Joining me today is BALTHAZAR DE LEY — singer, guitarist, bassist, producer, engineer, studio technician, &, most recently, amp maker. 

In the early ‘90s, he joined HUM, which was, back then, written in all lowercase. He played bass on their first record Fillet Show, & toured & wrote songs with them over the course of several years. 

He then formed & fronted MENTHOL, formerly known as Mother, whose 3 beloved LPs combined off-kilter riffing & synth lines with surrealistic & Faustian tales of the '90s alt rock signing boom. 

When Menthol parted ways, he began engineering records for other bands. He then worked as a studio technician for the Smashing Pumpkins for close to a decade. 

In 2017, he founded BALTHAZAR AUDIO SYSTEMS, where he designs & builds vacuum tube guitar amplifiers. He also plays guitar in the Chicago shoegaze band LIGHTFOILS. Links below. 

In this episode, we talk about youthful insouciance, a specific strain of ‘90s midwestern space rock, & the endearing & enduring power of smallness. 

If you’d like to back the podcast, click “support the show” at the bottom of the notes & then “see membership options.” 

Donations only, no paywalls.

****

https://www.balthazaramps.com

****

https://lightfoils.bandcamp.com

****

TIMESTAMPS:

02:35 // "What's Your Rationale?" (Menthol)

04:19 // The Breeders Amp

06:30 // Bad Flannel

09:11 // "Frustration" (Bad Flannel)

12:10 // Joining HUM

15:16 // Rick & Rose

17:24 // Fillet Show LP

20:00 // "Space Gun" (Poster Children)

25:20 // Early HUM Influences

28:40 // Menthol

29:39 // Mud Records

35:22 // "Walk of Shame" (Menthol)

36:40 // Ardent Studios

40:00 // Writing Lyrics

44:23 // "Dry Heaves" (Menthol)

48:36 // "Bedheaded, Red-Eyed, & Bewildered" (Menthol)

49:57 // '90s Alt Rock Explosion

58:13 // Menthol Artwork / Danger: Rock Science!

01:04:21 // "Hello Kitty" Discussion

01:28:58 // Lightfoils & Balthazar Audio Systems

01:32:21 // "Strange Living" (Menthol)

****

Support the show!

****

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.