Weaklazyliar comes undone

When musician Ryan (Tayo) Taylor was introduced to the music of John Cage, he says he "just wanted to go make some noise." The avant-garde decontructionist's influence is certainly evident on Come Undone, Tayo's recently released remix EP of songs by local folk-pop trio Weaklazyliar.

Using songs from Weaklazyliar's 1999 album Yesterday Night as raw material, Tayo took apart songs and reconstructed them to his own electronic liking. "I just did it as a joke almost," says Tayo, "then the band heard some of the tapes and loved what I'd done."

They like it so much, in fact, he was asked to join the band for live shows. "I bring a sort of spacey element to my keyboard parts," explains Tayo. "But we aren't about to go trip-hop or anything. We could reproduce the remixes I've done, but that's not what the band is about."

Tayo placed Gerlinda Grimes' warm and smooth vocals in a cold and sterile landscape that's completely removed from the band's sound. "This album is so different than Weaklazyliar that I just consider it to be Tayo's project," says band singer/songwriter Grimes.

While it may not represent the band's actual sound, both Tayo and Grimes say the record is a good step toward broadening Weaklazyliar's audience. The group, along with Tayo, currently is writing darker and moodier material for a new album planned for release in September. "I may not go back and retool the new album," Tayo says, "But you never know."

The limited-edition pressing of Come Undone currently is available through the band's website (www.weaklazyliar.com). An Internet-only video of the Tayo-remixed "Snow" can be seen there as well.

Weaklazyliar play Eddie's Attic Thurs., June 14.