Head Like a Kite

Electronic music has the very real problem that to the uninitiated, it can all sound pretty much alike. So when an artist like Dave Einmo comes up with such an easy-to-grasp concept as that behind his project Head Like a Kite, it attracts listeners outside of the usual synths-and-beatboxes camp. The guitarist from Seattle's artsy indie rockers Sushirobo, Einmo was inspired to start Head Like a Kite when he came across a cache of super-8 films his parents had filmed while Einmo was growing up in the late '70s. Using these films both as inspiration and as source material for sound samples, Einmo ensconced himself in a Chicago studio with producer Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Iron & Wine) and recorded an album's worth of songs, laying down basic keyboard tracks while watching the films to match the old movies' rapid cutting. Einmo and Deck then layered a wide variety of electronic and unusual acoustic instruments over the basic tracks while inviting friends like Darius Minwalla (Posies), Clay Martin (Sushirobo), and Asya of the preteen indie duo Smoosh to add drums and other instruments. The result of these sessions, Random Portraits of the Home Movie, was released in the spring of 2006, followed by a tour during which Einmo screened the films as he played. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide