Shortly after the birth of his daughter Naima in 1998, Xn. alter ego and Sounds Are Active label head Chris Schlarb began work on a new series of guitar ideas. Simply using an electric guitar effected with live loops and occasional tape manipulations, Xn. first found voice with the five song cycle recorded on ideas without numbers. Only ten minutes long, the beatless, cascading sounds spun themselves into short songs and saw an unofficial limited release. Circulated among a small circuit of experimental musicians, underground hip-hop producers and electronic/ambient artists the album received treatments and remixes from Omid, Languis, outputmessage, and label mates Siamese Sisters, Patagonian and Accident. Collected and arranged in 2004, ideas without numbers now sees official release on Sounds Are Active as a full length LP. In between Xn. released the EP opening up, which contained three original compositions (one dedicated to his then, newborn son Elisha) and covers of songs by Neil Young and Curtis Mayfield.
Armed only with an electric guitar and minimal electronics, Schlarb has already taken Xn.’s music across the U.S. with additional tours and performances scheduled throughout 2004 and 2005. Xn. has performed with and along side Ratatat, outputmessage, Castanets, Kitundu and others.
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