Even though we act as if it is, collaboration on the internet is nothing new. It probably took more than one person working together to invent bread, or the wheel, or Chia Pets. You probably worked together with someone even today. See, not so interesting.
So what is remarkable Eponymous, the debut album from Roberts & Lord, a band formed in the firey throes of internet collaboration, is that working together on the internet can sound this good. Not that the pedigree of the participants would lead anyone to believe otherwise. Roberts & Lord is one half Rafter Roberts, whom you know well if you’re from these parts (see here if you don’t), and Simon Lord, of Simian and Black Ghosts fame. All they needed was a connection. Enter MySpace. (Yes, MySpace actually made something amazing.)
Rafter and Simon got to talking (via MySpace), then sharing unfinished bits of music, which led to finished bits of music, which led to talk of a full-fledged album, which resulted in Eponymous. The fruit of their digital co-labor is an record replete with sweet pop riffs that magically blend Rafter’s extra-rough 4-track proto-electro backings with Simon’s sparkle-clean, digital vocals. Eponymous is working together at its very best.
Listen for yourself with “windmill” below. We’ll have more from Roberts & Lord over the next couple months, including of course the full-blown release of Eponymous on September 6th.
