Frausdots

Brent Rademaker is quite the musical neophyte, but don't think for a second that he's a big poseur. He just happens to have a really big record collection. After piddling around various southern California indie rock bands, Rademaker cut his teeth in a Dinosaur Jr.-inspired band called Further, who were one of three bands from the United States signed to Alan McGee's Creation Records. Following the demise of Further, he helped form the cosmic American musical phenomenon called Beachwood Sparks. After the psychedelic country rock fad died down, he joined his brother Darren's band, the Tyde, a Rough Trade-signed outfit that dares to successfully fuse 1960s-inspired surf pop with influences ranging from Felt to Lloyd Cole. But sadly, Rademaker felt like he never got to cut the album that was in his head. He grew up in the '80s listening to moody dark wave and cold electro-pop, so it sounded quite natural when he and his girlfriend Michelle Loiselle formed Frausdots, the fashion conscious, '80s-inspired band. With a penchant for confectionary pop melodies and dark romantic ditties, Frausdots were immediately signed to Sub Pop, who released their debut Couture, Couture, Couture in late 2004. With guest spots from members of the Cure, Psychedelic Furs, Rooney, the Brian Jonestown Massacre, the Warlocks and vocalist Mia Doi Todd, the album is lip-glossed over with a Patrick Nagel perfection. Rademaker proves that he can transcend musical genres and timelines with the one thing that matters most in this realm; the talent for writing flawless pop songs.