SEMI-GLOSS are: Verena Wiesendanger - vocals, keyboards,Jordy Mokriski - guitar, vocals,Gregory Graf - bass,Jason Harmon - drums
Semi-Gloss is the forthcoming release from one of the most charmingly sophisticated rock bands to float out of the blue skies above New York City in a long while. Fronted by a lead singer named Verena, a Swiss/French/Chinese chanteuse with deep-as-Sartre, french inflected vocals who performs in straight-out-of-Paris-in-the-50's- dinner gowns, Semi-Gloss mix a gracefully romantic lyrical quality with a fragile assault of guitars.
After releasing two fabulously 60's, telecaster lined four track singles which were originally made as demo recordings, the band took Manhattan by storm in 1996, selling out frequesnt shows at Fez and opening for the likes of Magnetic Fields and Rasputina. Earl '97 saw the release of the band's first ep "Teenie" recorded out in rural Pennsylvania at Church Box Studios with Jay from Suddenly Tammy! producing... (it's actually a run down red brick church that's been converted into a studio.) The result is a record that ends up sounding as if Roddy Frame had joined Modern Lovers and they both moved to Paris after soaking up the west coast sun.
Semi-Gloss's debut album continues that feeling, with its fair share of indie rock meets sophisticated lounge-club numbers. The band are also quite adept at crafting instantly catchy pop songs while putting their own insightful spin on tried and true themes such as the sting of being burned by love (Sunburn Song), or the magic of a romantic evening (Late Night Stroll). They also show a sense of humor with their own surroundings on songs such as "Eight Million Strong", poking fun at being young and uberhip in New York City.
On the horizon for 1997 besides the release fo their self-titled debut album will be lots of touring, some recording for upcoming releases, and... no doubt...some experimenting with some of the fine 24-hour deli fare currently available in manhattan. They are poised and ready to take on the world... keyboards, fender strats, & white gloves firmly in place.
...courtesy of Dirt Records
Semi-Gloss:
1. sans expliquer 2. the sunburn song 3. eight million strong 4. free 5. summer fields 6. a reason why 7. latenight stroll 8. groupie's lament 9. whistlin' girl 10. morning takes the night 11. the majestic
Produced by John Hancock
and Michael Deming
Engineered by Michael Deming
Recorded at studio .45, Hartfort, CT
PC 1997 dirt Records™