When I stumbled upon Maids at a one-off Upstairs CD-R show at Coco66 this Spring, I remember stopping dead in my tracks, covering my ears in pain, and being unable to stop mouthing the words, “Abandon All Hope All Ye Who Enter.” Behind a suffocating wall of smoke, the 2-man rhythm section of New Jersey’s Big Troubles could be seen down on the ground in matching child’s poses, bowing in deference before a projection of a giant floating head — not unlike the Wizard himself, pictured above. I could barely make out what type of gear they were using, but the squall they produced was so debilitatingly loud that I couldn’t help remembering the one time I saw Whitehouse play and actually experienced the sensation of my ear drums being stretched to the ripping point. Funny thing, is Maids sound like nothing like Whitehouse. As I learned when Sam Franklin (also of No Demons here) rolled up to Newtown radio last Sunday, they simply layer purring drones and lackadaisical pentatonic keyboard scales until the room gets so saturated with sound that you actually end up getting a little scared. Probably all the more so because they are clean-cut surburban dudes who play in indie rock bands and show up on stage with their shirts tucked in.
Underwater Visitations Episode #7: The Maids Episode
Download the entire episode here.
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Playlist after the jump.
MARC PICCIOLO DJ SET
Laura Stevenson and the Cans – Mouthbreather
Alex Bleeker – Getting By
Twin Sister – Lady Daydream
Effi Briest – Rhizomes
Julian Lynch – Droplet on a Hot Stone
Best Coast – Our Deal
Cloud Nothings – Turning On
St. Vincent – The Party
Woods – Death Rattles
The Babies – Meet me in the City
The Mantles – Don’t Lie
The Thermals – Separate
UNDERWATER VISITATIONS DJ SET
Bobb Trimble – Premonitions
The Gamut – Henry
The Incredible String Band – Witches’ Hat
Steve Gunn – Cryin’ Eyes
The Wailers – Dreamland
Barrington Levy – Many Changes in My Life
Keith Hudson – Rare Dub
King Tubby Meets Larry Marshall – Thelma Dub
Sun Araw – THE SUNSET REPRISE
Andy Clark – Newsmaker (a)
Andy Clark – The Starting Point
La Bionda – Wanna Be Your Lover
Nihiti – Black Cars (a sinistra)
The Shocking Blue – Love Buzz
Spanish Prisoners – Los Angeles Guitar Dream
Peaking Lights – Wedding Song
New Yoga – Lizard Visions
Source of Yellow – The Metronome Breaks the Hearts of All Believers
SAM FRANKLIN DJ SET
The Sundays – My Finest Hours
Psychic TV – Papal Breakdance
The Human League – WXJL Tonight
Vanity 6 – Make Up
Nitzer Ebb – Murderous
Clair Obscur – Conchita’s Dance
MAIDS IN-STUDIO
Tags: Alex Bleeker, Andy Clark, Barrington Levy, Best Coast, Big Troubles, Bobb Trimble, Clair Obscur, Cloud Nothings, Effi Briest, Julian Lynch, Keith Hudson, King Tubby Meets Larry Marshal, La Bionda, Laura Stevenson and the Cans, Luka Usmiani, Maids, New Yoga, Nihiti, Nitzer Ebb, Peaking Lights, Psychic TV, Sam Franklin, Source of Yellow, Spanish Prisoners, St. Vincent, Steve Gunn, Sun Araw, The Babies, The Gamut, The Human League, The Incredible String Band, The Mantles, The Shocking Blue, The Sundays, The Thermals, The Wailers, Twin Sister, Vanity 6, Woods