SON OF STAN -
Produced by Adam Lasus (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Yo La Tengo) Divorce Pop is the full-length debut of Son of Stan, the unique solo vehicle of songwriter Jordan Richardson (former drummer for Ben Harper and Ringo Starr). Divorce Pop , written and performed entirely by Richardson, wraps wry lyricism in psychedelic hooks and the airtight grooves of vintage synth-rock, creating a sound that’s simultaneously nostalgic and futuristic. It’s the sound of a dance party in a dying mall, or a discotheque of 2020, if it had been dreamt up in 1990. The album’s first single ‘Corsica’ premiered in September on MTVu. Due for release on October 15, 2013 (on Wizardvizion), Divorce Pop’s sound draws from the darker side of ‘80s pop...think Joe Jackson, Phil Collins...as well as nodding to the stonier, soulful, awkward pop swagger of modern artists...a la Twin Shadow, Blood Orange, and Toro Y Moi...according to Emmy-nominated filmmaker Daniel Stessen, Divorce Pop is “like art-school Huey Lewis”.

Bio:
Hailing from Los Angeles by way of Fort Worth, TX, Son of Stan is the unique solo vehicle of multi-instrumentalist Jordan Richardson, former drummer of Ben Harper and the Relentless Seven, as well as Ringo Starr’s recent album and tour.

Son of Stan’s debut album, Divorce Pop, showcases Richardson's deep, left-of-mainstream talents as a songwriter and producer; Richardson played all the instruments himself, creating the album’s textures under the guidance of legendary indie rock producer Adam Lasus (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Yo La Tengo, Helium). Due for release on October 15, 2013, Divorce Pop’s sound draws from the darker side of ‘80s pop, ”think Joe Jackson, Phil Collins, and R. Stevie Moore”as well as nodding to the stonier, soulful, awkward pop swagger of modern artists a la Twin Shadow, Blood Orange, and Chris Taylor’s (Grizzly Bear) CANT, according to Emmy-nominated filmmaker Daniel Stessen, Divorce Pop is “like art-school Huey Lewis”.

Richardson and Lasus assembled Divorce Pop in Lasus’ pool house studio over the course of a year, recording the LP in late-night sessions during lulls in Richardson’s busy tour schedule. When Richardson left Ben Harper’s Relentless 7 at the end of 2012, he and Lasus brushed in the final sonic touches, and sent it to renowned engineer Pete Lyman for mastering. While they had the advantage of Lasus’ fully apportioned studio, they took a “4-track” approach, utilizing chintzy microphones for vocals and obscure and antiquated pedals for guitar and keyboard effects. Lasus’ conceptual approach for the sound of the record was inspired by some of his favorite artists like Talk Talk and Sonic Youth. “I didn't want to have to wear headphones and be in a fishbowl, so everything was tracked in the control room with speakers. I wanted to limit choices and move with urgency. Figuring out how to write the song and getting the right take of the song became one in the same. If anything, I’m known for being a drummer but I played the drums last, and we didn’t even use any real cymbals,” says Richardson. “I thought it would be a little unsettling that way, like listening to a weird answering machine message.”

Richardson told Dallas based blog Central Track:

"It's a little difficult to describe the sound of it, but there is a definite aesthetic goal in mind with the record. There are a lot of songs from my childhood in the mid-80's that when I hear now they give me a totally unsettling feeling (songs I refer to as "divorce pop", though my parents remain happily married) and remind me of the pains of being dragged around by my mom on hot Saturday afternoons in 1989, to a weird strip malls and women's clothing boutiques. I want to make songs that convey that feeling and mood. I get off on that nostalgic feeling and my favorite music is from that era. I wanted to give it a brand and ‘Divorce Pop’ seems to stick nicely. The song "Corsica" is definitely about that, I think. Both sonically and in subject matter... I dunno. It’s weird and you can dance to it, but I hope it makes you feel a little funny too.”

While Richardson handled all of the recorded tracks, including drums, bass, synths, guitars and vocals, Son of Stan’s live band features a revolving cast of musician/producers: Along with Richardson on vocals, guitar, percussion and keys, Dan Marcellus (Future People, Grace Woodroofe), on drums and programming, helps form a vibrant and explosive live duo, as well as guest musicians from time to time like guitarists Joe Rogers (Moby, Kelli Scarr) and Ronnie Heart (Neon Indian), and Andrew Skates (Telegraph Canyon, Quaker City Nighthawks) on keys and guitar.

Leading up to Divorce Pop’s launch, Son of Stan will be playing with Baths, !!!, Porcelain Raft, Sarah Jaffe, and at the Index Festival in Dallas before touring North America with The Happy Hollows in October for the album’s release. The Dallas Observer is featuring Son of Stan as the cover story the week the album is released as well.

Divorce Pop drops on October 15, 2013 on WIZARDVIZION Records. The first single, “Noxeema”, will be available as one half of a 7” split with Fort Worth, TX-based band Ice Eater, also out on WIZARDVIZION. A video is also in the works for release in the fall. A few unreleased album tracks will appear on a cassette split from indie imprint DDM/Pour le Corps, as well as the single “Corsica,” to coincide with its Daniel Stessen-directed video release.