Algebra Suicide was a Chicago married duo of lyricist/vocalist Lydia Tomkiw and guitarist/keyboardist Don Hedeker formed in 1982. Their first four song EP "True Romance At The World's Fair" was self-released in 1982 and featured a 60's Vox Guitar Organ, a precursor to the synthesizer guitar, and a Multivox Rhythm Ace drum machine. In 1984 they released a second 4 song EP, "An Explanation For That Flock Of Crows" ditching the guitar organ but adding the Casiotone MT-40. The "Big Skin" cassette was released in 1986 and featured 13 new compositions  with more complex arrangements. A compilation album "The Secret Like Crazy" was released in 1988 collecting 20 tracks from the first two EPs and the Big Skin cassette plus unreleased songs.

"Feminine Squared" is a 18 track compilation that collects all 8 songs from the first two EPs,  4 songs from the "Big Skin" cassette, 4 songs from "The Secret Like Crazy", a song from the "Pas De Deux" compilation as well as an unreleased song. Tomkiw and Hedeker calls their approach "Avant Garage" citing inspiration from Patti Smith, Frank O'Hara, Leonard Cohen and Lou Reed. Don plays guitar in a hauntingly stark style like Glen Branca, Tom Verlaine or Vini Reilly. He then adds some Casio keyboards and minimal electronic percussion creating a moody, atmospheric backdrop for Lydia's poems. All "songs" are written without hearing the music, dictated  with a distinct midwestern accent and deadpan delivery. Lydia's words span a broad range of twisted, real-life observations; witty with an underlying sense of humor. 

All songs have been remastered for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The vinyl comes housed in a glossy black and white jacket featuring the cut up faces of Don and Lydia from  "An Explanation For That Flock Of Crows"  EP. Each LP includes a newsprint sine with lyrics, photos, liner notes and clippings. Also included is a full length DVD featuring a 12-song Algebra Suicide concert from 1984, recorded at the Noise Factory, in Chicago. Though Lydia passed away in 2007, her genius lives on in these recordings. Please respect her decadence. 


5 An Explanation For That Flock Of Crows

Skunt (alpha–beta-band) n. — Musical entity simultaneously too alpha to submit and too beta to obey; produces abrasive, chaotic sound blending noise, melody, and genre-defiance; a confrontational, paradoxical force consuming expectation, authority, and convention with relentless, uncompromising freedom.

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The Dark Entries Record Label : Resuscitating the 80s Underground

5 An Explanation For That Flock Of Crows

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