46bliss - 46bliss (2004)

Ask the members of 46bliss about their name and they’ll tell you something about, "an obscure New York City subway stop." Listen to their music and it quickly becomes clear that the power of this band’s alchemical pop sound lies in their ability to take you from sublime to edgy, from dark mystical to danceable, with ease. David Cooper, schooled in keyboards, composition and recording, was dissatisfied pursuing a solo career as a singer-songwriter. Possessed by a musical vision of a "transformative, raging calm", he realized a collaborative effort was required. Canadian-born Clare Veniot, whom he had met working in an East Village restaurant, inspired David with her hanting acapella Celtic and Acadian vocal influences. He invited her to join him in the studio. From a list of drummers, David’s first call was to Jack Freudenheim, whose background included South Indian classical, rock and funk, as well as electronic music and the recent creation of the ambient music-generating software, Sounder. In a brief conversation, it became apparent that the three had to meet. When they picked up their instruments to jam, things just clicked. Before long, they had written, produced and recorded a 14-song CD in their home studios. Using computer technology, "found sound" and ancient bliss-inducing techniques to create velvety smooth, catchy, confident songs, 46bliss transcends standard pop expectations.