Artist description The Strange Attractor tries to avoid the the dominant separation between mind and body, current punk (or other subcultures and subgenres) seclusion from radically engaging other proletarians and taking ourselves too seriously. We use the dialectical method that flows from Hegel to Marx to the situationists to the Marxist-Humanists and certain ultra-left projects to subvert, synthesize and juxtapose elements that seem diametrically opposed: 4 decades of punk, soul, grindcore, death metal, black metal (without its fascist/social Darwinist tendencies), blues, doo-wop, 50's R&B, rockabilly, 70's glam, Brazilian soccer music, tango, reggae, hip-hop, surf, mod/freakbeat, 60's/70's hard bubblegum, etc. These elements have more in common than usually thought as they are generally proletarian in origin, focus and/or appeal. We can cut across ideology, cultural constraints, post-modernist ahistorical eclecticism/novelty, music industry homogenization, and other barriers, including "taste", with dialectics as well as overcome our general social conditioning.

Music Style The history of rock 'n' roll as filtered through radical and Situationist analysis

Musical Influences Glam rock, 60's garage/mod, death/black metal, old-school punk, rockabilly, Japanese noise

Similar Artists We dare say we sound like no other artist, popular or unpopular...

Artist History The Strange Attractor started as an idea in 1995 by the Soul Rebel. After a few years of missteps and lack of bass player, we began to play publicly since December 1999, at DIY shows, benefits and a couple of club gigs. We have had 3 bassists: Nick Banner (since moved back to North America from England and currently lives off the land in New Brunswick, Canada), Bob Hattier (who made Portland, Ore. his new home), and Todd Burdick (went MIA but presumed graduated from high school...). After having no place to practice, we shared a space for a brief time with local garage-rock up-and-comers the Busy Kids, among other bands. More recently, used the communal space of a local artists' residence hall through a friend. The Soul Rebel found more-or-less steady work, but Carlos Desperdicio has gone on hiatus until at least August due to school & travel plans. Nick Banner returned to Chicago coincidentally and joined us for one gig, Rusty Nails's Movieside showcase at the Prodigal Son in March. We played sans Nick at the Mutiny on April 12 with local garage luminaries the Functional Blackouts. Joining us for one song on harmonica was rock journalist/performer James Porter.

Group Members As of this time we are: The Soul Rebel - guitar/lead vocals/songwriter Carlos Desperdicio - drums/backing vocals (on hiatus until August)

Instruments The Soul Rebel uses a Peavey Detonator Axe through a Boss Metal Zone effects pedal. Carlos Desperdicio plays whatever drums were cheapest from a local music store.

Press Reviews From the Illinois Entertainer, July 2002: "The Strange Attractor is a Chicago trio that mixes political fervor with avant-garde wackiness on their debut album, Revolution Is the Best Practical Joke to Pull on a Society That Has Become a Bad Bad Joke! You might find this disc in the fanzine section of stores like Reckless, since the disc itself is packaged inside a plastic bag that also contains a magazine that features credits, cartoons, and song lyrics. THe printed words come in handy, since Soul Rebel nearly threatens to drown out his vocals with his own guitar work. The band uses unexpected tempo changes, soundbites, and atonal chord progressions to great effect -- the casual listener might take Strange Attractor [sic] for another faceless Fireside Bowl hardcore band, but there's much more going on than that. A nice surprise."

Additional Info Contact: soulreb@fastmail.fm, or cdesperdicio@hotmail.com for a copy of the CD, or for more info.

Location Chicago, IL - USA

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