MP3 Dem imonde - The Era of Wonderful Nonsense

A mixture of alternative and experimental rock branded 'IntelaRock'.

10 MP3 Songs in this album (32:08) !
Related styles: ROCK: Experimental Rock, ROCK: College Rock

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Details:
Dem imonde is a three-piece, straightedge, âIntelaRockâ [intelligent alternative and experimental rock] band that formed in Louisville, Georgia (USA) during the fall of 2007. Its founding members are Aiden Blair, Ximena Valdís, and Elliott X. Grey XVI. The band is known for their raw, âgarage-esqueâ sound and trading off instruments during a performance.

The Beginning

During 2006, Ximena and Elliott formed a band (then known as Veiled in Darkness). In the fall of 2007, Aiden moved to a nearby town and registered at the school that Ximena and Elliott attended. By coincidence, Ximena and Aiden had the same class together. Through this class, they realized that they shared a passion for the same bands and genres of music. Ximena asked Aiden to join the band [as the bassist] and the invitation was immediately accepted. At the time, Elliott was the guitarist and Ximena was the drummer, but that arrangement would quickly change.

At their second band practice, Aiden brought up an idea that she believed was naïve at the time, but would soon become the primary foundation of Dem imonde. Aiden suggested that they could, âSwitch instruments during a performance in order to alter [our] sound and style.â The other members agreed and the line-up was set. All members would play guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and sing various vocal parts throughout a performance.

The Name

Dem imondeâs first show was at Cheeks Studios in Evans, Georgia on October 13, 2007. The band had only been around for about two months and they still lacked a name. They went onstage as âThe no-name band with a no-name songâ and performed what would become âDisengageâ, which was their first track written as a band and their first instrumental piece.

After their first performance, the band felt an urgent need to name themselves (seeing as âthe no-name bandâ simply would not work). After about a week of searching, they unanimously decided on Dem imonde. Demimonde is French for âhalf-worldâ and the band believed that it would fit their darker style and sense of detachment. They put an emphasis on âhalfâ and split the word in two as such: Dem imonde. [The âiâ is left lowercase in order to further demonstrate the disconnection of the world.]

Democratic Style

Dem imonde is both applauded and criticized for their democratic approach to writing and composing. All of the members (on an album) are given the same amount of tracks that feature their vocals on lead. If a member is to sing the lead on a track, then they write both the lyrics and compose the part for the instrument that they wish to play while singing.

Dem imonde believes that by writing this way, âIt avoids unnecessary tension that often is built up in bands by letting one person have the final say [all of the time]. This is also why we do not have a front-man. We all have various ideas and beliefs that could not be expressed by one person.â

IntelaRock

âIntelaRockâ [intelligent alternative and experimental rock] is a style of music that was created by Dem imonde. They formed the name after hearing Steve Cheeks say, âThis is music for intelligent men,â while he was listening to Nyctalopia. The label has followed them since.

The bandâs sophomore album, The Era of Wonderful Nonsense, was released in January of 2009. The following review was written by Dino Lull of Metro Spirit Magazine:

Issue #20.25 :: 01/14/2009 - 01/20/2009

AUGUSTA, GA - The newest release by Augusta favorites Dem Imonde brings back the edgy, dark sound of this three-piece complete with previously unheard of hidden talents. The listener finds the familiar sound of "Nyctalopia" yet something far surpassing what came before.

Ximena, Aiden and Elliot from Dem Imonde deliver ten tracks on "The Era of Wonderful "Nonsense" with a different feel from their last release, "Nyctalopia." Still experimental and intense, their music once again brings the listener to the brink of no-wave-post-punk-Goth, but infuses these traditionally underground genres of rock with a stripped-down, often Nirvana feel. What the girls in Dem Imonde call âIntelaRock,â most people might find hard to label. And in this lies the beauty of the music. Often times moody like Tori Amos, yet with a militaristic beat as made popular by such groups like Siouxsie and the Banshees, Dem Imonde take their unique sound to new heights on "The Era of Wonderful Nonsense." The clangy noise and heavy beats find a new home with catchy, experimental pop music. While this may sound contradictory in terms, Dem Imonde pulls it off with exquisite ability.

Ranging from Oriental poppy highs on âSenorishinaâ to the slow mood of âImaginary Claim,â Dem Imonde run the musical gamut, exploring the vast array of styles that exist and fusing them together into a masterpiece of sound.

"The Era of Wonderful Nonsense" far surpasses the more stripped-down style of "Nyctalopia" and truly demonstrates the talent of Dem Imonde to build an audio puzzle, a jigsaw of sound that rivals the best experimental bands in the music scene.