Artist description Judgement of Paris was formed at a time when the Minneapolis music scene was awakening from its garage-rock-induced stupor in favor of a new, keyboard-based, effects-laden ambient-pop cocktail the local press dubbed "dream pop." However, the band remained one step ahead, or behind, that inaccurate label - depending on one's perspective. Working from rolling tribal beats and stark, mood-inducing sequences that would be an appropriate sonic complement to the austere, black-and-white images in a Jim Jarmusch film, the band drew its sound from such forgotten medieval instruments as the hammered dulcimer and alto recorder, layering fretless bass, acoustic and electric guitars and the soothing baritone of Christian Erickson in a manner that earned Judgement of Paris the more applicable label of "trance-pop pioneers" by then City Pages music critic Jim Meyer.

Music Style Moody Ambient Pop

Similar Artists Have been compared to Dead Can Dance, David Sylvian, Xymox, Bark Psychosis, Talk Talk.

Artist History Judgement of Paris was formed in 1988. They released the CD "Conversion" in 1992 and a follow-up, "Signal" in 1994. JoP played its last show in 1994, and founding members Christian Erickson and Joel Hanson went on to form Passage.

Group Members An ever-shifting lineup which at times included: Christian Erickson, Joel Hanson, Ian Dittbrenner, Bradley Hanson, Joel Smith and Katharine Nelson.

Instruments Various Electronic and Acoustic instruments.

Location Minneapolis, MN - USA

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