Music
Press
Sometimes stories - Anthem Magazine | June 2007
7.23.07
LA locals Eskimohunter mesh the artsy leanings of leader Jason71 - a talented vocalist and well practiced design artist - with odd, atmospheric sounds. Indie-pop-meets-noiserock, the band harbors a modern shoegaze sound, as layered keyboards, beats and melodic vocal harmonies meld into sugary drones. Given its roots in LA, the already has a healthy Hollywood following (including a few famous fans), but this hunting party isn't quite full. Just be sure to join before Eskimohunter's monthlong Spaceland residency ends - after that they may turn their spikes to somewhat bigger salmon. - Flavorpill | July 2007
With spring temporarily delayed by weather in the 60s and a skyline filled with gloomy gray clouds, the music of Eskimohunter seems to make a lot more sense. Buried in a miasma of swirling ice and wind, Eskimohunter's songs twist and wail, beautiful ethereal fragments frozen inside a cold wall of noise.
Using shoegaze progenitors My Bloody Valentine and Spiritualized as jumping-off points, Eskimohunter's gauzy drone rock fits in nicely on your iTunes next to early Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Autolux. With a new EP on local bedroom label So Sweet Records (also the home of recent Midnight Movies and Monsters are Waiting 7"s), Eskimohunter's revamped lineup has been garnering buzz in the local blogosphere of late.
Originally formed in 2002 by the oddly-named Jason71, the band's gestation has been slow, as they've yet to release a full-length LP (though the early EPs managed to get the band some attention on college radio and licensing from MTV for an episode of "Real World/Road Rules Challenge"). They play their first show in months tonight at Safari Sam's with fellow shoegazers Sonic Boom (a group featuring Spacemen 3 founder Peter Kember), and it promises to be one of the best shows of the season for fans of spacey, trippy nods.
- LA TIMES
I have been a loyal follower of local shoegaze pop outfit Eskimohunter since the band starting playing shows again in June of last year (see photos). Jason 71 and the gang have finally hit their stride. The band SOLD OUT their Winter Carnival in December at Spaceland thanks to a strong amount of word of mouth and a not to be missed live show. I have a feeling good things are in store for the band this year.
TONIGHT Eskimohunter will be bringing their blissful drone and amazing multimedia show - complete with video projection and creative lighting, to Safari Sam's as they perform with Sonic Boom (of Spacemen 3, Spectrum, E.A.R.)and LSD And The Search For God.
- Rock Insider
Jason71 has made a name for himself over the years churning our fuzzy, low-end dreams on bass for The Violet Burning, Amnesia, and The Lassie Foundation. But in the past 3-4 years he's been blazing his own trail on guitar and vocals playing futuristic noisepop. Eskimohunter is Jason's version of syrupy, dense, digital pop that reeks of great Beach Boys melodies and a wall of sound similar to Spiritualized. - Little Radio
Discography
2007: Coming Soon
2005: Musical Snowglobe Machine EP
2004: The Fast-Trak Holy Nova Symphony - Split CD
2003: Soak Your Shoes in Red Wine & Strike the Angels Dumb - Compilation
Photos
Bio
Started in late 2002 by multimedia artist and fomer Lassie Foundation member Jason 71, Eskimohunter is a marriage of pop sensibility and the ever-blissful drone, stressing a collected blanket of simple layered sound instead of complicated individual parts. The listener can hear a broad range of influences like the stacked harmonies of the Beach Boys, the symphonic electronics of ELO and the orchestral shoegazer fuzz of My Bloody Valentine and Spiritualized. By weaving overlapping, pastoral melodies with rhythm and sounds, Eskimohunter have crafted a unique brand of music.
After first appearing on a Grand Theft Autumn Records compilation in 2003, Eskimohunter released its first recordings on a split album with The Coco B's 6 months later. The dual issue opened at No. 96 on the CMJ TOP 200 chart and was the 9th most-added record to indie radio the week it came out. A 1,000-copy limited-edition pressing of the "Musical Snowglobe Machine" e.p. followed in January of 2005, featuring six songs and showcasing the band's multimedia side with the addition of photos and three full-length videos. Critically hailed upon its release, "Musical Snowglobe Machine" was tapped by Autopiamusic.com as one of their top 20 records of 2005 and continues to receive regular coverage online and in the blogosphere from the likes of the Los Angeles Times, Little Radio, Prefix, An Aquarium Drunkard, the Rock Insider, LA-Underground and more. Additionally, tracks from the e.p. were quickly licensed for use on MTV's "Road Rules" and "Real World" as well as independent films including the Sundance Festival's "Stuntwood."
Eskimohunter continues to blur lines of media and music, focusing not only on music, videos and licensing but also approaching each live opportunity as an artistic forum rather than "another show." Choosing select performances versus a "play everywhere" mentality, Eskimohunter makes each show a unique event by using collectible posters and flyers, video projections, special lighting, audience gifts and unifying visual and aural themes. Looking to to create some truly memorable experiences for L.A. audiences, Eskimohunter has their sights set on their upcoming five-show Spaceland residency in July 2007.
Eskimohunter took a hiatus from recording during 2006 while re-vamping their line-up and re-inventing their live presentation. Now that personnel is solidified and the group is garnering rave reviews online and from fans for their live sets, all elements are in place for the band to record their conceptual multimedia full-length album, due out later this year.
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