One Hand Loves The Other – First Place

This is one of those posts that I know is going to be hard to write, so I’m just going to Hunter S. Thompson the shit out of it and hit submit and be done with it.

I “discovered” this band called One Hand Loves The Other about two years after they disbanded. I recognized the Bjork reference in the band named and downloaded anyway, expecting some fluttery abomination of poorly pitched synths and a mess of Americans trying to sound Icelandic. I was wrong to assume things.

They’re from Atlanta, which doesn’t really fit with the noises they make. I’m used to associating ATL with the southern garage thing, and all things Outkast. Granted, I haven’t spent much time in the town, but that’s because it’s a bit of a hole. I think we can all agree on that. Here’s my favorite, First Place:

Absolutely everyone I’ve played this for has dug it, including people who surf CMT for the latest Kenny Chesney in their spare time. What you’ve got, (in my opinion) is poignant-but-not-overwrought, vocal driven electro noise pop with just the right amount of Bjork production style ripoffs. (Former) frontman Lou Rodriguez can flat wail, and while on tracks he’s more subdued, in the video I just linked he really gets into it.

There’s a place on the internet where people who know more about all this garbage post songs they’re listening to, and after being lambasted by a “colleague” for big upping a Gyptian track off that Major Lazer/La Roux thing we posted about a week or so ago, I got e-props for turning him on to this (nh). This made me proud of my weird little find, and I thought I’d share with you fine people. (Check comments for how to purchase)

And on that note, what’s going on in the Atlanta electro scene that makes it impossible for this little outfit to stay together? 3/4 of the band is in a group called Tealights, and frontman Lou has a project called Insubordinate Promotions that has released exactly 0 songs in two years of operation. Maybe they’re all busy schlepping drinks to cover their recording expenses or something, I dunno. It would be nice if I could get some more material out of these people, namely Lou, but I’m not holding my breath.

For good measure, here’s the Bjork song from which their band name was derived. It’s called Unison, and if you’re my friend on Facebook (who isn’t at this point?) you saw me link it a while back. This is a great recording. This is one of the best songs.

Tags: Bjork, bjork unison, one hand loves the other, people who live in Atlanta that can't just do what I want them to, unison