As a member of psychedelic/electronic indie pop outfit Black Moth Super Rainbow, enigmatic Pennsylvania-based artist Tobacco cast summery spells with analog synths and tape machines. As a solo artist, Tobacco employs many of the same styles and strategies that fuel his work with the band, but with a darker, more fractured edge. Integrating elements of hip-hop, electro, and experimental rock, he released his full-length debut album, Fucked Up Friends on the Anticon label which featured a guest appearance by Aesop Rock. The album was recorded using entirely analog equipment. Rolling Stone said of the album, “one of the year’s best stoner-rock records – only it’s powered by synths, hip-hop beats and vocoders instead of guitars.” Exclaim! called it “worthy of obsessive listening.” Think of Tobacco’s solo work as Black Moth’s cool cousin who embraced a dark, sleek hip-hop style and pulled it off ever so well.
