently signed to the Hive Records sublabel Suspicious Records.

Music

Lightfromadeadstar's sound, at its most basic, may be categorized as electronic rock. Cinematic in scope, the band rely heavily on the use of textured samples to create film noir atmospheres within their songs. Unlike most electronic acts, Lightfromadeadstar's music carries a wealth of emotional content. The use of traditional instruments (drums, guitars, bass) and intelligent, emotional lyrics help separate the band from the genre's traditional "cold" content. Founding member Adrien McCarthy has cited music from new wave, shoegaze, industrial and trip hop as being equally important early influences.

History

Founded in 2001 by singer/multi instrumentalist Adrien McCarthy, Lightfromadeadstar quietly slipped into the New York City electronic underground with "Valotte", a debut single that successfully combined the Bristol UK trip hop stylings of Massive Attack and Portishead with the emotional weight of bands like The Cure and Nine Inch Nails. The song and subsequent remixes that followed quickly began turning heads and eventually McCarthy was asked to perform the music for "The Love Song Of Henry Milk" a film which was awarded "Best Original Score" at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival.

With the dark, pensive nature of the film still fresh in his mind, McCarthy entered the studio to record the first proper full length Lightfromadeadstar album. Two years later in September 2004, he emerged with "The Missing" a nine song collection of erotic, heartfelt and unsettling electronica. His unique storytelling and vocal style pulled listeners calmly through the pensive first notes of the album's title track, the 80's new wave influenced "The Last Time", the digital breakbeat storm of "Breakaway" and the beautiful shoegaze laced "Long Division". The album reached #3 on the ITunes Music Store's electronic music charts in March, 2005 just above The Chemical Brothers new release "Push The Button" an accomplishment considering Lightfromadeadstar was relatively unknown at the time.

Reluctant to be another "guy on stage with laptop", McCarthy sought musicians to perform "The Missing" live. He enlisted guitarist David Ley (formerly of the progressive rock outfit Torpor), drummer Ben Phelps (formerly of the metal band How The Hell She Died) and keyboardist Will McCutcheon (electronica's Mekagojira) to fill the lineup. The band performed its first official show before a sold out crowd at New York City's The Delancey on Oct. 15th, 2005. The year that followed saw them refine their live sound as their dark, energetic live performances gathered praise. Lightfromadeadstar closed out the summer of 2006 by supporting Atlantic Records alternative rockers Kill Hannah.

After a short break from performing live, McCarthy decided to record the follow up to "The Missing" with McCutcheon, Ley and Phelps but unfocused early sessions provided little to work with. Due to the group's stalemate and growing personal tensions, McCarthy decided to dissolve the band in order to focus on writing the album alone as he did on "The Missing".

McCarthy signed a three year deal with Suspicious Records (Saltillo, The Leaf, Sunday Munich) in January, 2008.

Band Members

*Adrien McCarthy: songwriter, all recorded performance (vocals. keyboards. sampling, guitar, bass), pre and post production on the full length album "The Missing" and the maxi single "Valotte".

Lightfromadeadstar Live 2004-2006

*Will McCutcheon: keyboards, samplers
*Adrien McCarthy: vocals, guitars
*Ben Phelps: drums, percussion, drum machine
*David Ley: guitars, keyboards, samplers

Discography

Albums

External links

* [http://www.lfads.com/ Lightfromadeadstar official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/lightfromadeadstar Lightfromadeadstar on MySpace.com]
* [http://www.lowlightonline.com/lfdsshines.html Lowlight Magazine interview with Adrien McCarthy]