Backfeed Magnetbabe was the first album from the Austin, TX based noise-pop/indie-rock group Sixteen Deluxe who formed in 1994 with members Carrie Clark, Chris Smith, Jeff Copas, and Lyman Hardy. Hardy would depart before the debut however to focus on Ed Hall with Bryan Bowden stepping in to record with them in the meantime. The album would then go on to be released in 1995 through the Trance Syndicate label, which was home to a number of other excellent Austin area bands. They would also find a permanent drummer in Steven Hall the following year. The success of their first single and Backfeed Magnetbabe would eventually land them a spot on the Warner Bros. roster where they proceeded to release one album (Emits Showers of Sparks) in 1998 before eventually being let out of their contract. The band would go on to release one final album in 2000 on Sugar Fix called Vision Take Me, Make Me, Never Forsake Me before calling it quits.

Not to slight any of the bands other material, or later material for that matter, however I’ve always been particularly fond of Backfeed Magnetbabe. I doubt it’s any coincidence that it happens to be their noisiest/loudest album, at least in my opinion. There are definitely some fine moments on later albums as well, but I’ll leave that up to you to explore if you wish. I’d definitely suggest it if either of the songs posted below do anything for you.

Sixteen Deluxe – Fetus [MP3]
Sixteen Deluxe – Floor 13 [MP3]

Although all of the stuff on Trance Syndicate is out of print these days it’s not hard to track down. In fact Amazon still has multiple copies of Backfeed Magnetbabe for as little as a penny. So definitely pick up a copy if you don’t already own it and enjoy the tunes.

Labels: indie-rock, noise-pop, psych-rock