Telefon Tel Aviv

New Orleans, LA experimental electronic duo Telefon Tel Aviv — high school friends Joshua Eustis and Charles Cooper — formed in 1999. After a four-song demo made its way to John Hughes III's Hefty label, the duo issued their debut album, Fahrenheit Fair Enough, in September 2001. This was just less than two weeks after the limited Midwest opening of New Port South, a film written by Hughes' brother James that featured material from the album, in addition to recordings by John Hughes III's TTA-assisted Slicker project and Eustis' solo alias Benelli, and a TTA remix of Nine Inch Nails' "Even Deeper." 2004's Map of What Is Effortless, not a retread of the debut's impressionist and fractured-yet-melodic instrumentals, brought in productions that were both tougher and more dramatic, as well as inspired modern R&B elements — several vocal contributions came from Lindsay Anderson and Damon Aaron. Four years later, after surviving Hurricane Katrina, TTA reappeared with their third album, Immolate Yourself, on Ellen Allien's Berlin-based Bpitch Control. It was a precisely layered set of dark, synth-driven pop. Between the German and U.S. release dates of the album, Cooper passed away, presumably bringing Telefon Tel Aviv to an abrupt end. ~ Kenyon Hopkin & Andy Kellman, Rovi