Telefon Tel Aviv - Stay Away From Being Maybe
A week after Chicago-based duo Telefon Tel Aviv’s third full-length album Immolate Yourself officially dropped (January 20), co-founder Charles Cooper was found dead in a Chicago park. Needless to say, the future of the band is uncertain, and remaining member Joshua Eustis hasn’t explicitly said whether or not the Telefon Tel Aviv name will continue with a tour or future releases.
It’s incredibly sad and disturbing that such a tragedy would take place at all, let alone shortly after the band’s new album was poised to drop jaws among the electronica elite, but I’m thankful that the album made its way into the world and brought us a song as wonderful as Stay Away From Being Maybe. It’s absolutely breathtaking and I’ve had it on repeat lately - it’s bringing me back to 1984, when MuchMusic used to constantly play a video by Malcolm McLaren called Madame Butterly (watch the steamy, 14A-rated video here). The songs share many similarities, including the breathy vocals and whirling drumbeat. Malcolm McLaren’s Madame Butterfly is an homage to the Italian opera of the same name, and it was produced by superpop producer Stephen Hague.
If you like Junior Boys and Air France, you’ll love this gem.
Telefon Tel Aviv - Stay Away From Being Maybe
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