IQU

IQU (pronounced 'ee-koo', and originally named ICU) is a lo-fi music group from Olympia, Washington

IQU
Also known asICU
OriginOlympia, Washington, United States
GenresLo-fi
Years activec.1997–present
LabelsK, Sonic Boom
MembersMichiko Swiggs
Kento Oiwa
Past membersAaron Hartman

History

The band formed in Olympia, initially as ICU,[1][2] and comprised Michiko Swiggs (keyboards), Aaron Hartman (bass), and K.O. (Kento Oiwa, guitar, theremin, turntables).[3] Swiggs and Oiwa had met at a rave in Osaka, Japan.[2] Their early recordings consisted of free-form improvisation, but became more song-based.[3] They were signed by Calvin Johnson to his K Records label, releasing the album Chotto Matte A Moment! in 1998. The band's live shows included bills shared with Unwound, Sonic Youth, The Flaming Lips, Hovercraft, and Mouse on Mars, and the band toured extensively.[2][3][4]

In 1999 the band issued the Girls on Dates EP, a collaboration with performance artist, poet, and filmmaker Miranda July, described by Allmusic as "a frightening mix of squealing low-fi electronics and broken verbal communication" and "a wonderfully provocative collaboration".[3][5]

Their third album, Teenage Dream was released in 2000, featuring seven different mixes of "Teenage Dream" by the likes of Looper, Lexaunculpt and Sonic Boom, and two mixes of "Can't You Even Remember That?".[6][7][8]

Hartman left in 2000, forming Old Time Relijun.[2] Over the next few years, Oiwa scored the soundtrack for The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and worked as a DJ, and Swiggs became more involved in visual arts.[2]

Their fourth album, Sun Q, recorded as a duo, was released in 2004, and was regarded as their best yet by Allmusic, who described the album as "pretty, Asian flavored synth pop".[9] Pitchfork Media described Sun Q as "a mash of styles that can be generally categorized as "alien pop" - mutated top 40, broken disco, and hyperactive glam instrumentals that flow along at a stream-of-consciousness pace".[4]

Discography

Albums
  • Chotto Matte A Moment! (1998), K
  • Teenage Dream (2000), K - IQU and friends
  • Sun Q (2004), Sonic Boom

Singles, EPs
  • Girls on Dates EP (1999), K - with Miranda July
gollark: bee you.
gollark: What? It's quarantined. Æ.
gollark: If it's, say, polluting a river, or launching an invasion against the commune near it, then people don't want that.
gollark: I mean, yes, morality is subjective, that's an orthogonal issue.
gollark: Are you not one of the communist-y types who supports a local-commune-based structure?

References
  1. Richard-San, Mark (1999) "IQU Girls on Dates EP", Pitchfork Media, August 10, 1999, retrieved 2010-07-24
  2. Segal, Dave (2003) "Nice Bands Finish First: IQU Will Turn Your Party Out", The Stranger, Dec 24 – Dec 30, 2003, retrieved 2010-07-24
  3. Phares, Heather "IQU Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-07-24
  4. Singer, Liam (2004) "IQU Sun Q", Pitchfork Media, October 28, 2004, retrieved 2010-07-24
  5. Taylor, Ken "Girls on Dates Review", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-07-24
  6. Phares, Heather "Teenage Dream Review", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-07-24
  7. Stahl, Geoff (2000) "IQU Teenage Dream", PopMatters, retrieved 2010-07-24
  8. Richard-San, Mark (2000) "IQU 'Teenage Dream EP", Pitchfork Media, August 15, 2000, retrieved 2010-07-24
  9. Phares, Heather "Sun Q Review", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-07-24
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