On March 5, Trent Reznor and the other members of How to Destroy Angels – Atticus Ross, Mariqueen Maandig and Rob Sheridan – took part in an online Reddit Ask Me Anything session.
Besides Reznor telling a fan to send their question to gofuckyourself@youcunt.com (when asked why he signed to Columbia Records instead of giving his music away) – the Nine Inch Nails frontman touched on what it means to be an electronic-centric musician.
“I don’t really care if you can play an instrument or not,” he explained. “I don’t think that’s a mandatory skill required to make music that can connect with people.”
Reznor, his wife Maandig, his film – composition partner Ross, and the group’s art director Sheridan formed HTDA three years ago shortly after NIN announced that they were calling it quits. Though HTDA veers pretty far away from the sound of Reznor’s seminal ’90s industrial outfit – if you’re looking for the aggression and angst of NIN, you will be thoroughly disappointed – they do have one thing in common: a valid argument that the computer can be as much of an instrument as a violin or trumpet.
Reznor has won Grammys, Oscars and sold millions of records, so it’s fair to say that at this point in his career, he can do anything he wants. HTDA is a big, fat juxtaposition of Maandig’s sweet and ethereal vocals and mostly dark, minimal electronic soundscapes best described as Philip Glass receiving shock treatments.
Ex-West Indian Girl Maandig may be Reznor’s wife, but this isn’t one of those favoritism situations. She delivers as the project’s dollop of lightness within a world obscured by heavy clouds. Maandig’s voice is a blend of contemporary and traditional jazz that melds surprisingly well with Reznor’s tapestry of electronic mania. The quartet’s full-length debut Welcome oblivion, released about a month ago, is challenging – the notes that aren’t present are just as important as the notes that are present – in the same vein as Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew and John Coltrane’s Interstellar Space. Hooks are about as prevalent as an umbrella stand in the Sahara.
“Ice Age,” the album standout, showcases Maandig’s vocal aptitude alongside a collage of muted guitar plucks, 2001 computer snippets and an industrial swell of impending doom. Meanwhile, echoes of ’80s new wave seep through a wall of dissonance on one of the record’s more accessible tracks “How long?”
Since HTDA is still new to touring, there’s a lot of intrigue surrounding how they’ll translate live. All that’s known: The production is complicated and has involved a rigorous rehearsal schedule. On Wednesday at the Golden State, local audiences will see how they fare.
There are also questions surrounding how long HTDA will last, since NIN recently announced they would be reuniting for a string of shows.
“We’ll continue to work on [How to Destroy Angels] as long as it’s fun and rewarding to do so,” Reznor assures.
HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS and DIIV perform at 8pm Wednesday, April 17, at the Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $41.25. 297-2472.
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