Artist description OOP is a unique music and performance art group comprised of an electronic musician, a singer/stage performer, and a multimedia visualist. Most observers agree that OOP's music is extremely original. Some consider it a new type of gothic (possibly because OOP's themes are often dark). Others think OOP is doing something qualitatively new, by combining music, multimedia, and theater into dark rock cabaret.

Music Style Post-Gothic Dark Rock Cabaret

Musical Influences Gothic Industrial Dance Psychedellic Darkwave Classical

Similar Artists Nine Inch Nails; Sisters of Mercy; Dead Can Dance; Joy Division; Beatles; The Doors; Gary Numan; Kraftwerk

Artist History Joe and Diana met in grad school and began doing music together. Russell joined OOP to form the current line up in 1990.

Group Members Diana Blackwell (singer/stage performer); Joe K. (song writer/musician); and Russell Ragar (multimedia visualist)

Instruments Roland XP50, Roland VS880, misc digital studio equipment, electic guitar, voice, video projector, 16mm projector, slide projectors, wetshow projectors, misc. projectors and lighting devices

Albums Mortal (1998); Crown of Thorns (August, 2000)

Press Reviews Outburn wrote in the summer of 1999:Dark, generally danceable 80's influenced keyboard compositions are heated up by seductive female vocals on this first full-length album from Odor of Pears. In addition to a distinct dark-pop aesthetic, there's a sense of minimalist experimentation on Mortal which works quite well. Effectively reproducing the gothic drama of string layers, angelic voices, and the pipe organ, Joe K's synths do the instrumental work, and are indulgently spooky. They gain and lose both atmospheric proportions and brutal distortion, toying with industrial noise as well as etherial expansion, but never losing themselves in either. Percussion ranges from slithery dance beats to a slow tribal dirge; all the while, vocalist Diana Blackwell soothes the listener with her lovely, sultry vocals. I found Mortal to be surprisingly unique. It showcases Odor of Pears' ability to create musical variety while maintaining a distinct sound. It is also particularly commendable as a band's first full-length release. Shortly after reviewing this CD, I saw an Odor of Pears performance in Kansas City, and thought it would be relevant to emphasize their stage show and the amazing amount of work put into it. With slides and film, extras, lighting, costumes and props, Odor of Pears turns their music into an intense and bizarre visual experience (and this explains the third member (to continue see http://www.odorofpears.com/press/outburn09.html)

Location Berkeley, CA - USA

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