The Electronic Lover
Innova, 2024
9/10
Listen to The Electronic Lover
The Bay Area composer Lisa Mezzacappa and New York writer Beth Lisick come together for this 9 episode serial audio opera set in a ‘80s chatroom, and they’ve got some exceptional help along for the comedic drama.
“Episode 1: The Pilot” starts the listen with Jordan Glenn’s warm percussion, as both expressive talking and singing enters with plenty of interplay that sets the tone, and “Episode 2: So Long, Quietlady” continues with harmonizing vocals, which brings us to the mid ‘80s, where Margot has relocated to spearhead an online community. Musically, the dreamy setting emits flowing vocals that illuminate the quirky plot.
“Episode 4 MizStacks Cuts Loose” lands further on, and has the group expanding their roles, where Mezzacappa’s stategic bass and Glenn’s light drumming help guide the mood, while “Episode 7: The Silent Circle” has some members getting married and the others attending virtually, where some discord within the group is soundtracked by Steve Blum’s synth acrobatics that often add mystery.
Close to the end, “Episode 8: Compusex Compumurder Compuwhat!” meshes the many voices in often busy bouts of friskiness, and “Episode 9 Epilogue” exits with The Premier Ensemble of the San Francisco Girls Chorus in attendance for the reflective and insightful peek into the character’s intentions.
A truly unique release that spans nearly 4 hours, the voices of Will Adams, Sidney Chen, Jesse Olsen Bay, Michelle Amador and many, many more are complemented by occasional strings and Blum, Glenn and Mezzacappa’s inimitable talents, too.