Peter Jefferies: Elevator Madness

Peter Jefferies is not now, nor may he ever be, a household name. Nor should he ever be, for that would merely serve to create a legion of bitter fans who would prefer to keep him their little secret. Jefferies may be better-known—though not well-known—for his collaborations with Mecca Normal, but he's got two previous solo records under his belt. Elevator Madness is similar to the work of Mecca Normal in that it's stark and noisy without being dense, with few instruments that aren't tweaked with distortion. Plus, Jefferies' voice has a quality that's indicting in its clarity and lack of polish. The combination is either alienating and depressing or invigorating and cleansing, depending on your mood. The one certainty is that Jefferies has a talent for producing music that can't be ignored.