(L.A. / Sergent House – Rordiguez Lopez Productions)
Big Sir, the Los Angeles-based project of vocalist Lisa Papineau (ME & LP, M83, Air) and The Mars Volta bassist Juan Alderete, released their third album, Before Gardens After Gardens, in February 2012. The two composers’ articulate, electronic-tinged blend of R&B, jazz, and hip-hop falls somewhere between Papineau’s acoustic solo work and Alderete’s forays into prog-rock as part of The Mars Volta.
Before Gardens After Gardens’ first single “Ready on the Line” spikes Papineau’s exquisitely harmonized Bjorkian voice with whistles, chimes, and mechanical claps. The subtle background heartbeats, reminiscent of Timbaland’s early work with Aaliyah, anchor the buoyant track, which otherwise threatens to float away on Papineau’s upper range, especially when she screams, “Get so high!”.
Before Gardens After Gardens is out on Rodriguez Lopez Productions / Sargent House. The album also features contributions by The Mars Volta’s Cedric Bixler-Zavala, RX Bandits’ Matthew Embree, bassist Jonathan Hischke, and Beastie Boys producer “Money” Mark Ramos-Nishita.
APRIL 2012
Apr 7 Namur (B) – Sergent Pepper’s
Apr 8 Berlin (D) – Spirale Kulturzentrum
Apr 9 Hamburg (D) – Hafenklang
Apr 10 Solingen (D) – Waldmeister – Raum für Kultur e.V.
Apr 11 Leipzig (D) – Schubladen Konsortium / Ilses Erika
Apr 12 Munich (D) – Ampere
Apr 13 Innsbruck (A) – PMK
Apr 14 Bolzano (IT) – Vintola 18
Apr 15 Molfetta (BA / IT) – Le Macerie
Apr 16 Copertino (LE / IT) – I Sotterranei
Apr 17 Roma (IT) – Ausgang / Locanda Atlantide
Apr 19 Trieste (IT) – Etnoblog
Apr 20 Rimini (IT) – Velvet
Apr 21 Livorno (IT) – Cage
Apr 22 Milano (IT) – La Sacrestia
Apr 24 Birmingham (UK) – The Ballroom / The End
Apr 25 Manchester (UK) – Sound Control
Apr 26 Swansea (UK) – Project 33 / The Garage
Apr 27 Bristol (UK) – The Croft
Apr 28 London (UK) – The Old Blue Last
A GIANT LEAP 