Styrofoam Ones are urgent. The latest species to emerge from a
pop noir generation, they lure you in with basement echoes and proceed to
consume you with beastly anthems and a live show that consistently slays dance
floors. The trio authentically mesh the current club obsessions of synth sounds
and pop hooks with the core DIY ethos and energy of the punk scene. As a
result, they’ve found themselves sharing the stage with Kid Cudi one night and
then performing out of the back of a UHAUL truck-turned-video installation
during Toronto’s famed free arts night, Nuit Blanche the next. Their releases
to date continue to stay in high demand, taking the form of a 7’ and limited
edition hand-stenciled EPs.
Founding members Josh McGuirk (bass & vocals) and Alexander
The (synths & vocals), came from opposite ends of the culturally infused
city of Toronto, and met in the middle over a mutual appreciation for cult
films and dollar bin records. When the two multi-instrumentalists began
discussing music and playing together they realized they had stumbled upon what
they were looking for. With steady work as producers for other
artists, Josh and Alexander had yet to find the project that allowed them to
truly focus their collective integrity. “We started as a production duo and
could’ve just sold our beats”, says Josh. “But we wanted to do something more
meaningful for us.” The eventual addition of drummer Clay Jones rounded out the
sound with a thrashin …
Styrofoam Ones are urgent. The latest species to emerge from a
pop noir generation, they lure you in with basement echoes and proceed to
consume you with beastly anthems and a live show that consistently slays dance
floors. The trio authentically mesh the current club obsessions of synth sounds
and pop hooks with the core DIY ethos and energy of the punk scene. As a
result, they’ve found themselves sharing the stage with Kid Cudi one night and
then performing out of the back of a UHAUL truck-turned-video installation
during Toronto’s famed free arts night, Nuit Blanche the next. Their releases
to date continue to stay in high demand, taking the form of a 7’ and limited
edition hand-stenciled EPs.
Founding members Josh McGuirk (bass & vocals) and Alexander
The (synths & vocals), came from opposite ends of the culturally infused
city of Toronto, and met in the middle over a mutual appreciation for cult
films and dollar bin records. When the two multi-instrumentalists began
discussing music and playing together they realized they had stumbled upon what
they were looking for. With steady work as producers for other
artists, Josh and Alexander had yet to find the project that allowed them to
truly focus their collective integrity. “We started as a production duo and
could’ve just sold our beats”, says Josh. “But we wanted to do something more
meaningful for us.” The eventual addition of drummer Clay Jones rounded out the
sound with a thrashing Math-rock beat and a clear future.
Fresh off a raucous release party and a national performance on
MTV LIVE, Styrofoam Ones’ sound is now finding its way across the globe via a
bevy of fresh remixes of their EP’s lead single, O.T.T.AP. The fast fusion of
spacey keyboards, fuzzed-out bass and pounding drums have culminated into a
feverish mix of soulful, energetic post-punk that’s best served up at a grimy,
sweaty "look at her, I gotta say something" kind of
party. Say the words “Styrofoam Ones” and you’ve triggered Toronto’s new
sense of hope and urgency for 2010.
“Toronto synth-punk trio Styrofoam Ones’ fan base has
grown steadily over the past couple of years thanks to their raucous live
shows, and they’ve finally documented that energy in this debut EP… Playing
everything live instead of relying excessively on sequencers for the electronic
bits helps on that end, but ultimately what makes this a winner is the songs
themselves, which perfectly capture the impatient energy of adolescence.”
Rating: NNNN *Critics Pick
-NOW
MAGAZINE ‘09
