New Orleans, LA experimental electronic duo Telefon Tel Aviv -- high school friends Joshua Eustis and Charles Cooper -- formed in 1999. After a four-song demo made its way to John Hughes III's Hefty label, the duo issued their debut album, Fahrenheit Fair Enough, in September 2001. This was just less than two weeks after the limited Midwest opening of New Port South, a film written by Hughes' brother James that featured material from the album, in addition to recordings by John Hughes III's TTA-assisted Slicker project and Eustis' solo alias Benelli, and a TTA remix of Nine Inch Nails' "Even Deeper." 2004's Map of What Is Effortless, not a retread of the debut's impressionist and fractured-yet-melodic instrumentals, brought in productions that were both tougher and more dramatic, as well as inspired modern R&B elements -- several vocal contributions came from Lindsay Anderson and Damon Aaron. Four years later, after surviving Hurricane Katrina, TTA reappeared with their third album, Immolate Yourself, on Ellen Allien's Berlin-based Bpitch Control. It was a precisely layered set of dark, synth-driven pop. Between the German and U.S. release dates of the album, Cooper passed away, presumably bringing Telefon Tel Aviv to an abrupt end. ~ Kenyon Hopkin & Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
Telefon Tel Aviv was formed in 1999 by Charles Cooper and Joshua Eustis, with their first album released in the fall of 2001 to positive reviews. In 2002, the group released an EP on the Hefty Records Immediate Action label. In 2004, the duo released their second full-length album, and a compilation album of remixes appropriately titled Remixes Compiled in 2007.
The group released its third full length album on January 20, 2009 on the BPitch Control label. Immolate Yourself peaked at #17 on the Billboard Top Electronic Albums chart.[1]
Death of Charles Cooper
On January 22, 2009, Eustis announced on the group's MySpace blog that Charles Cooper had died. The information also appeared on the band's website: "Charles Wesley Cooper III / April 12, 1977 - January 22, 2009". Two CBS2 Chicago articles about Cooper's death specify that he went missing on January 21 before being found dead by suicide,[2][3] news which would be later denied by Joshua Eustis.[4]
On January 30, 2009, Eustis posted on the group's MySpace blog that all tour plans have been cancelled and the future of the band is uncertain.[5]
On March 22, 2009, Eustis posted on the group's MySpace blog that he will perform on stage with a close friend of the group, Fredo Nogueira. [6]
On July 22, 2009, Eustis posted on the group's MySpace in order to clarify some rumours about Charles' death, stating that three autopsy reports ruled it wasn't a suicide but possibly an accidental mix of sleeping pills and alcohol.[7]
Louisiana Mourning, an EP by fellow Chicagoan and friend Benn Jordan, is dedicated to Charles Cooper.
Production
Joshua Eustis and Fredo Nogueira in Trento (June 2009).
Additionally, the band has contributed samples to the Native InstrumentsSynthetic Drums 2 sample library.[8]
For their latest album the band drastically changed their production style, reverting to analog tape and analog synthesizers, claiming this method to "sound more real".[9]
.jpg)
.jpg)
