Last updated: 2 days ago
Morex Optimo emerged out of the early 2000s explosion of innovative Brooklyn-based rock. Their first shows attest to a startling evolution as the band repeatedly turned itself inside out in new directions. Morex Optimo's astonishing capacity for self-reinvention has been crucial to their continued relevance.
Drummer Heather Wagner (PSXO, Bush Tetras) met bassist Yuri Weber (Billy Nayer Show) and guitarist Kristofer Widholm (Pharmacy & Gardens, London Plane) through installation artist Erwin Redl at the influential Pierogi 2000 gallery. They immediately gravitated to an intense, process-oriented approach that generated an improbably beautiful and idiosyncratic set of songs. A gig at the Mercury Lounge proved auspicious. Morex Optimo was introduced to Martin Bisi (Brian Eno, Sonic Youth, Bill Laswell), who agreed to record their first project.
2004's amphetamine-paced Beast of Reflection took indie rock and punk to extremes by tearing through the genre's penchant for irony with a direct and impassioned sincerity. The 12 tracks compressed and twisted rock into jagged, taut shapes. The album met with critical acclaim and Morex Optimo toured the US and Europe in support of it.
On 3 Songs, Morex Optimo took fuller advantage of the studio environment. With producer Jay Braun (Band of Susans, The Negatones, Mooney Suzuki) stepping in, the band moved into a more focused sound. The result was a tightly textured set of songs that delivered an almost operatic focus and sadness.
Drummer Heather Wagner (PSXO, Bush Tetras) met bassist Yuri Weber (Billy Nayer Show) and guitarist Kristofer Widholm (Pharmacy & Gardens, London Plane) through installation artist Erwin Redl at the influential Pierogi 2000 gallery. They immediately gravitated to an intense, process-oriented approach that generated an improbably beautiful and idiosyncratic set of songs. A gig at the Mercury Lounge proved auspicious. Morex Optimo was introduced to Martin Bisi (Brian Eno, Sonic Youth, Bill Laswell), who agreed to record their first project.
2004's amphetamine-paced Beast of Reflection took indie rock and punk to extremes by tearing through the genre's penchant for irony with a direct and impassioned sincerity. The 12 tracks compressed and twisted rock into jagged, taut shapes. The album met with critical acclaim and Morex Optimo toured the US and Europe in support of it.
On 3 Songs, Morex Optimo took fuller advantage of the studio environment. With producer Jay Braun (Band of Susans, The Negatones, Mooney Suzuki) stepping in, the band moved into a more focused sound. The result was a tightly textured set of songs that delivered an almost operatic focus and sadness.
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