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Alger Hiss began in 1994, with aspirations of injecting
harsh, no wave-influenced noise into droning, punk-tinged hard rock.
The NYC power trio originally conisted of guitarist/vocalist/bassist
Jordan N. Mamone, drummer Hajji Majer,
and bassist/vocalist/guitarist Chris O'Rourke. By late
1995, they had self-released a cassette and played numerous Northeastern
gigs with a host of rough, avant-rock luminaries. These shows were characterized
by bloody hands, drunken sloppiness, and the drop kicking of guitars.
Oblivious of its surroundings, the young band exhibited reckless enthusiasm
regardless of whether an audience was receptive, apathetic, or hostile.
At the end of 1995, the burgeoning Ba
Da Bing! label released Alger Hiss's official debut, a vinyl mini-LP/CD
entitled Settings For Nudes. O'Rourke quit the following summer
and was replaced by guitarist-turned-bassist Jon Fine
(Bitch Magnet, Don Cabellero). Free of his ex-cohort's more melodic
inclinations, Mamone began writing heavier music that elucidated his
love of complex song structures, gigantic riffs, alternate tunings,
and brief explosions of improvisation.
In January 1997, Feldspar Records issued the varied Graft
Vs. Host, which compiled a remixed version of the early cassette
with the original lineup's final studio efforts. The album--also pressed
on vinyl via Mamone's Tangential imprint--was hailed by critics in the
fanzine and alterna-glossy media. A year later, Fine and Majer departed.
Mamone spent time finishing school, auditioning personnel, traveling,
and pursuing his career as a rock writer.
Alger Hiss sprang to life again in 2001, when Mamone
recruited bassist J Yung--whose simplified, deep low-end added even
more weight to the sound--and drummer Frederick Schneider.
A series of live dates ensued. The following year brought another change
of percussionists with the arrival of jazz-schooled Lithuanian expat
Dalius Naujokaitis, who has collaborated with Fluxus
filmmaker Jonas Mekas and comprises one third of NAM, a reclusive, psychedelic
improv project that also features Mamone and former Subskin Cables guitarist
Fernando Avila. Alger Hiss's sound was mutating and maturing during
this era; the new, sometimes painfully slow material lumbered with art-metal
ferocity.
In 2003, Mamone and Yung asked longtime friend Dave Reid
(Glenn Branca, Wider, Dustdevils, Don Caballero)
to fill in on drums for a thundering, ominous take of the live favorite
"Mason Jar," which will appear on a compilation issued by
San Francisco's tUMULt Records.
In late 2004, with Alger Hiss again on hiatus, Mamone
traveled to Pori, Finland. Overseas, he participated in Lee
Miller,
a bludgeoning, hypnotic union with Jyrki Laiho and Janne Peltomäki,
both of whom were key members of nordic underground heroes Circle and
Stalwart. (Circle and Alger Hiss had been labelmates on Feldspar.)
Musically Incorrect Records released
Lee Miller's European-only debut album, The Futility of Language, in
2005.
Back in New York in 2006, Mamone and Yung reconvened with Naujokaitis
for yet another resurgence of Alger Hiss. The revitalized group is currently performing with the occasional aid of symbolist video artist Tamara Yadao. You've been warned.
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