Unsigned Bands: No Use For Humans

No Use For Humans

At first glance, No Use For Humans come across like space travelers exploring Earthling music in the wake of a nuclear holocaust.  Like a triad of mad scientists manufacturing sound in a burnt out warehouse in the bad part of town.  Like a waking nightmare of disorientation and despair from which there is no escape.

Upon closer examination you find, in addition to all those elements, deeply soulful, even beautiful melodies – perhaps made more so by the Verfremdungseffekt - alienation or disassociation effect (for whatever reason this band seems to lend itself to obscure German theatrical terms) - of the overall style.

There is no way to satisfactorily pigeonhole this music.  Compositions will begin with fits of high energy, synthesized drumming, then dissipate and dissolve into a mellow and melodious groove then snap into something else.  Samples are weaved in and out of songs seamlessly, vocals are used sparingly but effectively, rhythms jump, breakdown and build back to something new.  They can take you to a lounge act on the moon, the bowels of hell and an acid-jazz concert in the same song.  It is musical experimentation the mainstream frowns upon and its power is in keeping listeners on their toes.

In their words, “Through years of researching the possibilities of sound all over the wastelands of planet earth, three West Nile survivors developed their own brand of something that might be called music.  Although this music is difficult to categorize, there are recognizable elements of all forms of music. 

“No Use For Humans is a movie for your ears.  Progressive math rock rhythms, haunting melodies, multi-ethnic, multi-genre beauty, unbearable sorrow, and sonic annihilation.”  The result is a sound as original and interesting, as it is bizarre and disorienting. 

It is a disservice to a distinctly unique band like NUFH to think of them in terms of other artists.  Such bland, generalized comparisons do not do them justice.  However, if you must, imagine Les Claypool, Trent Reznor and Fiona Apple dropping acid and taking a U-haul truck full of instruments you’ve never heard of to Frank Zappa’s house to record an album.

The band is: Steve Honoshowsky, Sean Wegeler and Alicia Testa.  Instruments are not listed for want of space.  If you’re in the New York area, check them out at the Lion’s Den, February 22^nd.  No matter what you’re into, this group has something for everyone.

Visit No Use For Humans at:

www.nouseforhumans.com

www.geocities.com/nouseforhumans

www.myspace.com/nouseforhumans

Click here to submit your favorite unsigned band.