Every now and then a band comes along whose music somehow becomes ubiquitous in everything we are doing, all of the time and everywhere, no matter what. This has happened with Live Footage, an electroacoustic band led by Mike Thies on drums and keyboard, and Topu Lyo on Cello and Effects. The Brooklyn-Based duo whose synchronistic lives led them to finally meet at a Halloween Party five years ago, have mastered the kind of music that carries an inspiration until it has been seen through to fruition.  Not only is it unique and inspired in its arrangement and movement, Mike and Topu use their basement to write and produce this music themselves, but each song also has a resolution.  Did I mention that there are no words? That’s the thing about Live Footage… it serves as a kind of background music to your life.

Photo by: Marc Lemoine

Not surprisingly Topu and Mike would like for Live Footage to have a similar effect, “We want people to be inspired to get the urge to create art for themselves.  We want to be the soundtrack for people to be happy on their commute to work, to hit people on an emotional level that lasts and can stir feelings of nostalgia and hope.”   When I asked them what they see themselves doing in the next 10 years Mike mentioned, “Photography and Paleontology, and to be consistently working”.  Topu’s vision includes “traveling and performing a lot, meeting great people, and making creative records…oh and moving out of my basement apartment…”.  Whatever happens and wherever it’s happening, let’s just hope that Mike and Topu continue to bring Live Footage into our lives.

http://shutyourfuckingfaceandlisten.com/joel-frieders

http://iknowtheledge.com/hip-hop/live-footage-plays-jay-dee

http://206up.com/2011/04/26/download-live-footage-plays-jay-dee-live-footage/

…translated (crudely)

For Willow Be the first album of Live Footage, like Balmorhea two years ago, is primarily a story of pocket. A sober and elegant design that evokes the fusion of elements, ideograms (or other records of Asian origin) to induce a secret, a treatment rather high-end disk claimed as a self-production …
And arguments that place the disc on the top of the stack, listening with a priori favor and do not regret it. He was not told that a fully instrumental disc, made of loops and improvisations, described as a surrealist masterpiece, played minimalist duo (Mike Thies on drums and keyboards, Topu Lyo cello and loops ) and embellished with clear springs mercenary (played heavily on the heartstrings), can inspire in me something other than a passing curiosity …
Surely there is the effect of mode, Live Footage of a false airs Aufgang: less virtuosity and pure talent but effective tricks to compensate (severe rhythmic, powerful bass lines on “See The Reflection“ in particular). The duo plays with nostalgia, too, is taking Royksopp in an instant revival and subtle dancefloor (“Working Man Is Always Poor ‘).
It’s so direct and easy to listen that becomes suspect: it is in the sound world of ads most aesthetes (luxury deviant, perfumes that want to sell by caressing models), it provides the perfect material for generations of cultural programs …
It borders on the looting and scholarly distillation of catchy melodies, archi-known guise reworked (the haunting feeling to know everything already be familiar melodies from the first listen) but that is very strange. Live Footage playing with electronics as if it was a framework that should be overcome, however: the frames are simple and synthetic cello alights slowly and using loops and other effects to enrich the whole, probably dreaming of an orchestra to replace them. Classical music is a permanent reference, but it is tackled head almost in fleeing, the economy or timidity.
Willow Be is a discrete disc, a small collection of valuable urban contemporary music and Live Footage, a kind of Balmorhea cities. Here, a sincere compliment …

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Apotheke -  NOW EVERY SUNDAY!  - free — 10-1 — 9 doyers st

2.11.12 - Screening of “An Imaginary Thing” - 61 Local, 61 Bergen St. (near Smith St.). Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Upstairs.

3.3.12 - Rosendale NY @ the Market Market w/ Setting sun

3.7.12 - Spectacle Theatre - Performing live for a viewing of “Winged Migration”

3.28.12 - 4.3.12 - Tour with Emily Wells -

4.4.12 - Iron Horse - w/ Emily Wells - Northampton, MA - Facebook invite

4.6.12 - The Outter Space - w/ emily wells - Hamden, CT - Facebook invite

4.2012 - European Tour w/ setting sun- details tba

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Live Footage w/ Quitzow, Setting Sun, Siwat

Sunday

Settle in and enjoy a night of warm-spirited music made by talented friends. Cellist Topu Lyo and drummer Mike Thies are Live Footage, which uses loops to augment its live sounds for lovely and occasionally breathtaking electronic pieces. Mr. Lyo also plays with Quitzow and Setting Sun, the former a fun pop band with Erica Quitzow singing over sparse, bubbling funk. Setting Sun is Gary Leavitt, a singer-songwriter who backs Ms. Quitzow and delivers folk rock that explores the same terrain as Beck and the late Elliott Smith. Mr. Lyo played on his recordings and will no doubt sit in when Setting Sun performs. Siwat makes gentle and very appealing acoustic pop and countryish rock. This show, which celebrates the release of new albums by Quitzow and Setting Sun, promises to conjure a cozy vibe to cap a late Spring weekend.

The best music is said to be an experience, a perfect depiction of the message the artist is trying to portray. After seeing Live Footage perform live, I can definitely attest to the high level of talent and intricacy within their music.

Live Footage is composed of Mike Thies, a drummer, and Topu Lyo, a cellist. Their performance includes Topu’s usage of live loops without including any samples and Mike’s instrumentation on the drums and keyboards. The merge of instruments bears testament to the the natural chemistry between the two that comes from 3 years of playing together.

Live Footage derives their name from comments that their music is “cinematic” and the lively activity of their feet on pedals for their instruments. Upon listening to their self titled album, I had to agree about the cinematic quality of their music. Every song can take a listener through a range of emotions with every peak and crescendo.The music can easily be used to score films. I especially liked that one of my favorite tracks that I saw live, “Multiply Divide”,  translated perfectly on this release. “1976″ (i-iii) will take listeners on an audio voyage that seems to go in a pattern that depicts a rise, zenith and descent. “Non Fiction”’s techno feel is perfectly executed. I was a huge fan of the execution on this album.

Take a listen for yourself to “Non Fiction” and ” Freedom Happening”. I guarantee that Live Footage will provide your ears with FRSH audio candy! Also, if you’re in the NY area, they also have a show on June 13th at Mercury Lounge. Check out the flyer here.