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The Android Sisters – Songs of Electronic Despair (LP album)
61,00 €
CONDITION: Second-hand – Like new (M)
Unsealed vinyl, played for quality control purposes
1 Vinyl LP
The album Songs of Electronic Despair is a unique work created by The Android Sisters, a female robot duo from the imagination of Thomas M. Lopez (also known as Meatball Fulton), a leading figure and pioneer of experimental radio, and founder of the ZBS Foundation. The ZBS was an independent, non-commercial studio dedicated to producing radio dramas and experimental sound works.
The ZBS Foundation is best known for its cult radio series, audio dramas blending science fiction, humor, and narrative darkness, among which The Android Sisters holds a unique place.
ZBS didn’t just produce cassettes for its own radio series; it also created and released a dramatic audio adaptation of Stephen King‘s The Mist.
In the 1970s and early 1980s, the ZBS Foundation hosted several influential creators from the avant-garde and experimental scene at its production studio and art facilities through its artist residency program. These included Laurie Anderson, Philip Glass, and Amiri Baraka.
The album “The Android Sisters – Songs of Electronic Despair” is a blend of synth-pop, experimental electronics, narrative avant-garde, and social satire, delivered with a synthetic instrumentation unusual for the time. The android voices of the Android Sisters, performed by Ruth Maleczech and Valeria Wasilewski, stand out against these synthetic soundscapes, oscillating between masked vocals and robotic poetry.
Each track seems to encapsulate, in its own way, the fusion of humor, social commentary, and futuristic sonic landscape. For example:
- Electronic Sheep directly evokes the themes of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick, a major source of inspiration
- Down on the Electronic Farm
- Robots Are Coming and Macho Robot play on robotic archetypes while questioning social norms through an ironic and offbeat lens
echoes a satire of technology applied to rural life
This orange vinyl is not simply a graphic reproduction of the original:
Label: Wah Wah Records – LPS252
1 in stock
Description
The Android Sisters – Songs of Electronic Despair is a landmark album from the ZBS Foundation, fusing experimental electronic music, robotic voices, and satirical humor.
The ZBS Foundation is an American independent studio founded in 1970 by Thomas M. Lopez (aka Meatball Fulton), a pioneer of experimental radio and immersive audio fiction. His goal was to create an artistic laboratory blending music, storytelling, and sound effects, where experimentation and creativity took precedence over commercial considerations. The studio, located in Vermont, quickly became an iconic venue for fans of dramatic radio and electronic music.
ZBS Foundation is best known for its radio dramas that combine science fiction, humor, and narrative darkness. Among these works, The Android Sisters occupies a unique position.
The foundation has hosted or collaborated with several renowned figures, whether through visits, artist residencies, or collaborative projects. These include Laurie Anderson, Philip Glass, and Amiri Baraka, as well as encounters with figures like Jimi Hendrix and Mel Blanc for interviews and audio projects.
The limited-edition orange vinyl is particularly appealing to collectors, with only 150 copies produced, featuring a retro-futuristic cover and an illustrated booklet detailing the lyrics and production notes.
Musically, the album “The Android Sisters – Songs of Electronic Despair” blends analog and digital synthesizers, notably the Synclavier II, with theatrical vocal performances that embody the robotic characters of the Android Sisters. Tracks like “Electronic Sheep,” “Robots Are Coming,” and “Down on the Electronic Farm” explore themes of science fiction, technology, and social satire in a sound that is both futuristic and nostalgic.
This very limited vinyl reissue showcases ZBS’s experimental legacy, offering an immersive and collectible experience where music, storytelling, and visuals interact to create a unique cultural artifact. For fans of experimental electronics, rare vinyl, and audio fiction, this record represents both a historical piece and a singular sonic journey.
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