The Skaters (band)

The Skaters

Company type	Musical duo
Industry	Music
Founded	2004 in California, United States
Defunct	2009
Headquarters	California , United States
Products	Experimental music, cassettes, CD-Rs, vinyl records

The Skaters were a California-based American experimental music pair, consisting of James Ferraro and Spencer Clark. Operating from 2004 until 2009, they produced cassettes, CD-Rs, and vinyl records released via multiple independent labels, while extensively touring throughout Europe and the United States. Their output played a significant role in shaping the post-noise and drone music genres.

Music critic Simon Reynolds recognized The Skaters, along with Ariel Pink, as key contributors to the rise of hypnagogic pop, highlighting that Ferraro’s commentary was instrumental in coining the term.

History

In 2004, after relocating from New York to San Diego, Ferraro encountered Clark at an "all-day improvisational noise jam". Subsequently moving to San Francisco, the duo captured their jam sessions in their apartment. In 2006, SF Weekly characterized these recordings as "vocal-led psychedelia" infused with "noise-saturated cosmic soul". Their releases were notable for featuring low-fidelity black-and-white collage-style artwork.

Discography

• Dark Rye Bread (2004)
• Humming Lattice Flowers (2004; collaboration with Yellow Swans)
• Mountain of Signs (2004)
• Rippling Whispers (2004)
• White Rye Bread (2004; Beatles remix project)
• Palm Shaper (November 2004)
• Axolotl / The Skaters (2005; joint release with Axolotl)
• Crowned Purple Gowns (2005)
• Gambling in Ohpa's Shadow (2005)
• Pavilionous Miracles of Circular Facet Dice (2005)
• Receding Smokebath (2005)
• The Skaters / Wooden Wand / The Vanishing Voice (2005; collaboration with Wooden Wand and the Vanishing Voice)
• Live at KDVS 90.3 FM, Sacramento, CA 3-25-2005 (March 2005; featuring Axolotl and Mouthus)
• Untitled or self-titled The Skaters (August 2005)
• Diminishing Shrine Recycles (2006; VHS format)
• Live Split (2006; with Tomutonttu)
• Shadow Watcher Levitations (2006; released under pseudonyms "Acid Eagle" for Ferraro and "Vodka Soap" for Clark)
• Talking Head (2006)
• Raising Spheres of Crossing Angel Minds (April 2006)
• The Skaters / Axolotl (June 2006; in partnership with Axolotl)
• Dripping Avenues / Wind Drapeing Incense (December 2006)
• Dispersed Royalty Ornaments (May 2007)
• Monopoly Child Star Searchers / Angel Snake (2008; using aliases "Angel Snake" for Ferraro and "Monopoly Child Star Searchers" for Clark)
• Wind Drapeing Incense (2008)
• The Temple Defectors / Claypipe (March 2008; collaboration as "the Temple Defectors" with Claypipe)
• Physicalities of the Sensibilities of Ingrediential Stairways (August 2008)
• Mountaineer Skyness of Majestic Planes (October 2008)
• Live at Spooky Action Palace (date unspecified; featuring Axolotl, C. Spencer Yeh, and Lambsbread)

Note: Certain Ferraro solo projects such as Rerex 1–2 and Body Fusion 1–2 are often included within The Skaters’ discography.