The West Michigan trio brought its electronic wizardry to this week’s radio show, which also boasted the debut of tracks by Shane Tripp, Peat in the Creel, Venson Dix and Bruce Matthews.
In Studio X: hi-ker performing a song from “Lippe” during Local Spins on WYCE. (Photo/Local Spins)
As band member Kohl Sprader puts it, hi-ker has fully embraced its “fascination with electronic” elements.
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The Rockford-bred rock band turned electronic trio proves on its latest album, “Lippe,” that this healthy obsession and progression has borne some delectable fruit, with lilting pop and rock flavors sheathed in electronic delights.
hi-ker, “Lippe”
Influenced by IDM (intelligent dance music) artists such as Aphex Twin and Bjork, hi-ker – Sprader, Chris Ryan and Spencer Gordon – has carved out unique space in West Michigan’s music scene, something the group will get to demonstrate once again when hi-ker headlines the next “Concerts Under the Stars” show at the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Chaffee Planetarium at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18.
The Grand Rapids band’s performance in this unique space will be accompanied by interactive visuals created by Nate Eizenga.
“I don’t think we tried to do anything specifically (with the new album),” said Ryan, “just kind of seemed like the music we wanted to make at the time. Just more electronic.”
The trio brought that approach – surrounding a table filled with electronic gear – to Studio X at WYCE-FM for the latest edition of Local Spins on WYCE, performing the songs “Jessie B. Good” and “Oily” on air. Listen to the full podcast below.
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Gordon, the band’s percussionist, conceded hi-ker is still honing its live show.
“Making it still seem impactful and energetic can be a little bit of a challenge at times,” he said, because electronic music sometimes seems like “performers are just kind of like standing around. It’s something we’re still trying to grow with.”
The band aims to get more opportunities to work on that live show at performances in 2018, along with work on yet another new studio recording.
“We’ve got some ideas and some exciting things,” said Sprader.
The Jan. 5 episode of Local Spins on WYCE also featured the debut of tracks by Shane Tripp (who has a dual album-release show with The Howlers at 9 p.m. Saturday at The Pyramid Scheme), Peat in the Creel (who play Local Spins Wednesday at SpeakEZ Lounge at 8 p.m. Wednesday), Bruce Matthews (who hosts a CD-release show at LowellArts at 7 p.m. Saturday) and Venson Dix, plus music from Major Murphy, Hollywood Makeout, Justin Avdek & The Underground Circus, Joshua Davis and Cosmic Knot.
Listen to the podcast here.
PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE with hi-ker (Jan. 5, 2018)
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