One of many boy/girl indie electro duos formed in 2006,
Rob Barber and
Mary Pearson of Brooklyn's
High Places approach recording with creative abandon, experimenting with offbeat production techniques like random microphone positioning, pitch shifting, delays, and saturated blankets of reverb to create danceable layers of sound. Playful and peppy, their beats incorporate sparse and hypnotic tribal rhythms, with lyrics that incorporate unusually innocent topics like love letters to Martians and apologies to endangered species.
High Places got their break when music website Pitchfork reviewed their EP and gave the CD a favorable rating, giving
Barber and
Pearson instant attention. That winter, a West Coast tour with similar-minded artists
the Blow and
Mirah followed, while
High Places' first album remained unfinished. In July of 2008, Thrill Jockey made the band's collection of singles
03/07 - 09/07 available on CD, and the foursome made plans to embark on a summer tour with
No Age before releasing their self-titled debut full-length on September 23. ~ Jason Lymangrover, All Music Guide