Bozo

The dreamy pop on Lida Husik's Bozo, released by Shimmy Disc in 1991, prefigured the music Beth Orton (post-Chemical Brothers) and Lori Carson (post-Golden Palominos) would be making only a few years later, but (unfortunately) to less acclaim. Like those singer/songwriters, Husik wraps her pleasing, somewhat dusky voice around off-kilter lyrics, buffeted by hazy guitars, percussive beats, and the occasional organ bleat. On some songs, such as "Hateful Hippy Girls," she seems to have been possessed by the spirit of Hyaena-era Siouxsie Sioux, singing in a lower register over musical backing that sounds vaguely sinister. The highlight of the set is the trippy "Farmhouse," which samples surly, raspy-voiced bartender Louis "Red" Deutsch of Tube Bar fame ("Who you wanna talk to?!"), basis of a long running joke on The Simpsons. Shimmy Disc founder Kramer (Bongwater) produced the recording with his trademark airy, atmospheric touch.