BRAINSTATIK

Brainstatik biography


A New Jersey-based band BRAINSTATIK was formed in 1995 by Robert J. Burger (guitars, guitar synth) and Ken Palmer (synthesizers, electronic percussion).
First of all, it should be noted that BRAINSTATIK are not utilizing their instruments as majority of bands do; guitars are often producing synth timbres, keyboards are miming guitar sounds, drums are triggering MIDI module with keyboard sounds and so on. The band's music is almost completely improvised - they're always doing live improvisations, all of their recordings are actually live recordings without overdubs. The main focal point are exactly those 'sonic oddities', happening with spontaneous chemistry.

A significant number of musicians worked with the band; Cyndee Lee Rule (violin), often dueling with Burger, George Mahlberg (bass, theremin, sita, chapman stick, sound FX), Luke Carson (bass), Ian Creech (drums, percussion), Jordan McClain (guitar, electronics), John Fair (drums, percussion), Christine Uberti (cello, samples), Glenn Johnson (drums,loops), Ron Kalina (bass)...current line-up includes (along with two core members, Burger and Palmer) Mike Hunter (guitars, Warr guitars, loops), Glenn Robitaille (drums, electronic drums) and Jim Silvestri (fretted, fretless and two-necked bass).

It has already been said the band is focusing it's expressions with spontaneous jams and unconventional timbres; that makes every attempt to pin down their style even more difficult. They're describing themselves as instrumental, improvisational ambient world progressive space rock music; band's MySpace page offers description as follows: Led Zeppelin, but lighter; Sigur Ros, but heavier...a happier King Crimson." - indeed their music is diverse, and so are their influences: Yes, Gentle Giant, Peter Gabriel, King Crimson,Synergy, Kate Bush, Happy Rhodes, Afro Celt Sound System, Tool, Gary Numan, Sigur Ros, Nine Inch Nails etc.

On a sidenote, the band's live performances are often combined with elaborated video art.

Related Prog Archives artists:
THE GAK OMEK, Burger' solo project
CYNDEE LEE RULE, electric violin


Moris Mateljan, 2008. (Sources: the band's official web site and MySpace page.)