Ape School

michael johnson signed to sub pop with holopaw, has recorded with brian deck (modest mouse), toured with iron and wine and fruit bats and developed an entirely unhealthy method of making music dubbed wino-synthesis. he more recently leant his vocals to the last daedelus album and now released a self titled debut album under his ape school moniker via counter records. ape school specialize in jaunty yet hazy psychedelia directly indebted to the silver apples, united states of america, and other early innovators of electronic instrumentation. though many others have attempted to mimic the sound of those classic works, johnson has the advantage of working with one of the earliest moog analog synthesizers, which lends his recordings an uncanny air of authenticity. even if there are telltale signs of modern technology and musical influence throughout the album, nearly all of the songs could pass as vintage tunes.