Artist description Ethereal pop/rock for daydreaming and Sunday afternoons. Atmospheric mood rock with a danceable groove. As one reviewer states, "Imagine if Xymox, Devo, and the Doors had a baby with the Cocteau twins..." Or, in the words of another, "Are they from the past, the future, or are they a dream-based concoction of both equaling the present? A band for the zeroes. Their music reaches out the way dreams reach out through twilight."

Music Style dream pop, neo-new wave, mood rock

Musical Influences 4AD, Cure, Velvet Underground, Depeche Mode, New Order, Eno, U2, My Bloody Valentine, New Wave, Echo & the Bunnymen, Shoegazer bands, Post-Punk, Post-Rock, Ambient, Unwound

Similar Artists Cocteau Twins, Cure, Chameleons, Clan of Xymox, U2, Love Spirals Downwards, Lush, Modern English

Artist History 2002. defunct. 1996. At the end of a tension-filled humid, hot summer in Baltimore, three friends and former bandmates began discussing the possibility of working together again. Sean Preston, John Corkran, and Allison Ernst had worked together before in a post-grunge/power pop/experimental punk band, Goodbye Kitty. But since its demise in 1995, the members had gone in new directions, taking on new roles. Sean still played guitar, but now he used a bevy of effects, changing his sound from straight-ahead power to an ethereal swell. His vocals took a different turn as well--no longer aggressive, they became melodic and touching. Allison, still on bass, continued to play solid, catchy bass hooks, but now they were more of an anchor for the band. John, previously applying his quirky, melodic musical style to guitar, switched to synthesizers. Having spent most of his childhood making music on an Atari computer, this change proved to be rather seamless for him. Rounding out the original line-up was Ben McConnell, precocious teen-aged drummer with a youthful outlook and an amazing ear for tuning drums. It was a potent mix. After a successful debut in a friend's basement, they began playing locally, and their reception was warm enough to get them shows with the Great Unraveling, the Charm City Suicides, and the Magnetic Fields. Unfortunately, the four-person line-up began experiencing personal and creative difficulties. John and Sean remained as Drone Theory, adding Lisa Starace on the MPC 2000 sampler/sequencer/midi-production center. Beginning with taking unfinished bits from the old band as well as some brand new ideas, the new trio started writing and performing. Quickly completing six songs in six months, they scheduled recording time in July with Tony French, experienced producer of Universal Order of Armageddon, Candymachine, Uniform and others. These sessions from July of 1999 were to become the first release for the band. They also began playing to a wider variety of audiences and venues, including goth/industrial dance clubs and art shows. After deciding to relocate to San Diego, the band recorded once more with Tony French in Baltimore. Soon after, they moved to San Diego where they have begun practicing and performing again. They are looking to release their newest material in early 2001.

Group Members Sean Preston: Guitars, Vocals, Samples, Sequences John Corkran: Synthesizers, Samples Lisa Starace: Samples, Sequences, Percussion

Instruments Guitar (effects...), samplers, synthesizers, cymbals, percussion

Albums drone theory (e.p.)

Press Reviews In Issue 16 of Lexicon... Imagine Cocteau Twins without Elizabeth Frazier. Got it? Good, now you know (basically) what this album sounds like. That is not to slight it. The six songs here are all top-notch mood rock 4AD-style circa 1986 or so. If you like that stuff, you will love this collection. And I have to admit I found myself grooving to this in a sort of rainy day way (or Empty Sunday Afternoon, to paraphrase one of the song titles). Sure do miss Ms. Frasier's vocals, though.

Location San Diego, California - USA

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