People is the so-called “blurt rock/smartcore” duo comprised of Mary Halvorson and Kevin Shea. For a while they’ve been wowing audiences in the Northeast with their wholly unique blend of avant-garde noise quackery and hidden pop melody. They have recently released their self-titled debut album on I and Ear, available both on CD and lovely clear red vinyl. Recorded by Rusty Santos (Animal Collective’s Sung Tongs, The Heavens), it also features a full-length science fiction(?) story and lyrical adventure.
What do People sound like? Start with some heavy fuzzed out yet nimble guitar, add some freeform drum battering, and then start making bizarrely unrelated references: “PJ Harvey on acid,” “Annette Peacock fronting Hella” and “Bad Brains playing Ayler.” OK, we made that last one up, but it could be true. Anyone who likes the Deerhoof, the Boredoms, Red Crayola, Lightning Bolt, and other general craziness would do well to listen to People.
Aside from People, Mary and Kevin have played with some pretty serious folks, like (Mary) Anthony Braxton, Trevor Dunn, Tatsuya Nakatani, and Jessica Pavone; (Kevin) Storm and Stress, Coptic Light, TALIBAM!, and Sexy Thoughts.
Some other People have said nice things:
“This is one of the best creative rock bands on the planet right now… Polvo-esque sturm-and-drang knots one moment only to hit a heavenly sunny pop plateau the next moment...
Vocally, lyrically, and instrumentally this is a fresh, fun, and brilliant album, an oasis in the desert of avant-pop that balances creativity with catchiness. These songs are stuck in my head, which is exactly where they belong. The sooner you put them in yours the happier you’ll be.” - bagatellen.org
“The drum/guitar duo mine the bubblegum-pop end of the experimental rock spectrum.” - Philadelphia City Paper
“Drummer Kevin Shea (Storm & Stress, Coptic Light) flails in frenzied circles around Mary Halvorson’s plodding and frequently dissonant guitar lines on this stripped-down avant rock debut. Shea and Halvorson are both talented improvisers and miraculously, the spastic outbursts of percussion always stay tightly glued to the comparatively slow and deliberate guitar parts” - Other Music
“Where is rolling destination? Animal Collective and Battles’s line of personal contacts is MEMBER and It joins as a guest that is Male and Female Duo from NY. That musician is doing such music that drags on why and it is surprised, but explosion drum is good and Female vocal without the ambition is good and when this music continues to listen to, suddenly that wonder that poisoned magic shoots. Free-folk’s variety or new kind of lo-fi sect? MYSTERY CANNOT BE SOLVED.” - Rockin’ On (Japan)
