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Feature Article by Ben Krieger 30 years ago, the punk movement sprung up in reaction to the bloated pretensions of stadium acts such as Pink Floyd, Yes, Genesis, and pretty much any other act that championed larger-than-life showmanship and musical proficiency. The idea was that anyone—not just the gods—could pick up a guitar, plug in and play. These days you can still find countless punk-inspired garage outfits, but the DIY philosophy they once claimed is no longer theirs; record collections are getting bigger and more diverse, home studio setups are getting more affordable and at this point heading out to the garage and plugging in leads to a sorts of unfathomable genre hybrids. Enter Dynasty Electric: a studio duo (live trio) that is equal parts New Wave, prog and psychedelic jazz, firing off catchy little nuggets of sonic experimentation that shimmer with both technical proficiency and the enthusiastic experimentation of a child scientist. Finally, all of this is packed into single-length bursts of sexual energy.
Several records will spin during the course of our interview, including some Sun Ra and the late Syd Barrett’s glorious debut with Pink Floyd. Listening to Dynasty Electric’s music, both their recent full-length, Black Box, as well as selections from the follow-up due out this fall, this background music makes perfect sense. There is a clear correlation between Sun Ra’s “let’s see what this button’s for” energy and DE’s material. At the core of the groups sound is Misterka’s passion for experimental soundscapes…or as DeVeau jokingly refers to them: “late-night drug-induced musical fantasies.” Of course, it’s clear that the inspiration for these songs stems from a source that is much more spiritual and sexual than chemical. Both band members site Jim Morrison and the Doors as a major influence and acknowledge that King Crimson is a name everyone in the group is familiar with. Dynasty Electric is one of many projects that Misterka has been involved with, and if there is one key element that focuses his ventures into electronic psychedelic, it’s New Wave. The simplicity of 80s drum beats is all over the place and Hall ‘n’ Oates come up as one of the more unexpected influences in the band’s sound. “Sometime experimental music can be hard to digest,” says Misterka, “we try to fuse different kinds of music together into something that someone can access.” “And then we make it sexy,” adds DeVeau. She will often lay down the steamy vocal melodies and lyrics on top of the musical beds. Her delivery, as well as Misterka’s sax lines, help bring this musical libido to the surface and are what separate Dynasty Electric from many of their explorative peers. The lyrics claim their share of this energy as well; “ManMachine” ponders how computers have evolved into tools for expressing carnal desire (“hey baby, I never knew your circuits were made of flesh and blood / I’m a smooth operator / I’ll learn your keystrokes”). DeVeau’s singing turns the temperature up in material such as “Breathless,” which follows the band through a deceptively intricate ballad that gradually ascends into a fast-paced orgasmic breakdown during the final minute.
Dynasty Electric are travel bugs and love the road. Their adventures have taken them as far away as Japan and while they don’t plan too far ahead, Europe and the West Coast are areas they are itching to get back to. Misterka’s connections have provided a unique experience in this regard. “There is a greater sense of patronage among jazz musicians,” he comments, “people help you out.” And in case you thought that experimental musicians don’t have a humorous commercial side, Dynasty Electric has an alter ego, the Sexy Champions, where they focus some of their more blatantly pop and commercial ambitions. They have had an opportunity to work with MTV in this outfit and if all goes well, both of these projects will be able to support each other via the band’s label, Mysterious Media. Dynasty Electric’s insistence on staying true to themselves and sculpting their own voice from a plethora of influences has paid off in spades; this is the sexiest group of studio spirits that you will find in New York City. Not to be missed. http://www.dynastyelectric.net |
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Dynasty Electric Feature Show Slideshow
