Throwback Thursday
Here are some choice cuts from the one of the finest in the game off 1997 debut album Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi.
Founding DJs Eric Hilton and Rob Garza met in at the 18th Street Lounge in Dupont circle where they would discover a mutual appreciation for each others musical tastes, particularly 60s and 70s Brazilian music. A year later two single releases were quickly followed by their debut album, Sounds from the Thievery Hi-fi, which put them on the underground map for success in the “trip hop genre”.
The evolution of the Thievery sound continued as Rob & Eric began bringing in talented artists to compliment their vision, which is evident in The Mirror Conspiracy that garnered national attention with the track “Lebanese Blonde” that included exceptional use of the sitar by Rob Myers and the serenading vocals of Pam Bricker. The Richest Man in Babylon,The Cosmic Game, (featuring guests Perry Farrell, Wayne Coyne (Flaming Lips)), and David Byrne (Talking Heads), and Versions followed with a maturing sound of Thievery. Rob, Eric, and their allstar cast of touring musicians have always maintained a unique sound that is their own, that has been replicated by others, yet never surpasses what has already been done. Radio Retaliation and Culture of Fear saw the group engaging in more social activism through their music, with the group broadening their sound from a down-tempo vibe to a more upbeat sound.
Thievery Corporation deserves a great deal of respect for their integrity, they really do care about offering something out of the norm that inspires one to appreciate, question, and explore the world we live in. They have been able to avoid modern label restrictions through Eighteenth Street Lounge (ESL) label allowing them to prove that success is possible without the need to conform to restrictions that the modern music industry presents.
Rob & Eric are joined by a cast of musicians who breathe life, depth, and wholeness to the presentation of their works in the live setting. Indeed, the approach has been highly successful with the self described “carnival-esque” feel to their concerts that has led them around the globe to some of the worlds most prestigious venues including the Hollywood Bowl, London O2 Shepard’s Bush Empire, and the Theatro Vrahon Melina Merkouri in Athens, Greece, among many others.
The group is so well-rounded in their dexterity of so many genres drawing in on countless influences from music across the world, setting them apart from other acts out there. There is quality, there is thought, Thievery’s masterpieces thrive and reach full fruition in the live setting.
*Sourced directly from Official Bio with original LMD commentary.