Husikesque (aka Lida Husik/Beaumont Hannant)

Country of origin:

U.S.

Type of music generally:

Experimental electronic ambient/ethereal

Status:

Most recent release, Green Blue Fire (1996); see Lida Husik's solo work for her continued interest in this area of music

See also:

Lida Husik's site

The Ectophiles' Guide entry for Lida Husik's solo work

Comparisons:

Like some of Lida Husik's solo work, especially Faith in Space, Portishead, Anna Domino

Covers/own material:

Written by Lida Husik and/or Beaumont Hannant

General comments:

I LIKE Lida Husik's ambient projects. I think they are quirky and fun, enjoy the stories that she's telling, and the general sound of the albums. (neal)

I consider these albums more ambient electronic than trip hop or ectronica. They're dreamy pieces rather than emotional. While I enjoy then when I play them, I much prefer Lida Husik's more indierock projects. (Neile)

Recommended first album:

Either

Recordings:

• Evening At The Grange ep (as Lida Husik/Beaumont Hannant)
• Green Blue Fire

Evening At The Grange ep

Release info:

1994—Astralwerks—ASW 6135

Availability:

Wide on release

Ecto priority:

Recommended for atmospheric electronic/ambient fans

Group members:

Lida Husik—vocals, guitar, E-bow
Beaumont Hannant—keyboards

Produced by:

Richard Brown, Beaumont Hannant

Comments:

It was nice and smooth, but didn't really strike me. (woj@smoe.org)

If it's not exactly trip hop, it veers pretty close. I find it pretty interesting that she puts these albums out on Astralwerks and releases entirely different material on Caroline. While I like some of the trip hop I've heard, I don't find it to be all that engaging. I prefer Lida Husik's rougher Caroline albums to this one. (neal)

Green Blue Fire

Release info:

1996—Astralwerks—ASW6149-2

Availability:

Wide on release

Ecto priority:

Recommended for atmospheric electronic/ambient fans

Group members:

Beaumont Hannant—keyboards, percussion
Lida Husik—guitar, keyboards, vocals

Guest artists:

Richard Brown—keyboards, percussion

Produced by:

Richard Brown, Beaumont Hannant

Comments:

It's very dreamy and full of electronica. (adamk@zoom.co.uk)

Husikesque is Lida Husik—wait, I'll quote the promo sticker: "Another side of Lida Husik, with Beaumont Hannant &Richard Brown (Outcast Productions)". I know Husik comes with a reputation, but as of this writing I've not heard her other work. I still don't know what to make of it. I do like it. I can see the Portishead comparison—deep, rich bass tones; atmosphere heavy and dark; beats built of layers of surprising sounds—but Husikesque is not as sample-driven, and Husik's voice has none of that flutey, waiflike quality: it's more like the world-weary, post-apocalyptic cabaret of Anna Domino. Lyrics are not a strength. There's something about this album I can't quite take seriously (maybe it's the squeak I think I hear from the TripHop bandwagon wheels; they're hauling quite a load these days), but I've been playing it a lot. (lissener@wwa.com)