The Ladybug Transistor
Encyclopedia
The Ladybug Transistor is a Brooklyn
-based indie pop
group associated with The Elephant Six Collective
.
Started in 1995 by Gary Olson, Edward Powers and Javier Villegas, the band quickly released Marlborough Farms
on Park N' Ride records, adding and subtracting a couple members and going on an international tour. With Jeff Baron and Jennifer Baron added to the lineup, they released Beverley Atonale
in 1997, this time on Merge Records
. Powers left the band, and the remaining members, with San Fadyl and Sasha Bell of The Essex Green
and solo act Finishing School, embarked on a United States tour.
With a more stable lineup, the band released The Albemarle Sound
in 1999, as well as added violinist and bassist Julia Rydholm (The Essex Green
, Jens Lekman
) to the lineup. In 2001, Argyle Heir
was released. In 2003 the band recorded a self-titled album at Wave Lab Studios with engineer Craig Schumacher in Tucson, Arizona
. In 2006 the band contributed heavily to the recording of Kevin Ayers
' album The Unfairground
which Gary Olson produced. In April 2006, Fadyl began fighting serious asthma
attacks. On the 26th of April 2007, he died due to one such attack.
The band released their sixth album, "Can't Wait Another Day
", on June 5, 2007. This line up included Kyle Forester (Crystal Stilts
) and Ben Crum of Great Lakes
.
For their seventh album Clutching Stems, Olson, Forester, and Rydholm gathered new recruits Mark Dzula (The Magic Caravan, Jukebox Radio), Eric Farber (The Lisps
), and Michael O’Neill (MEN
). The album, recorded at Marlborough Farms (studio) and Sunset Cottage, Poconos, was released on June 6, 2011, by Merge Records.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
-based indie pop
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
group associated with The Elephant Six Collective
The Elephant Six Collective
The Elephant 6 Recording Company is a collective of American musicians who spawned many notable independent bands of the 1990s, including The Apples in Stereo, The Olivia Tremor Control, Neutral Milk Hotel, Beulah, Elf Power, Of Montreal, and Circulatory System.-Foundation:The collective was...
.
Started in 1995 by Gary Olson, Edward Powers and Javier Villegas, the band quickly released Marlborough Farms
Marlborough Farms
Marlborough Farms is the debut album from Brooklyn, New York indie pop band The Ladybug Transistor. It was released on October 4, 1996.-Track listing:# "Wheel"# " Lout"# "Magic Forest Report"# "Sneedle"# "Seadrift"# "Blaze"...
on Park N' Ride records, adding and subtracting a couple members and going on an international tour. With Jeff Baron and Jennifer Baron added to the lineup, they released Beverley Atonale
Beverley Atonale
Beverley Atonale is the second album from Brooklyn, New York indie pop band The Ladybug Transistor. It was released on February 11, 1997.-Track listing:# "Here Is Your Space"# "Rushes Of Pure Spring"# "Windy"# "The Swedish Libra And You"...
in 1997, this time on Merge Records
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
. Powers left the band, and the remaining members, with San Fadyl and Sasha Bell of The Essex Green
The Essex Green
The Essex Green are an indie rock band from Brooklyn, NY. The band is primarily composed of songwriters Jeff Baron, Sasha Bell and Chris Ziter, and specialize in a classic sound inspired by 1960s–1970s pop and folk in the tradition of bands like The Left Banke and Fairport Convention.-History:The...
and solo act Finishing School, embarked on a United States tour.
With a more stable lineup, the band released The Albemarle Sound
The Albemarle Sound (album)
The Albemarle Sound is the third album from Brooklyn, New York indie pop band The Ladybug Transistor. It was released on March 23, 1999.-Track listing:# "Oriental Boulevard"# "Six Times"# "Meadowport Arch"# "Today Knows"# "The Great British Spring"...
in 1999, as well as added violinist and bassist Julia Rydholm (The Essex Green
The Essex Green
The Essex Green are an indie rock band from Brooklyn, NY. The band is primarily composed of songwriters Jeff Baron, Sasha Bell and Chris Ziter, and specialize in a classic sound inspired by 1960s–1970s pop and folk in the tradition of bands like The Left Banke and Fairport Convention.-History:The...
, Jens Lekman
Jens Lekman
Jens Martin Lekman is a Swedish musician. His music is guitar-based pop with heavy use of samples and strings, with lyrics that are often witty, romantic, and melancholic. The English lyrics reflect an advanced knowledge of the language and its idioms...
