Ferraro's Odd Recordings

If you’re not familiar with James Ferraro, it’s a good bet you’ve heard of the host of musicians that have followed in his footsteps — his weird and muddled footsteps.

Like R. Stevie Moore before him, Ferraro has been one of the main catalysts driving the lo-fi recording peculiarities of late.

His old band, The Skaters, are notorious for their contributions to the underground weirdo scene, and Ferraro’s music indulges in the oddity that is home recording.
“Night Dolls with Hairspray” is a collage of fragmented sounds and recordings that go from space noise to grandiose pop tunes with a scatterbrain style. It could easily be compared to an 8-year-old with the TV remote flipping through television that only shows 80s reruns.

“Leather High School” and “Brittany’s Gum” are sung from what sounds like a child’s voice and focus on the woes of becoming the teacher’s pet and then rebelling against such a status.

The songs are as strangely charming and enchanting as they are silly. I can’t say I’ve heard anything quite like it, and nothing has come close to making me feel as uncomfortable as Ferraro’s vocal delivery on the tracks.
The aesthetic works for Ferraro because it doesn’t seem like an option for him to do anything else.

This strange collection of pseudo pop hits and noises could only sound the way Ferraro has presented them. It gives the whole record continuity that I’m not sure would be there otherwise.

It’s as good as any lo-fi thing could be.

It’s weird, perverse, indulgent and fiercely unique and original.

By Aaron Bragg