Whether or not you recognize the name Martin Bisi right off the bat, you know him even if you think you don't. I'm sure you'll recognize the following:

Herbie Hancock - Future Shock
Afrika Bambaata - Shango Message
Sonic Youth - Death Valley '69
Iggy Pop - Instinct
Bootsy Collins - Jungle Bass
The Dresden Dolls - The Dresden Dolls

And why do you recognize these, you ask? Because Bisi is the talented producer behind these legendary pieces. Aside from being the man behind the board, Bisi has also created a solid solo career of his own. Sirens of the Apocalypse is his 4th studio album, which was created over the past 7 years in his legendary Brooklyn recording lair.


With this album, Martin Bisi's "anti-production" is highly resembling of early Sonic Youth records. One of the aspects I respect most about Youth was their severely raw and stripped down approach to their recordings. The same can be said for the entire disc of Bisi's latest work.

It's refreshing to have an artist of such great stature and notoriety be so well-know and respected for pure talent, as opposed to the nature of mainstream music and radio rock with it's highly stylized production values that make instruments and genuine vocal talents almost unnecessary.

Sirens of the Apocalypse is an album inspired by various female characters, living and surviving in our modern world. While still keeping true to the Bisi formula for success, he has been able to genre-hop a bit, crossing from poppy to psychedelic, moody to shoegaze, and indie rock to harder rock, all over the span of 12 solid tracks.

One of the many highlights for me is Goth Chick '98, a stylized cabaret-influenced track. You can preview below. Buy Martin Bisi's Sirens of the Apocalypse here.

mp3: Martin Bisi - Goth Chick '98