It is a rare treat when a group like Teletextile falls into your lap, and you realize that you have been given the opportunity to share something truly special with others who are bound to be a bit *ahem* blown away. Despite being recorded in June of 2011, I consider this to be my first exciting discovery of 2012. I am bound to be putting some great tunes, such as “I Don’t Know How To Act Here” on several mix CDs for friends, perhaps to the point of overplay (though I’m not sure it really can be overplayed). There is something that instantly strikes me the same way that hearing St. Vincent struck me when I heard “Marry Me” for the first time. With the addition of the marimba and steal drums (that is what I hear, right?! Either way, I really hope so), not to mention the knock-out voice of lead singer Pamela Martinez, I am reminded of The Creatures.
Martinez, the group’s founder, grew up surrounded by music, listening to everything from Etta James to George Harrison, during long commutes on sprawling Texas hi-ways. A multi-instrumentalist by nature, she picked up several instruments at an early age including (but not limited to): harps, guitars, and miscelaneous electronics. Allan Mednard can be found on drums/percussion, while Tim Cronin supplies backing vocals, bass and accordion while Alex Topornycky rounds out the Teletextile sound on guitar and banjo.
With the addition of joyous backing vocals on tracks such as “What If I”, I am instantly reminded of all that I love about My Brightest Diamond‘s latest, “All Things Will Unwind”, not to mention the soaring heights that can be found in the work of Sufjan Stevens. Teletextile have created an exciting, fresh, and inventive musical patchwork quilt with a decidedly tactile quality of sound. Martinez has described the evolution of their name and ethos as so, “I like the idea that fabric can surround you, and it can also change shape when you touch it. I think the clothes people wear communicate things about them. I made the word up. It’s like communicating – ‘tele’ and ‘textile’ – a feeling, or something you can feel.”
“John” really puts Martinez’s vocals on display, with growling, raging heights and delicate crystaline moments of reflection, she is able to deftly achieve the same vocal richness that powerhouses like PJ Harvey usually operate in. While I realize, there exists a certain overdone repetition of comparing female vocalists to PJ Harvey, there are moments with Teletextile that I feel comfortable in bringing up the comparison, something I try to avoid in general…
Martinez has previously recorded an initial 4-song EP released under her name in 2005 which achieved a significant amount of American national press. Following that in 2007, Teletextile released their debut album “Care Package” in 2007. However, it is evident from their highly promising latest EP “Reflector”, these already auditorily sophisticated up-and-comers are just beginning what is bound to be a promising musical endeavor to keep an eye on.
You can purchase “Care Package” from CDBaby, and “Reflector” can be purchased at Teletextiles’ Bandcamp page.
Teletextile also has a presence in Europe via the Luxembourg-based label Lili Is Pi Records who this past fall released the CD “Glass”, a compilation of tracks off “Reflector” and “Care Package”, with a couple of extras included as well. The link to purchase “Glass” is included at the bottom as well. Now, go ahead, get obsessed!
Also be sure to check out Teletextile’s video for “I Don’t Know How To Act Here”.
Connect with Teletextile – Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp| Website
