Algebra Suicide "Still Life" LP (2019)

Details: New stock! A sealed copy of Algebra Suicide compilation LP, "Still Life," issued by Dark Entries in 2019. Comes with a 16-page booklet of lyrics, press clippings, and recording notes. 

Description: Algebra Suicide was a Chicago poetry-music duo consisting of poet and visual artist Lydia Tomkiw and musician Don Hedeker. They formed in 1982 and self-released a 4-song EP that year. It featured a 60's Vox Guitar Organ, a precursor to the synthesizer guitar, and a Multivox Rhythm Ace drum machine. In 1984 they released their 2nd EP ditching the guitar organ for a Casiotone MT-40. Their debut album ‘Big Skin’ was released in 1986 on cassette and featured 13 new compositions with more complex arrangements. A vinyl compilation album, "The Secret Like Crazy", was released in 1988. It collected 20 tracks picked from ‘Big Skin’ and the first two EPs plus unreleased songs. In 2012 we released an 18-track compilation of their first 3 singles with bonus tracks.

‘Still Life’ is a 16 track compilation that collects the 9 remaining songs from ‘Big Skin’, 3 songs from ‘The Secret Like Crazy’, and 4 songs from various compilations. Lydia and Don call their approach "Avant Garage" citing inspiration from Patti Smith, Frank O'Hara, Leonard Cohen, and Lou Reed. Don plays guitar in a hauntingly stark style like Glenn Branca, Tom Verlaine, or Vini Reilly. He then adds
Casio keyboards and minimal electronic percussion, creating a moody, atmospheric backdrop for Lydia's poems. Lydia's words span a broad range of twisted real-life observations and are delivered in a deadpan fashion with her distinct Midwestern accent. All songs have been remastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. Though Lydia passed away in 2007, her genius lives on in these recordings. Please respect her decadence. 

Grade: M (Sealed/New Stock)

TRACK LISTING SIDE A:

A1. After Charles
A2. Seasonal Zombies
A3. After Rilke
A4. No War Bride
A5. Tractor Pull
A6. Horizon
A7. Amusing One's Self
A8. Seven Song

TRACK LISTING SIDE B:

B1. Alphabet Song
B2. Gist
B3. Sinister
B4. Heat Wave
B5. Mantic Sway
B6. Tales of Brave Ulysses
B7. Connoisseurs Of Lightning
B8. Brewing