New Haven, CT: When one thinks of synthpop, Connecticut isn’t one of the first places that spring to mind, but for genre-bending electronic group TWITCH THE RIPPER, being an anomaly in that New England state has helped them avoid a “scene” and spurred them to discover their own sound. “We live close enough to those major areas which gives us the freedom not to be over exposed in one major city,” explains Jon Dobyns, one half of the duo. “I see it as a positive aspect that I’m not immersed in a ‘scene’. Perhaps by growing up and living in Connecticut, it’ll help create a sound here that’s based on ours.” Gearing up to plant these seeds, the band will be independently releasing their debut album BODILESS onFebruary 1, 2011. Their first single “Disconnected” EP of remixes of that track along with the album version of “Bodiless” will be released on January 11, 2011.
Mixed by Grammy winner Phil Magnotti and mastered by Emily Lazar of The Lodge (Vampire Weekend, Depeche Mode), Bodiless is an album that is as organic as it is synthetic. Fueled by electronics and synths but made of viscerally human emotions, it embraces both and mixes them inextricably. “Our use of electronics and synth may be the glue that holds us together, but it’s how we use them that gives us our own identity,” he explains. “We’ve shared the stage with synth pop, electro, aggro tech, EBM, and indie bands, and it’s comforting and reassuring to know that we can fit and make it work every time. I’m personally influenced by a lot of older electronica and New Wave groups, so our songs have more of a pop structure.”
Citing influences from Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, and New Order to The Knife and Bjork, Twitch the Ripper’s diverse palate of tastes has enabled them to tour with The Birthday Massacre and share stages with Nitzer Ebb, Combichrist, Xiu Xiu and Ego Likeness. The band plans to support the release of the album and EP with live dates to be announced shortly.From the moody percussiveness of the title track to the midnight groove of “Never Got You Anywhere” to the soaringly propulsive “Eternity,” Bodiless travels effortlessly and fluidly between synth grooves and human emotions. With its melancholic melody and deep, dark groove, “Bright Is Impossible” recalls both the postpunk depths of Wolfsheim and mid-era Depeche Mode and the current glam noir stylings of bands like IAMX and Trentemøller. “There are elements and specific feelings that are reminiscent of post punk and 80′s electro that I believe are good ‘what’s to come’ representations for us,” Jon continues.
Fearnet hails,”it’s their moody, ’80s-influenced melodies and vocals that tie the whole package together, and that element has led many listeners to compare them favorably with the post-punk icons of that decade, including New Order and Depeche Mode. Not too shabby for a band that’s only been on the scene for a couple of years.” Their hometown daily newspaper, The Hartford Courant says the band “builds moody soundscapes around gauzy, textured synthesizer parts, subdued, chittering rhythms and ghostly murmured vocals… calling to mind Trent Reznor on some of the darker Nine Inch Nails tunes circa Pretty Hate Machine.”
Fresh off their spring/summer national tour supporting industrial legends, My Life With The Thrill Kill, Twitch The Ripper hits the road again this fall opening for Imperative Reaction.
Twitch the Ripper is Jon Dobyns (vocals, synth, samples) and Lonn Bologna (programming, synth, drums).
