Hugo Largo
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Fierce experimental alternative pop
Status:
No longer recording. Final release, mettle (1989)
See also:
Hugo Largo Wikipedia siteAn entry in Italian in a history of rock music
The Ectophiles' Guide entry for Mimi's solo work
Tim Sommer is now in a group called Hi-Fi Sky
Comparisons:
The Raincoats, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Amy Denio, Caveman Shoestore, Mimi's solo work
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
People who haven't ever heard them might want to check out their first album, Drum. The band is two basses, an electric violin, and female vocals. The music is kind of weirdly dreamy, but heavier than what I would call ethereal. Live there was a real sense of danger and urgency, which never translated to the discs, except perhaps for the song "Second Skin". Part of Drum was produced by Michael Stipe. In fact, at one very large R.E.M. show they actually covered a Hugo Largo song. I think I was the only person in the Cap Center who was really excited about that :) (5/95, neal)What a great band! My logical mind wants to call them the missing link between The Raincoats' Odyshape and Mary Margaret O'Hara, but comparisons of that sort rarely do justice to the actual music. The first album, drum, is particularly good; I like albums that peak and valley, and while mettle is a nice enough album, it seems to find its niche and stay there. That last song, "Second Skin" on drum, makes my hair stand on end, it's so powerful. (tugboat@channel1.com)
They're strange in that they're experimental and the melodic shape isn't always obvious and yet the melodies are recognizable. They flow and yet shift around. It's a music full of contradictions. and yet really listenable. (1/00, Neile)
Comments about live performance:
Mimi Goese had her background in performance art, I think at PS 122. It certainly showed live. I saw Hugo Largo twice at the 8X10 Club in Baltimore, and either one of those shows would make it onto my top 10 list of all time best shows I've ever been to (with probably 50 other shows!). It was both compelling and frightening, and seemed genuinely dangerous. (4/98, neal)the only time i managed to see them was one of their last shows. it was april in 1991 at the (old) knitting factory. i was late because of the subways and on the verge of breaking into a serious fever, but managed to make it just as the first song finished. the combination of their lightly-unsettling music, mimi's on-stage antics and my delirious state was devastating: by the time the show was over, i was in physical and mental pain...but, man, was it ever an incredible show! (4/98, woj@smoe.org)
Recommended first album:
I like drum better than mettle, but I like Mettle too :). (4/98, neal)
Recordings:
drum
Release info:
1988—Opal Records/Warner—9 25768-2; reissued 1999 by Thirsty Ear
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Mimi Goese, Adam Peacock, Hahn Rowe, Tim Sommer
Guest artists:
Michael Stipe (R.E.M.)
Produced by:
Hugo Largo (4 tracks co-produced with Michael Stipe of R.E.M.)
Comments:
I think Drum is a perfect album. It's so short that I'd love to have more. But it's so wonderful that I'd hate to see anything added that would drag it down. (8/99, neal)Yes, drum is lovely, and "Second Skin" is especially unforgettable. Unusual yet unforgettable music. (1/00, Neile)
mettle
Release info:
1989—Opal Records/Warner—9 25847-2
Availability:
Wide on release; now can only be found used
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Mimi Goese, Adam Peacock, Hahn Rowe, Timothy Sommer
Produced by:
Hahn Rowe and Hugo Largo
Comments:
Dreamy yet compelling, strange yet recognizable, not melodic and yet the songs have their own logic. (1/00, Neile)
