Lida Husik
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Alternative rock, sometimes techno-Ethereal
Status:
Most recent release, Future Ghosts of America (EP with Soma Allpass, 2016)
See also:
Lida Husik's siteWikipedia's entry on Lida Husik
See The Ectophiles' Guide's entries for her work as by Husikesque and Lida Husik/Beaumont Hannant
Comparisons:
Lusher, more complex sound than Liz Phair or lois, but there are some stylistic resemblances, and fans of either would probably find much to like here. (Neile)
Covers/own material:
Own, very occasional covers
General comments:
low, understated Liz Phair-like vocals over catchy muscular bass/guitar/drum trios. (neal)Lida Husik makes great music, and I will buy anything she puts out. She's one of the most interesting alternative/experimental rock musicians I've heard in a long time. Her music is highly individual, but also has great pop hooks. Her style shifts a little with each album, but there's something just Lida about them all—her unique view of the world? Her obscure lyrics? Playfulness? Her subtle way with a song hook? I frequently don't realize how much she's grabbed my attention till I find myself carrying her songs in my head with me all the time. She deserves far more recognition than she receives. (Neile)
I much prefer Lida's solo/auteur and more poppy confections. My faves of hers are Joyride and Fly Stereophonic. (Violaine@juno.com)
Recommended first album:
Joyride is the easiest to locate but all are worthwhile finding
Recordings:
- Bozo (1991)
- Your Bag (1992)
- The Return of Red Emma (1993)
- Joyride (1995)
- Fly Stereophonic (1997)
- faith in space (1998)
- Mad Flavor (1999)
- "Nuclear Soul" (single, 2006)
- Future Ghosts of America (EP with Soma Allpass, 2016)
Bozo
Release info:
1991—Shimmy-Disc—shimmy-046
Availability:
Can be found in used in the U.S. I suspect it's out of print.
Ecto priority:
Must have for lovers of '90s alternative rock
Group members:
Lida Husik—vocals, guitars, keyboards, drums, etc.
Guest artists:
Kramer—slide guitar
David Licht—drums
Brett Ackerman—fuzz guitar
Melaney Holman—guitar & bass
The Reverent Chester Hawkins—additional vocals
Produced by:
Lida Husik
Comments:
Bozo has some really interesting music, though it took longer to sink into my brain than her other recordings. There are great songs here: "Hateful Hippy Girls", "Farmhouse". Almost all of them are wonderful in their own way. Her intriguing individuality is clear from the start. (Neile)
Your Bag
Release info:
1992—Shimmy-Disc— Shimmy 056
Availability:
Available used in the U.S. I suspect it's out of print.
Ecto priority:
Must have for lovers of '90s alternative rock
Group members:
Lida Husik—guitars, keyboards, vocals
Guest artists:
Jamie Harley—percussion, vocals
Produced by:
Kramer, Lida Husik, and Jamie Harley
Comments:
Your Bag immediately caught me. The music is consistently interesting, catchy and yet really individual. (Neile)
The Return of Red Emma
Release info:
1993—Shimmy-Disc—Shimmy 062
Availability:
Available used in the U.S. I suspect it's out of print.
Ecto priority:
Must have for lovers of '90s alternative rock
Group members:
Lida Husik—guitars, bass, keyboard
Guest artists:
Jamie Harley—drums, percussion
Kramer—bass, Hammond organ
Produced by:
Kramer
Comments:
This is perhaps even more catchy than Your Bag. The songs are generally short, with the shortest being my favourite, "Pyramis and Thisbe"—I wish it were twice as long. This whole collection could be twice as long and I'd still love it. Her music is consistently varied and interesting. (Neile)
Joyride
Release info:
1995—Caroline Records—CAROL 1778-2
Availability:
wide in U.S.
Ecto priority:
Must have for lovers of '90s alternative rock
Group members:
Lida Husik—vocals, guitars, organ, synthesizer, E-bow, bass
Guest artists:
Charles Steck—bass
The Rummager—drums
John Giesecke—drums
Sven Abow—drums
Julius Klepacs—drums
Mick Murphy—additional vocals
Produced by:
Beaumont Hannant and Richard Brown
Comments:
A little sweeter and more ethereal-voiced than her previous album, but still laden with pop hooks. (Neile)
Fly Stereophonic
Release info:
1997—Alias Records—A121
Availability:
wide in U.S.
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for lovers of '90s alternative rock
Group members:
Lida Husik—vocals, guitars, keyboards, Hammond organ
Guest artists:
Charles Steck—bass
The Rummager—drums, percussion
Eugene Bogan—bagpipes
Produced by:
Charles Bennington, Geoff Turner, and Lida Husik
Comments:
A little less ethereal than Joyride—more reminiscent of her earlier slightly more rocking sound. Lida Husik has a wonderful, individual style with just a slight ironic touch. I can't figure out why she isn't better known. I'd like to think this album would help garner her some more attention. This seems an album in the quintessential Husik style. (Neile)Fly Stereophonic didn't do much for me—though it was enjoyable. (rholmes@cs.Stanford.edu)
a "fun" album...reminds me of Lush. (adriftaway@yahoo.com)
faith in space
Release info:
1998—Alias Records—a 132
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Probably best for techno or Husik fans
Group members:
Lida Husik—bass, guitars, keyboard, vocals
Guest artists:
Beaumont Hannant—drum programming, percussion, samples, keyboard
Produced by:
Beaumont Hannant
Comments:
Another boring technoexperiment. (tugboat@channel1.com)One of her more space-oriented recordings, I hear that it's one that grows on the listener. I need to give it time to do so. (Neile)
Mad Flavor
Release info:
1999—Alias Records—4144
Availability:
Wide in U.S.
Ecto priority:
Only recommended for Lida Husik fans
Group members:
Lida Husik
Guest artists:
Brandon Finley—drums
Gregory "El Flaco" Woods—percussion, vocals
Seb Thomson—drums
Jerry Busher—drums, percussion Hillary Soldati—cello Geoff Turner—keyboards
Charlie Bennington—saxophone
Josh LaRue, Doug Kallmeyer—bass support
Produced by:
Charles Bennington and Geoff Turner, Mark Tibenham, Alistar Cormick, Thomas Albrighton
Comments:
I've kept listening to Lida Husik over the years because I always find something to love in all her albums, and even like her spacey-sounding work well enough. But now she's back to pop/rock, and I should like it but this one does nothing for me so far. It has disappeared back into the disc collection. I hope to pull it out and rediscover it sometime soon. I guess I would recommend listening to her older work over this particular one. (Neile)
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