Electro-genius singer-songwriter Randolph Chabot AKA Deastro’s 2009 album, ‘Moondagger’ expands upon the positive electro-pop of ‘Keepers’, his home-recorded opus from 2008, with the addition of a full band. Thankfully, the mercurial, prolific Chabot still seems blissfully unaware of his music’s genreless-ness. 14 tracks of pure bliss pierce through any kind of meaningless genre specificity. Whether it’s with what sounds like a coked up 8-bit Nintendo game soundtrack or a less pretencious Postal Service, Deastro makes ‘Moondagger’ one of the most diverse and exciting records of the year.
Randolph Chabot was cool enough to answer this week’s Kuestionnaire and give probably the best answer for Question #15 in Kata Rokkar history…
1. Of all the bands/artists in your CD/record collection, which one is your most cherished?
My Copy of Remain In Light by the talking heads that I found unopened at a garage sale for 3 dollars
2. What have you been listening to lately?
Women, Ducktails, John Maus, Stravinsky, tobacco,
3. What’s your favorite local band?
I would have to say it is a toss up between Gardens, and this kid who makes music in his basement called .
4. What was the last show you attended?
Mahjongg about a week ago and Flying lotus this past weekend at DEMF
5. What was the greatest show you’ve ever been to?
George Strait World tour at the Walmart Pavilion in Arkansas, all my ex’s live in texas those words make up the meet and cheese of my existence and hearing steve reich practice with his orchestra in the basement of the venue we were playing the first time we played in New York. tears were streaming down my face like hot lead. I hid in a dark corner of the room and listened for hours. I really do believe that there is something special holding the universe together, I can’t describe the lack of boundaries I felt in that moment with everyone around me.
6. What show are you looking forward to?
I want to see women live and Nico Muhly.
7. What musician would you like to hang out/work with for a day?
La Monte Young
8. What four albums you would bring to a deserted island?
Pet Sounds, Daniel Variations, Collected Works of Erik Satie, Seven Swans
9. Would you call yourself a music geek?
Yes.
10. Any favorite music-related videos/DVDs you own?
I actually only own one about Devo and I like it!
11. What’s the last book you read?
2666 by Roberto Bolano, and the Long Emergency by James Kunstler
12. Do you prefer live performances or recording in the studio?
Both
13. Any embarrassing moments on stage you’d like to share?
I don’t have any on stage but I did throw a chair at my guitar player after a show once. We are ok now though.
14. Any favorite tour locations?
Iowa
15. Lastly, what have you done today?
I finished a remix for Asobi Seksu, took back my recycling, at a salad, thought about the impeding energy crisis we are going to have in the next 30 yrs and what I can do about it. Wondered why I have so many gadgets even though I hate most technology. thought about never wanting to leave Michigan and what it would take to set up an electric train network in the US because we will have to really more on Nuclear and renewable energy more and more in the upcoming years even if we continue our war for oil.
Deastro – Parallelogram