Music
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Miami Beach may be famous for many things — celebrity cachet, club chic, thongs, and a dearth of parking spaces. But it's generally not known for birthing rock stars. So when singer/guitarist/songwriter Roger Houdaille proclaims himself a Miami Beach homeboy, it doesn't necessarily affirm his credibility or credentials. Then again, dubbing his band Father Bloopy isn't exactly winning him points either.
Fortunately Father Bloopy (which also includes bassist Nina Souto, drummer Eric Hernandez, and violinist Angelica Losada) has a sound that's so expressive and intriguing it overshadows all of these awkward inconsistencies. While the band's debut album, Ginger, Baby, makes few concessions to South Florida's multicultural mix (the reggaeton rhythms of "What's Kamila Doing?" aside), the smooth grooves and vibrant melodies create a heady brew. This is especially so on more assertive songs like "Aventura," "Hot Down," and "Two Tays Too Today."
Houdaille's mix of swoon and croon finds him approximating an unlikely collision between Ray Davies and Devendra Banhart, a quirky combination that finds a surprisingly good fit with the densely textured mélange. "Miss Morality" suggests they've worn out the grooves on their ELO and Supertramp albums, but the retro references mesh seamlessly with their modern sensibilities. Be assured, the silly name is Father Bloopy's only blooper. - Miami New Times
Miami Beach may be famous for many things — celebrity cachet, club chic, thongs, and a dearth of parking spaces. But it's generally not known for birthing rock stars. So when singer/guitarist/songwriter Roger Houdaille proclaims himself a Miami Beach homeboy, it doesn't necessarily affirm his credibility or credentials. Then again, dubbing his band Father Bloopy isn't exactly winning him points either.
Fortunately Father Bloopy (which also includes bassist Nina Souto, drummer Eric Hernandez, and violinist Angelica Losada) has a sound that's so expressive and intriguing it overshadows all of these awkward inconsistencies. While the band's debut album, Ginger, Baby, makes few concessions to South Florida's multicultural mix (the reggaeton rhythms of "What's Kamila Doing?" aside), the smooth grooves and vibrant melodies create a heady brew. This is especially so on more assertive songs like "Aventura," "Hot Down," and "Two Tays Too Today."
Houdaille's mix of swoon and croon finds him approximating an unlikely collision between Ray Davies and Devendra Banhart, a quirky combination that finds a surprisingly good fit with the densely textured mélange. "Miss Morality" suggests they've worn out the grooves on their ELO and Supertramp albums, but the retro references mesh seamlessly with their modern sensibilities. Be assured, the silly name is Father Bloopy's only blooper. - Miami New Times
Miami Beach is great, but hard to launch a band. Too many tourists, not enough locals, and everywhere is far (except the Everglades, but the alligators don t care). So it s inspired oddball, interesting bands, from The Eat and Cichlids to Holy Terrors and Scraping Teeth. Nine-person Father Bloopy (on Dippy Records!) is as unpredictable. One minute Roger Houdaille is Jonathan Richman jamming with Brian Eno on the title track, with similar Lou Reed talk-singing, the next he s Ray Davies doing wistful poptunes like Pepper Tan or Miss Morality. Anyone hard to pin down is hard to sum up, but there re several well-written grungy power-pop songs with English-centric vocals, like Peter Perrett of Only Ones singing Big Star. The base gets a treatment too, in both the standout Florida No Fault and Aventura, and there s humor in Baby Your Lame and the art rock Who Pulled the Child Support? - The Big Takeover
Miami Beach is great, but hard to launch a band. Too many tourists, not enough locals, and everywhere is far (except the Everglades, but the alligators don t care). So it s inspired oddball, interesting bands, from The Eat and Cichlids to Holy Terrors and Scraping Teeth. Nine-person Father Bloopy (on Dippy Records!) is as unpredictable. One minute Roger Houdaille is Jonathan Richman jamming with Brian Eno on the title track, with similar Lou Reed talk-singing, the next he s Ray Davies doing wistful poptunes like Pepper Tan or Miss Morality. Anyone hard to pin down is hard to sum up, but there re several well-written grungy power-pop songs with English-centric vocals, like Peter Perrett of Only Ones singing Big Star. The base gets a treatment too, in both the standout Florida No Fault and Aventura, and there s humor in Baby Your Lame and the art rock Who Pulled the Child Support? - The Big Takeover
Discography
Ginger, Baby [2007, Dippy]
Photos
Bio
Ginger, Baby, the eclectic debut album by indie-rock quartet Father Bloopy on Dippy Records, sounds so classic you think you�ve heard it before. The leadoff title track that at first listen you find yourself singing along as if it is one of your longtime favorite songs. The only problem is that these are new songs, by a new band, comprised of a bunch of kids in their early twenties. Self-described diehards and collectors of early 60�s and 70�s art-rock, Father Bloopy�s first album pays homage to a variety of obvious influences, including the Kinks, Lou Reed, and ELO, but they add a unique flair and a modern twist to the mix that is edgy and invigorating.
Clever as hell from start to finish, Ginger, Baby is filled with wry, witty lyrics that will please fans of smart-pop in addition to those who feast on catchy melodies and creative production. The band�s sophisticated sound may be due in part to the fact that the group�s singer and chief songwriter Roger Houdaille was already an established and experienced recording artist and touring musician well before the launch of the Father Bloopy project. Houdaille is also the bassist of the alt-rock band Transcendence, touring the club circuit years before he was old enough to qualify as a paying customer. That experience brings a creative vision and a maturity to Father Bloopy�s eclectic sound.
�One minute Roger Houdaille is Jonathan Richman jamming with Brian Eno on the title track, with similar Lou Reed talk-singing, the next he's Ray Davies doing wistful pop-tunes like "Pepper Tan" or "Miss Morality," reads a review from The Big Takeover magazine. �We felt the need to represent the music we like,� stated Houdaille in a recent interview. Fans and critics alike seem to share his sentiment. Lee Zimmermann of New Times Magazine described Father Bloopy�s music as �expressive and intriguing� smooth grooves and vibrant melodies create a heady brew.�
Currently in rotation on hundreds of college radio stations across America, the band�s hip, Europop sound is also gaining an international following through internet radio. To be sure, whimsy and humor combine with musical virtuosity to make for an unforgettable debut album in Ginger, Baby. With quirky, compelling lyrics and infectious tunes, Father Bloopy attracts a large and diverse audience with their first album and their energetic live shows, fusing a variety of styles into a new sound that is both fresh and familiar. The band continues to perform live through 2008. Their debut CD Ginger, Baby is available in retail stores across the country and at online music retailers such as iTunes and Amazon.com
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