Artist: Friends Of Dean Martinez
Genre(s):
Rock: Electronic
Indie
Discography:
Lost Horizon
Year: 2005
Tracks: 9
Random Harvest
Year: 2004
Tracks: 8
Under the Waves
Year: 2003
Tracks: 8
A Southwestern alternative rock supergroup of sorts, Arizona's Friends of Dean Martinez features past and stage members of Giant Sand, Calexico, and Naked Prey. Giant Sand loss leader Howe Gelb, though non a member of the group, plays node keyboards on their debut album, The Shadow of Your Smile, a surprisingly retro set of guitar-based instrumentals divine by implemental and browse rock of the tardy '50s and early '60s. With slew of lounge music and desert nation guitar twang thrown in, it's sure enough retro in feel, simply non gospeller; with Bill Elm's keening blade guitar at the head and casual insertions of found sound and experimental bits, they conjure up candid stale landscapes with witticism and, one suspects, a bit of tongue-in-cheek irony. At whatever charge per unit, it's a brisk change from the frequently too-serious alternative rock paths that the musicians pursue in their full-time bands. Retrograde followed in 1997, and 2 days later the Friends returned with Atardecer. A Place in the Sun appeared in other 2000. The group switched to Narnack for 2003's On the Shore and the following year's Random Harvest, and likewise released Under the Waves on the German imprint Glitterhouse. Aero released the concert album Live at Club 2 in 2005.
Stevie Wonder maps North American tour
