If Mark McGuire is the most prominent and accomplished member of the Emeralds clan, then Steve Hauschildt is arguably his antithesis, at least in terms of his apparent personality. As a press release notes, “Steve Hauschildt is usually found at their live performances playing the serious scientist as foil to the other two members more animated stage presence.” Let it be known, however, that outward enthusiasm on stage is hardly the best indicator of musical talent, as demonstrated by just about every artist currently on rotation at your local popular music radio station. In fact, some of the most notoriously mysterious artists have also put out some seriously fantastic and memorable work — I won’t name-drop, as I’m sure you can think of a few just off the top of your head. Burial comes to mind.
With the release of Tragedy & Geometry on November 14, Hauschildt may very well be doing away with whatever degree of demureness he currently exemplifies. The album is being billed as his “first major statement as a solo artist,” and the fact that it’s being released through Kranky carries with it an air of esteem all on its own. Musically, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the album will likely qualify as ambient, but I’m emphatically curious to hear how it’ll differ from McGuire’s solo work. Certainly, the fact that Hauschildt considers himself “more of an artist than a musician,” and that he “sees his work both in group and solo settings as much a visual experience as it is an aural one,” likely influenced his approach as well as the process itself. In other words, prepare your senses, folks.
Tragedy & Geometry tracklisting:
01. Polyhymnia
02. Batteries May Drain
03. Cupid’s Dart
04. Already Replaced
05. Peroxide
06. Arche
07. Music for a Moire Pattern
08. Blue Marlin
09. The Impossible Flower
10. Too Short a Season
11. Allegiance
12. Tragedy & Geometry
13. Overnight Venusian
14. Stare into Space
• Steve Hauschildt: http://www.myspace.com/stevehauschildt
• Kranky: http://kranky.net
