Photo: Autumn De Wilde
On May 25th, Black Moth Super Rainbow frontman Tom Fec will return with his second solo album, Maniac Meat, under his alias Tobacco. And he’s scored an A-List guest to contribute: Beck. “Having him guest on my record is like the highest compliment I could ever get,” says Fec.
Recorded at his home outside Pittsburgh, Fec’s latest record features more super-psychedelic synth-pop with titles like “Mexican Icecream,” “Lick the Witch” and “New Juices for the Hottub Freaks.” (If you aren’t familiar with either band, start with BMSR’s epic “Forever Heavy” and Tobacco’s freaky “Hawker Boat.”) Beck guests on two of the new tracks: the lo-fi, hip-hop-inspired “Fresh Hex” and the haunting, mid-tempo jam “Grape Aerosmith.”
Tobacco’s collaboration with Beck was a spontaneous one. “I was writing some of these songs and I could hear Beck’s voice on them,” says Fec. “It was shaping the way they were coming out.” When Fec informed his label, Anticon, about his creative process, he got some unexpected good news. “Shaun, who runs the label, was like ‘Guess what? I’m taking a class with Beck’s music director and they actually know who you are!’ ” Fec sent the audio files “long-distance like” to Beck, who came up with the vocal treatments, lyrics and melodies.
Fec, who is normally averse to performing live, will hit the road on March 12th for a string of live dates that wrap up April 24th in New York City.
March 12 – Toledo, Ohio @ Mickey Finn’s Pub
March 13 – Cincinnati, Ohio @ Northside Tavern
March 14 – Nashville, Tennessee @ Exit In
March 17 – Austin, Texas @ Emo’s Annex (SXSW)
Article Source: Rolling Stone : Rock and Roll Daily