NYC’s abazaba (until recently fka Snacky) are a unique group, featuring Sam Day Harmet, Erica Mancini, Quince Marcum, and Steve La Rosa who all play electric taishōgotos — a Japanese zither-like instrument — plus Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley on drums. They’ve just put out a new two-track single and one of the songs is a cover of Joy Division’s “Isolation” featuring lead vocals by Gogol Bordello‘s Eugene Hutz. The single was produced by Martin Bisi and is out digitally via bandcamp and as a lathe-cut 7″.
The cover of “Isolation” is very well done, nodding to the original but abazaba obviously bringing their taishogoto-fueled style to it and Hutz takes it to a completely different place. The b-side, “morsel,” is good too! Listen to both and watch a video shot in the studio below.
If you’re in NYC you can see abazaba live tonight at Mercury Lounge and Eugene Hutz will be with them. Y&I and Knife Thrower (ex Skeleton Key) are also on the lineup.
Steve played with Yo La Tengo on Sunday for Night 5 of their Hanukkah run at Bowery Ballroom.