Le Big Zero – Photo Credit: Jeanette D. Moses
Brooklyn-based band Le Big Zero can be described as a rock band with off-kilter timing, engaging harmonies, punk spirit, and pop melodies. The Big Takeover is pleased to be hosting the premiere of “Dryer Lint Trap” off the outfit’s upcoming debut album, Ollie Oxen Free, out this September.
“Dryer Lint Trap” , which arrives July 11th, recalls the casual allure of ’90s slacker-rock with its shambling off-center guitar angles, anchoring low-end bass line, enthusiastically bashed drum beats, tossed off male and female vocal exclamations, and odd-pop lyrics.
Le Big Zero took the circuitous route in creating and finalizing the release of Ollie Oxen Free. As easy as it might be to explain the album’s decade-plus-long incubation, it’s a little more enlightening to hear the highlight reel from frontman Michael Pasuit (guitar, vocals) himself (He’s joined by Carolina Aguilar on vocals, Dylan Thurston on drums, and Thom Cote on bass):
“Auditioned for music school on classical piano. Got in. Didn’t go. Four relatively shitty, regretful years at a state college. Played in an art-rock band out of Hoboken. Learned the ropes from my bandmates. Veterans of the scene. Released an album. Soured on New Jersey and New York City. Moved to Seattle. Fell in love with the anonymity of not knowing anyone. With an acoustic guitar and cassette tape recorder, Le Big Zero began. Challenged myself to make songs sound as complex and full as possible without accompaniment. Started another band with a bunch of music school graduates. Explored complicated, math-y songwriting. Toured the West coast extensively. Released two more albums. Super proud of both. Le Big Zero continued in the margins. Met a girl. Moved back East to Brooklyn. Had trouble finding myself. Joined another band, this time Afro-inspired dance pop. Released another album. Got a little lost. Got a concussion. Got hella depressed. Came out the other side more focused. Dylan helped me flesh out some ideas on drums. Carolina and I shared an office at a foreign policy think tank. Along the way, we realized we shared a brain. She joined Le Big Zero. Everything started falling into place. Garage-y tone, punk spirit. Atypical song structures. Pop melodies. Off-kilter timing. Harmony. Dissonance. Got to the studio. Recorded an album.”
