Gig roundup: The Apples in Stereo go ahead to the past on new disc

Published May 3, 2010 at 10:18 a.m.

The Apples in Stereo's latest disc is an attempt at futuristic music that will take listeners back to the '70s.

By OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writers
Photography by Adam Cantor

Published May 3, 2010 at 5:18 a.m.

When The Apples in Stereo boast that the Denver-based band's new record, "Travellers in Space and Time" (Simian/Yep Roc), channels ELO, Barry Gibb, "Wild Honey"-era Beach Boys and "Off the Wall"-era Michael Jackson, believe it.

My first impression was that it sounded like Fountains of Wayne playing covers of tunes from New York's legendary soul disco Prelude Records label with a healthy dose of ELO added for good measure. So, we're pretty much on the same page.

The Apples in Stereo play at Turner Hall Ballroom on Monday, May 3.

There are snaky beats, retro Vocoder-affected vocals and great pop melodies all over "Travellers in Space and Time," the band's second disc for Elijah Wood's Simian label. There is also a lot of '70s R&B influence.

"I wanted to make a futuristic pop record to reach out to the kids of the future," says frontman Robert Schneider. "It's what I imagine their more highly evolved pop might sound like: shiny soul music with robots and humans singing together, yet informed by the music of our time. Se we are sending a pop music message through time, hoping they will decode it and be into it."

Ironically, Schneider's futuristic vision has a retro vibe, in all the best senses of the word.

While some bands are releasing records these days that require repeated listens to grab you, The Apples in Stereo have issued a disc so infectious that it'll grab you on the first go-round.

New Orleans' The Generationals and Athens, Ga.-based Laminated Cat open the 8 p.m. show. Tickets are $14.

"We choose bands to tour with based on who we want to listen to every single night," says Schneider, "and who we want to turn other people on to. The Generationals are a fantastic band with strong songs and interesting productions.

"Laminated Cat are the best young psychedelic band in the world in my opinion. One of my favorite bands; beautiful and strange, like Syd Barrett riding on the Olivia Tremor Control. ... (It's) going to be awesome." -- Bobby Tanzilo