| Boy in Static | |
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Boy in Static on tour |
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| Background information | |
| Genres | Indie rock, Electronica |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | Fake Four Inc Circle Into Square Mush Records And Records Alien Transistor |
| Website | Official website |
| Members | |
| Alexander Chen Kenji Ross |
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Boy in Static is a band currently based in San Francisco, California, composed of Alexander Chen and Kenji Ross. The first Boy in Static album Newborn was released in 2004 on small label Alien Transistor (founded by The Notwist member Markus Acher).[1][2] Mush Records released the second album Violet in 2007.[3] Boy in Static has toured internationally with bands such as 13 & God, Freezepop, and Lymbyc Systym.
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Chen's recording career began when he sent a demo to Markus Acher (of popular electronic-pop German band The Notwist), who had recently started his own record label Alien Transistor. A few months later, he received an email from Acher. They met at a The Notwist show in Boston. They decided to release his debut album. Chen mastered the album at Abbey Road studios and it was released in 2004.[2][4]
In 2005, Boy in Static supported 13 & God (a collective group composed of The Notwist and Anticon group Themselves), opening for their European and US tours. For their Irving Plaza show, The New York Times described Boy in Static: "Boy in Static, the opening band, set up the night's introspective tone ... set up minimalistic patterns and sang about moments with "nothing left to say." Amid the echoes of 1980's bands like New Order, Mr. Chen revealed a strong sense of melody and his own blend of diffidence, longing and tenacity."[5]
Boy in Static's second album Violet was released in May 2007 on Mush Records. It was described in press as "An impressive one-man symphony (The Boston Globe)" [6] and "[ballads] of electronic snaps and true dream-pop vocals (URB Magazine)."[7] Many magazines noted its influences by 1990s shoegaze bands such as Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine, with its "Loveless fascination (Remix Magazine)."[8]
In 2007 and 2008, Boy in Static toured with the band Freezepop. Both Chen and Ross also performed as members of Freezepop on this tour.[9] In 2009, Boy in Static released third album Candy Cigarette on Circle Into Square & Fake Four Inc Records.
In 2010, Alexander Chen released an album under new name The Consulate General, which included guests such as Antoine Bédard of Montag and Simon Scott of Slowdive.[10] Chen is also currently collaborating with Blue Sky Black Death.[11]
Allmusic lists some contemporary comparisons as The Postal Service and Mobius Band.[2]