Sightings

Sightings' deconstuctionist noise rock removes the melodies and hooks of standard rock & roll, leaving a mash of growls and feedback -- from the high-pitched grind in the guitar strings to the groan inside a bass amp. It's a destructive post-punk mess that beautifully references weird outfits like Einstürzende Neubauten as well as the early-'80s no wave scene and noisy contemporaries like Wolf Eyes, Black Dice, Lightning Bolt, and Ruins. Sightings formed in New York City in 1997 with Mark Morgan (guitar and vocals) and John Lockie (drums) getting together and jamming. A year later they met bassist Richard Hoffman, and the trio put out a slightly more traditional, straight-ahead rock single on the Freedom From imprint. After realizing their art rock potential and drawing inspiration from the likes of Yoko Ono, Cabaret Voltaire, and Red Transistor, Sightings recorded their self-titled debut, released on Load Records in 2002. The group released two more albums for Load -- 2003’s Absolutes and 2007’s Through the Panama -- before switching labels to Jagjaguwar and releasing City of Straw in 2010. ~ Charles Spano, Rovi