Rubies

Rubies extends and deepens the musical approach first explored by the under-recognized San Francisco indie-pop group Call and Response, drawing its core membership from that ensemble in the persons of keyboardist Simone Rubi and bassist Terri Loewenthal. The pair supplies the vocals that give the project its layered harmonic character, one that merges electronic disco reminiscent of New Order, soul-inflected pop modeled on 1970s styles, and understated California folk-rock. While still active in Call and Response, Rubi and Loewenthal began composing material on the side and quickly developed an instinctive rapport; once the parent band’s schedule slowed, they accepted an invitation to tour Europe at the suggestion of their longtime friend Feist, who is based in Paris and who enlisted Rubi to create the artwork for the album The Reminder. The trip led to further opportunities, including recording sessions in Stockholm alongside Karl-Jonas Winqvist of Blood Music and First Floor Power and in Bergen, Norway, with Eirik Glambek Bøe, the ex-Kings of Convenience musician and former Kindercore labelmate. Those sessions also incorporated contributions from Maria Eriksson of the Concretes and Lars Skoglund, drummer for Peter Björn and John, yielding the debut album Explode from the Center. Released by Tellé Records across Europe in March 2008, the record featured the single “I Feel Electric,” which includes guest vocals by Feist. Earlier, Rubies had provided vocals for the track “Dreamhunt” on Japanese producer Shinichi Osawa (Mondo Grosso)’s 2007 album The One; Osawa later reciprocated by remixing one of Rubies’ songs, a favor also performed by Studio and Trans Am. Beyond Rubi and Loewenthal, the itinerant ensemble maintains a fluid roster that, as of spring 2008, included guitarist Nicolas Dobbratz from the Bay Area electro-soul outfit Sugar and Gold together with drummers Øyvind Skarbø and James Kim.