) to the lineup. In 2001, Argyle Heir
Argyle Heir
Argyle Heir is the fourth album from Brooklyn, New York indie pop band The Ladybug Transistor. It was released on May 22, 2001.-Track listing:# "Fires On The Ocean"# "Echoes"# "Perfect For Shattering"# "Going Up North "# "Wooden Bars"...
was released. In 2003 the band recorded a self-titled album at Wave Lab Studios with engineer Craig Schumacher in Tucson, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. In 2006 the band contributed heavily to the recording of Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers is an English singer-songwriter and was a major influential force in the English psychedelic movement...
' album The Unfairground
The Unfairground
The Unfairground is an acclaimed 2007 album by Kevin Ayers, recorded with members of Ladybug Transistor, Teenage Fanclub, Neutral Milk Hotel, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci and Roxy Music. It is his sixteenth studio LP and his first new set of recordings in fifteen years. It was recorded in New York,...
which Gary Olson produced. In April 2006, Fadyl began fighting serious asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
attacks. On the 26th of April 2007, he died due to one such attack.
The band released their sixth album, "Can't Wait Another Day
Can't Wait Another Day
Can't Wait Another Day is the sixth album from Brooklyn, New York indie pop band The Ladybug Transistor, and the last to feature drummer San Fadyl...
", on June 5, 2007. This line up included Kyle Forester (Crystal Stilts
Crystal Stilts
-History:Crystal Stilts was formed in 2003 by Brad Hargett and JB Townsend. After releasing one single and an EP, the pair expanded to five members before signing to Slumberland Records in the US and Angular Recording Corporation in Europe and releasing their debut, Alight of Night, in 2008...
) and Ben Crum of Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
.
For their seventh album Clutching Stems, Olson, Forester, and Rydholm gathered new recruits Mark Dzula (The Magic Caravan, Jukebox Radio), Eric Farber (The Lisps
The Lisps
The Lisps is a Brooklyn-based indie rock band. The group formed in The South Bronx in 2005 fronted by César Alvarez and Sammy Tunis. The band consists of four members playing guitars, melodicas, found percussion, drum set, and male/female vocals...
), and Michael O’Neill (MEN
MEN (band)
MEN is a Brooklyn-based band and art/performance collective that focuses on the energy of live performance and the radical potential of dance music...
). The album, recorded at Marlborough Farms (studio) and Sunset Cottage, Poconos, was released on June 6, 2011, by Merge Records.
Albums
- Marlborough FarmsMarlborough FarmsMarlborough Farms is the debut album from Brooklyn, New York indie pop band The Ladybug Transistor. It was released on October 4, 1996.-Track listing:# "Wheel"# " Lout"# "Magic Forest Report"# "Sneedle"# "Seadrift"# "Blaze"...
(1995) - Beverley AtonaleBeverley AtonaleBeverley Atonale is the second album from Brooklyn, New York indie pop band The Ladybug Transistor. It was released on February 11, 1997.-Track listing:# "Here Is Your Space"# "Rushes Of Pure Spring"# "Windy"# "The Swedish Libra And You"...
(1997) - The Albemarle SoundThe Albemarle Sound (album)The Albemarle Sound is the third album from Brooklyn, New York indie pop band The Ladybug Transistor. It was released on March 23, 1999.-Track listing:# "Oriental Boulevard"# "Six Times"# "Meadowport Arch"# "Today Knows"# "The Great British Spring"...
(1999) - Argyle HeirArgyle HeirArgyle Heir is the fourth album from Brooklyn, New York indie pop band The Ladybug Transistor. It was released on May 22, 2001.-Track listing:# "Fires On The Ocean"# "Echoes"# "Perfect For Shattering"# "Going Up North "# "Wooden Bars"...
(2001) - The Ladybug TransistorThe Ladybug Transistor (album)The Ladybug Transistor is the eponymous fifth album from Brooklyn, New York indie pop band The Ladybug Transistor. It was released on October 7, 2003.-Track listing:# "These Days In Flames"# "In December"# "3=Wild"# "Song For The Ending Day"...
(2003) - Can't Wait Another DayCan't Wait Another DayCan't Wait Another Day is the sixth album from Brooklyn, New York indie pop band The Ladybug Transistor, and the last to feature drummer San Fadyl...
(2007) - Clutching Stems (2011)