Détective
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Détective

Los Angeles, California, United States | SELF

Los Angeles, California, United States | SELF
Band Rock

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"Basket of Masks capsule review"

The very balmy, easygoing sound of Détective matches perfectly with the late-spring/early-summer weather we feel when we open up our windows. The duo—made up of James Greer (Guided By Voices) and Guylaine Vivarat (Useless Keys, Tennis System)—will self-release the seven-song Basket Of Masks on May 22. - Magnet Magazine


"Basket of Masks capsule review"

Detective is a very new Los Angeles based rock band featuring James Greer (Guided By Voices) and Guylaine Vivarat (Useless Keys, Tennis System), as well as Rory Modica (Useless Keys).

I like the guitars, especially the sort of suspension in "Monochrome Girl"... and the jangle, plus the ethereal female lead vocal on "Rhodesian Man". - When You Motor Away


"Basket of Masks capsule review"

The music of the L.A. trio Detective sounds as if it could have come from dusty tapes found in the 4AD archive. Named in honor of the Jean-Luc Godard film, Detective is the collaboration between bassist Guylaine Vivarat (Useless Keys and ex-Tennis System), James Greer (the author, screenwriter and ex-Guided By Voices bassist and biographer) and drummer Rory Modica (Useless Keys). Their second EP in as many months, “Basket of Masks,” trades in coy pop melodies, gritty post-punk guitar riffs and proggy krautrock instrumentals. Their sparse, lo-fi structures don’t sacrifice texture, though; Vivarat and Greer have found the delicate balance between sweet and off-kilter that recall Stereolab and some Morr Music luminaries. - buzzbands.la


"Song profile "Dommage!""

Détective is James Greer (from Guided By Voices), plus the super-sultry sounding Guylaine Vivarat, who plays in an LA band called Useless Keys and used to play in another one called Tennis System, and Rory Modica, who also plays in Useless Keys with Guylaine. They released an EP in February (here), but Dommage! is not on that. It’s a brand new song, the first one in French, but James emailed me that more is coming up (in May). This is an exclusive track for Filles Sourires! I hear a bit of Barbara Carlotti in it, a little Stereolab, some Peppermoon-ish touches, and Guylaine’s blessed with that happy-to-be-sad-tone in her voice that heroines like Hardy have too. Good start! - Filles Sourires


"Basket of Masks Review"

in all honesty, detective is not what i expected from james greer, but that by no means is a bad thing. basket of masks is absolutely sublime, and while its not an immediate grabber, oh it grows on ya, if you let it. first listen, i was in the “this is nice enough” camp, but given that its james greer, i proceeded forth with multiple listens. if you like the likes of galaxie 500 – or anything dean warham related you should love this. its a very low key affair with guylaine singing, very lovely mind you, in french on a couple tracks, and even though i have zero idea what she’s singing that doesnt take away from my enjoyment. definitely of my favorite records of 2012. - captains dead


Discography

Very Fallen World EP February 2012
Basket of Masks EP April (digital) /June (vinyl) 2012

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Bio

Détective, named after the J-L Godard film, is a new rock band from Los Angeles.

Initially conceived as a studio project, to date the band has released two EPs, Very Fallen World and Basket of Masks, available digitally and set for a June vinyl release. A full length - already recorded - will follow this summer, as well as a national tour opening for Guided by Voices

Détective is James Greer, Guylaine Vivarat and Rory Modica.

Musician, critic, novelist, and screenwriter JAMES GREER played in Guided By Voices during its most fertile phase, from 1994-96. He played on GBV's iconic Alien Lanes and Under the Bushes, Under the Stars LPs, as well as on a slew of EPs and singles, U.S. and European tours, and live television appearances (Jon Stewart, Conan O'Brien). He wrote and recorded the track "Trendspotter Acrobat" for the EP Sunfish Holy Breakfast — Greer is one of only two songwriters other than Robert Pollard to have sole writing credit on a Guided By Voices song. A former Senior Editor of SPIN Magazine, he is also the author of the novels Artificial Light (LHotB/Akashic 2006) and The Failure (Akashic 2010). He’s written or co-written movies for Lindsay Lohan, Jackie Chan, and Steven Soderbergh, among others.

GUYLAINE VIVARAT has played in several prominent local bands, including Tennis System and Useless Keys. She works as a translator and has translated a number of scholarly articles and novels into French, as well as providing subtitles for films and TV series. A multi-instrumentalist, Guylaine plays guitar, bass, keyboards and sings. She frequently collaborates with other LA artists, most recently with electronica duo 2 Hearts and Chemicals.