Deep in the woods of western Pennsylvania vocoders hum amongst the flowers and synths bubble under the leaf-strewn ground while flutes whistle in the wind and beats bounce to the soft drizzle of a warm acid rain. As the sun peeks out from between the clouds, the organic aural concoction of Black Moth Super Rainbow starts to glisten above the trees. – Graveface
Black Moth Super Rainbow are as out-there musically as their name would imply. Psychedelia is the reference point, filtered through a childlike innocence and wonder, and implemented with bargain-basement instruments and electronics. – All Music Guide
Pittsburgh, PA BSMR are an explorers of childlike wonder and innocence, filtered through the spirit of bands like Air, Boards Of Canada and bands from Elephant 6 collective. Yet, for all the obsession with rainbows and various colors, their music have also moody and somewhat dark undercurrent bubbling just beneath the surface.
Before they became BSMR, the band went through a couple of other identities – first they were called Allegheny White Fish, but according to a band member Tobacco, the band was happy with that name when they came up with it in the 10th grade, but it didn’t sounded very well 4 years later. AWF released a lot of material, most of which was available in edition of 15 to 40 copies and much of it subsequently appeared on Tobacco’s 2009 album “The Allegheny White Fish Tapes”.
The next incarnation of the band was Satanstompingcaterpillars – between 2000 and 2002 the band recorded a few albums under that name on such labels as Fuckeroo Records and Side 8. After 2002 release “The Most Wonderfulest Thing” the band expanded to 5 members and changed their name to Black Moth Super Rainbow.
Their debut was 2003 “Falling Through A Field”, which came out as a joint release between the band’s own 70s Gymnastics Recording Co. and Graveface labels. Fake Jazz website pointed out that “In addition to evoking warm and fuzzy feelings, Falling Through A Field emits a strange vibe. A contradiction between the distant, shadowy melodies and light, earthy sound of the vintage instruments adds an air of mystery, setting this record apart from its contemporaries.”
Next year brought “Start A People” LP, which, according to All Music Guide, was not as strong as their next album “Dandelion Gum”, but AMG also pointed out that “the song sketches on Start a People lay down the blueprint for a lo-fi psychedelic manifesto unlike anything ever heard before.”
Further on, the band produced “Lost, Picking Flowers In The Woods” EP and “The House Of Apples And Eyeballs”, a collaboration with The Octopus Project (both of which came out on Graveface label).
Their next full-length was 2007 “Dandelion Gum” (also on Graveface), which, according to AMG, was based around “a concept of candy-making witches who inhabit a forest and lure hapless locals to their doom with their sweets”. Pitchfork commented that “like much of their past work” the album :comes over like a spry, airy, and tremendously evocative instrumental Boards of Canada interlude.”
The band’s latest record (as of 2009) is “Eating Us”, which was produced by Dave Fridmann (Mercury Rev / Flaming Lips). AMG described the record as being “far slicker and pro sounding than anything they’ve done before.” In the end, AMG concluded that “On Eating Us, Black Moth Super Rainbow prove that they can grow up a little without growing boring, and still deliver exactly the same amount of unhealthy sweetness as before.”
In addition to their work with BMSR, band members released numerous solo albums, including Tobacco’s “Fucked Up Friends” (Anticon label), and Power Pill Fist’s “Extra Life”, which was a joint release between 70s Gymnastics and Graveface labels.
Band Members:
Bony Legs / Father Hummingbird
Iffernaut (D. Kyler)
Power Pill Fist
Ryan Graveface (Ryan Manon) (Dreamend)
Seven Fields Of Aphelion
Tobacco
Discography:
Allegheny White Fish
The Anti Freakout Method Cdr (Fuckeroo, 1999)
Satanstompingcaterpillars
Flower Slides CD (Fuckeroo, 2000)
“The Autumn Kaleidoscope Got Changed” (Album, Sing To Us) CDr (Side 8, 2001)
The Most Wonderfulest Thing CD (Side 8, 2002)
Black Moth Super Rainbow
Electric Avenue Chapter 8 CD (Duotone, 2003)
Falling Through A Field CD (70’s Gymnastics + Graveface, 2003 / 2007)
Chinese Witch Guy With An Ax CDr (70’s Gymnastics, 2004)
Start A People CD (70’s Gymnastics + Graveface, 2004 / 2007)
Lost, Picking Flowers In The Woods EP CD / 12″ (Graveface, 2005)
The House Of Apples And Eyeballs (with Octopus Project) CD / LP (Graveface, 2006)
Dandelion Gum CD / 2xLP (Graveface, 2007)
Drippers EP CD / 10″ (70’s Gymnastics + Graveface, 2008 / Moamoo, 2008)
Zodiac Girls 7″ (Suicide Squeeze, 2008)
Born On A Day The Sun Didn’t Rise CDr / 7″ (Graveface, 2009)
Don’t You Want To Be In A Cult / Feel The Drip 12″ (Mexican Summer, 2009)
Eating Us CD (Graveface, 2009 / Moamoo, 2009 / Memphis Industries, 2009)
Compilation Tracks:
“I Think It Is Beautiful That You Are 256 Colors Too” on Rallye Cloak (Rallye, 2004)
“Sun Lips” + “Elq Milq” on Graveface Sampler (Graveface, 2007)
“Drippy Eye” on Incite 57 (XLR8R Magazine, 2007)
“Lost, Picking Flowers In The Woods (Remix)” on Birth Certificate (I, Absentee, 2008)
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