Biography
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Years Active
2003 – present (21 years)
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Founded In
Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
Lesbians On Ecstasy is an electro band from Montréal, Québec, Canada in 2003. The band consists of:
Fruity Frankie, aka Lynne T: vocals
Veronique Mystique: bass guitar
Jackie "the Jackhammer": drums
Bernie Bankrupt: keyboard and samples
The band's name is a twist on the name of renowned electroclash group "Chicks on Speed".
The band toured across Canada and the US with Le Tigre before the release of their first recording. The first album, the self-titled Lesbians On Ecstasy was released on October 26, 2004. In 2005, the song "Bitchsy" from this recording was featured on the tv series, Queer as Folk. That same year, Lesbians On Ecstasy was chosen as the 'Album of the Year' by the U.S. magazine The Advocate.
In the summer of 2005, the band released their follow-up recording Giggles In The Dark, an LP of Lesbians On Ecstasy remixes by Le Tigre, Scream Club, Tracy and the Plastics, Kids on TV (featuring Maggie MacDonald), 1-Speed Bike, DJ AÏ, Jody Bleyle (formerly of Team Dresch), Katastrophe and Sean Kosa.
Following two years of touring and general party-starting Lesbians on Ecstasy’s much-anticipated sophomore release is set to drop in early spring 2007. They’re back and surfing the giant third wave of wimmin’s lib, but amongst the optimistic slogans and hopes for a liberated future, corporate interests and inequality reign, turning feminist dreams to stone and casting dark clouds over the Land. Lesbian Dystopia… L.OE. have retaliated with a collection of songs that hearken back to activist hope – seems like wishful thinking in this day and age.
We Know You Know touches on similar themes to the band’s debut but delves deeper into some of the clichés and tropes of iconic lesbian music. This time around they blend much more melodic elements and hooks that might remind the listener of campfire sing-a-longs at some mythical womyn’s event in the 70’s, with several tracks featuring a chorus backing. However at the same time they have also managed to maintain the heavy beat aspect of their debut. The result is a danceable album that is at moments uplifting and at other moments very dark, but all with the sense of humor and fun that makes Lesbians On Ecstasy unique.
The sophomore effort shows growth in all areas and is most notable on gems like “Sisters (in the struggle)” where the Lezzies utilize a choir to deliver a wonderful chorus, backed with very tight percussion and an array of sampled sounds. “Sedition” opens up with a quote from Burzum’s Varg Vikerness “Why should I regret seeing the light?” Here vocalist Fruity Frankie bounces back from clean melodic vocals and darker whispered vocals, urging the listener to “Play me backwards… play me backwards”.
Lesbians On Ecstasy are a sound force that bridges the gap between electro/techno with punk rock and occasional flirtations with the clamor and thud of industrial music. The band’s varied musical influences are mirrored by the diverse crowds packing their live shows, a melting pot of disco queens, party goers, indie rockers and even punks and metal heads if you happen to catch them in Hamburg. The band’s live set-up consists of sample-based sounds traditionally heard on dance floors everywhere, but in L.O.E.’s case the sounds are performed live with electronic drum pads, live bass, synthesizers and a bevy of effects and pedals.
For this upcoming year, the Lezzies plan to keep the love going. They’ll be appearing in California in February, in England in March and then performing a rock opera at the International Contemporary Art Biennale in Montreal in May 2007. As well as appearances at SXSW in Austin and the WMC in Miami.
The band is on currently on hiatus and its future is in doubt.
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