THE ALBUM - Slices of Thrown Time by La STPO
The first new studio album by STPO in 7 years! In the midst of the world's fascination with so-called Electroclash, leave it to the old school to really show what post-punk is really about, while simultaneously turning the concept on its fractured head. LA STPO has the finesse and invention and the je ne c'est quoi to massage its victims into a quiet trance, only to pummel them seconds later. Slices Of Throw Time is like a Van Der Graaf arc between the bombast of Blurt/Ex/Dog Faced Hermans/Contortions/Birthday Party and the subtle, avant-composerly moments of Henry Cow/This Heat/Univers Zero/Faust. The punchy rhythm section, abetted by the squawky horns, makes for a music to which one can truly contort. LA STPO's musical muscle, however, is always backed up by solid jazz/classical informed chops that can and will chop any lesser outfit into nothing more than a pile of over-loud rock and roll dust. LA STPO infuses their punk with dynamics of both volume and texture, producing a slightly zeuhl flavoured post rock, which should, by all rights, land Slices Of Throw Time on many a critic's year end top 10 list. We all know this will not likely happen, but hopefully there is enough room in YOUR top ten list for rock that both rocks and explores.

THE BIO:
There's a method (actually several methods) to their madness. Even by Rock In Opposition standards, this French group create some avant-rock sounds. A talented band (their name translates as "Shy Society At The Bird Parade"), they not only dabble with the standard RIO mix of jazz, rock and European folk idioms, but also embraces opera, industrial and "new" music, surrealist theater and occasional chanting of a vaguely Armenian and/or Japanese flavor. Although reminiscent of Etron Fou Leloublan and early Hector Zazou, STPO's mix of cello bass, trumpet, synthesizer, percussion, electric guitars and various vocal "utterances" (think Magma) really represents a unique musical creation.
The Reviews “There is a lot more that could be said about music as chock full of complexity, eccentricity and obscurity as that made by La STPO, but it's best to just be jerked along by these intelligently insane and spectacularly talented musicians, and just see where the journey leads.” -J. Dean/Brainwashed.com
"It's strange to think that a score of years ago the world was just emerging from the last of its new wave haze, only to enter a brave new era of over produced, digitally recorded schlock. La STPO was borne into this miasma of mediocrity with knives out. They have remained bastions of outré ever since their bloodied birth. Vive La STPO! - one of the finest, most fractured and indefatigable European avant post punk bands” Else Teicher
“La STPO can be compared with it has to be the legendary French experimentalists Defecit Des Annees Anterieurs. To be honest it’s not even strange they musically share similarities with DDAA, back in 1986 La STPO was discovered by DDAA and the first EP was released on their Illusions Productions label.” Gothtronic Magazine
“Born in Europe's post-punk age, their music can definitely be categorized as Rock-In-Opposition (RIO, for the initiated). Their jagged style marries zany moments of chanting and spoken word with elements of eccentricity and a dab of conceptual art mixed in.” Sea of Tranqility

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