By his own admission, Ogle is a "broke writer, who happens to write music." Someone who feels no need to make his music more marketable in order to make the house payment. This honesty and charm shine through on tracks like "I Am Not Job".

Illegal Teenage Bikini - I Am Not Job

2003 Precipice Records (Distributed by WTII Records) 

 

Illegal Teenage Bikini's I Am Not Job is the first solo release from Patrick Ogle (aka Padraic Ogl) formerly of Projekt Records act THANATOS. For Ogle, Illegal Teenage Bikini is not just an experimental one man act, but a re-invention of the self that began from the ground up.

Illegal Teenage Bikini's incorporation of acoustic guitars, loops, and electronics create a rumination on the passage of time and history, a soulful exploration of all that "is" Americana. It is reminiscent in approach to the works of Leonard Cohen, Willie Nelson, or even Johnny Cash but with a folktronica, if you will, lens as its focus, which all the more fresh and intriguing because of his departure from the standard approach to electronica music.

Ogle, the reclusive human behind the haunting, is a complicated fellow. While he makes his living as a writer for the Miami Herald (yes, home to the writings of Dave Barry), he also has been acclaimed as one of the more influential goth musicians of the new young guard.

While he does not yet earn a living wage from his music Ogle seems unwavering in his passion for creation. Even by his own admission, Ogle is a "broke writer, who happens to write music." Someone who feels no need to make his music more marketable in order to make the house payment. This honesty and charm shine through on tracks like "I Am Not Job". His creativity is perhaps the familial heirloom bestowed upon him by his father, Boyd, who has painted most, if not all of the cover art for THANATOS and ILLEGAL TEENAGE BIKINI.

While Ogle doesn't quite compromise his musical vision, it is clear that his collaborative work with William Tucker on THANATOS’s "Blisters" album has affected his more recent efforts as a solo artist. The late Tucker had recorded, toured or produced with such luminary bands as Ministry, Foetus, Chris Connelly, Revolting Cocks, Ween, Pigface, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, KMFDM, Chemlab, 16 Volt, Thanatos, The Final Cut, and Chainsuck. His work on track six, "Drop the Dime" is perhaps Tucker's last and final new work to be released. A song that is filled with a wonderful kaleidoscope of spectral sound.

Songs are atmospheric by design. Lyrics are used less for creating story plot, and more for setting and tone and depth for the melodies.

The infamous experimental electronic musician Robert Rich mixed and mastered I Am Not Job. Sam Rosenthal (member of Black Tape for a Blue Girl and owner of PROJEKT RECORDS) was responsible for the understated design and layout.

I Am Not Job is a complex work that seethes with creative life. I look forward with anticipation to the release of Illegal Teenage Bikini's next release, "The Exterminating Angel", rumored to be released in Summer 2004.