Hyperbubble + Manda Rin

Hyperbubble + Manda Rin is an EP released by German label Pure Pop For Now People. It debuted as a CD and digital download on February 14, 2013 in the U.S.[1] The recording was the second collaboration between the American synthpop/electropop duo Hyperbubble and Manda Rin of the Scottish bands Bis and Data Panik.

Hyperbubble + Manda Rin
EP by Hyperbubble, Manda Rin
Released	February 14, 2013
Recorded	TX & Glasgow, Scotland
Genre	Synthpop, electropop
Length	13:39
Language	English
Label	Pure Pop For Now People (Germany)
Producer	Jeff Decuir, Jess DeCuir, Manda Rin, Stuart Memo
Hyperbubble, Manda Rin chronology
Rollerboogie Babydoll (2009) Hyperbubble + Manda Rin (2013) Better Set Your Phasers to Stun – The Next Generation (2014)

History

Hyperbubble previously collaborated with Rin on the 2011 album, Drastic Cinematic, in which she contributed vocals to the well received "Geometry"[2] and its remix by Haberdashery on the album's U.K. reissue. The EP reprised her vocals for a sequel, entitled "Geometry II".

Rin also fronted the songs "Hello Heaven Operator" and "In the Movies". A music video for "In the Movies" debuted a week after the EP release on February 21.[3][4] The video was directed by members of Hyperbubble with animation by Jeff DeCuir.[3][5]

Hyperbubble member Jess DeCuir handled lead vocals on "Kamikaze Coma". The track included backing vocals by Monanani Palermo of Femme Fatality, a band that had previously collaborated with Hyperbubble. The last song, "Attack of the 3D Space Kittens", sampled Rin's cat Aikiko and the DeCuirs' cats Smokey and Flyboy. The back of the CD cover included photos of the artists with their cats.[1]

The album integrated sound effects created by Hyperbubble's Jeff DeCuir using Pop Rocks, 7-Up and a Bee Gees lunch box.[6][7] It was produced in part by Stuart Memo, a former band member of Data Panik and later, a member of Bis. Memo also previously engineered the track "Geometry" on Drastic Cinematic.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Puro Pinche	[8]
Alternative Press Magazine	[9]
Side-Line Music Magazine	[10]

Craig Haggis of the review site Porky Prime Cuts named Hyperbubble + Manda Rin one of their top ten favorite albums for 2013.[11] The EP provided a unique sound through the mix of Manda Rin's "sweet pop" and the "electric bubblepop" of Hyperbubble.[12] Critics found that the music recalled '80s new wave music[8][13][14][10] and once again revealed Hyperbubble's "passion for vintage electronics."[10] The track "Hello Heaven Operator" represented the "most obviously Devo-influenced of the lot" "with Rin's vocal at its finest."[13][4]

One review likened the music to "early Depeche Mode at one stage then sounding like a microwave gone crazy the next."[14] Together with its "cartoon themes," a complaint was that it came off as "annoying";[9][8] however one complainant observed that "after multiple listens it proves to be so damn catchy and scattered that it’s kinda refreshing."[8] The consistent theme through the recording was a focus on danceability and fun.[12][10][14][15][16]

Track listing

All songs written and arranged by Jeff DeCuir.

No.	Title	Guest musician(s)	Length
1.	"Message from Beyond"		0:25
2.	"Geometry II"		2:16
3.	"Hello Heaven Operator"		2:44
4.	"In the Movies"		3:04
5.	"Kamikaze Coma"	Monanani Palermo	2:32
6.	"Attack of the 3-D Space Kittens"	Aikiko, Smokey, Flyboy	2:38

Personnel

Musicians

• Jess DeCuir – Lead vocals, Backing vocals, Theremin, Synthesizer, Stylophone, Organ
• Jeff DeCuir – Backing vocals, Sequencers, Vocoder, Synthesizer, Sound effects
• Manda Rin – Lead vocals, Backing vocals

Additional personnel

• Monanani Palermo – Backing vocals
• Aikiko, Smokey, Flyboy – Sampled voices

Production

• Producers – Jeff Decuir, Jess DeCuir, Manda Rin, Stuart Memo
• Digital mastering – Carl Saff
• Artwork – Jeff DeCuir
• Photography – Jeff DeCuir, Jess DeCuir, Manda Rin

References

1. FOR 03 Hyperbubble + Manda Rin MCD Pure Pop For Now People. Retrieved on March 14, 2018.
2. Stärnell, Anna Maria. "Drastic Cinematic". The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
3. Hyperbubble + Manda Rin = "In the Movies" music video February 21, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2018
4. Roland, Mark (April 17, 2013). "Hyperbubble: Hyperbubble + Manda Rin". Electronic Sound Magazine. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
5. Lai, Chi Ming (January 22, 2013). "HYPERBUBBLE & MANDA RIN In The Movies". The Electricity Club. Retrieved March 12, 2018
6. Hyperbubble + Manda Rin – Hyperbubble + Manda Rin Discogs. Retrieved on March 26, 2018.
7. "The Art of Hyperbubble" November 5, 2012 lecture for PechaKucha San Antonio Vol. VIII July 26, 2013. Retrieved March 14, 2018
8. Guerra, Stephanie (May 23, 2013). "Pinche Guero Review #5 - Hyperbubble + Manda Rin EP". Puro Pinche. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
9. Pettigrew, Jason (February 16, 2013). "Hyperbubble + Manda Rin: Hyperbubble + Manda Rin EP". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
10. DP (October 6, 2013). "Hyperbubble + Manda Rin + Hyperbubble + Manda Rin (CD EP – Pure Pop For Now People)". Side-Line Music Magazine. Archived from the original on September 7, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
11. Haggis, Craig (January 5, 2014). "Albums of 2013". Porky Prime Cuts. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
12. Axur (February 26, 2013). "Hyperbubble + Manda Rin = In The Movies". Electro and Pop. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
13. Stärnell, Anna Maria. "Hyperbubble + Manda Rin with Manda Rin". The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
14. Davies, Kris (May 28, 2013). "Hyperbubble + Manda Rin EP (Pure Pop For Now People)". Trip-TV. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
15. "Hyperbubble + Manda Rin - Hyperbubble + Manda Rin (CD EP, Pure Pop For Now People, Pop)". babysue. February 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
16. Lai, Chi Ming (January 22, 2013). "HYPERBUBBLE & MANDA RIN In The Movies". The Electricity Club. Retrieved March 24, 2018.