Abacus released it’s debut self-titled album in April, 2010. I based the album cover design on the columns of beads on an actual abacus. The blind impressions on the front cover on bright white paper give a sense of sterility that fits with the music and the lab coats worn by the band at live performances.

The cover was letterpressed by Mark Herschede at Haven Press Studios in Brooklyn, NY. Albums are for sale for $15. Send us an email at abacus@abacusabacus.com and we’ll send one your way. You may also purchase a digital version of the album at abacus.bandcamp.com for $5.

Launch site »

Abacus’s music is harsh, mathematical, and in-your-face. The website design reflects these characteristics on two levels: Aesthetically, the site is stripped-down, but pushy, using bold text and oversized images. Structurally, all of the information is presented upfront on one page. The single page design also allows visitors to stream the band’s music without interruption as they browse the site. The design’s sterility reflects the band’s precise compositions and plays with its laboratory-inspired wardrobe during performances.

This design is coordinated with the album cover for Abacus’s upcoming LP.

Abacusabacus.com was built on WordPress and features a Franklin Gothic Medium, Helvetica, Arial font-stack. The audio player is a customized version of Opentape.

Brooklyn-based thrash/jazz/chamber/prog band Abacus independently released its debut album on April 29, 2010. Available on vinyl and as a digital download, the album includes ten songs composed by Michael Kammers and recorded by Trevor Williams (Datus, Pep Rally) at the Rad Pad in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

“I formed Abacus to give voice to a music that is a confluence of certain paradigms, techniques and textures that are typically prohibitive, and that consists of as few compromises as possible for the performer and listener,” said Kammers.

As the band name suggests, the music is mathematical, employing serialism and overlaying complex polyrhythms. The band playfully extends this thematic influence in performance, donning lab coats and goggles and exuding a focus more common to a surgical theater than to a rock show.

Led by Kammers, who also plays saxophone and keyboards, Abacus features Greg Chudzik, bass (David Crowell Ensemble, Signal Ensemble), JP Gilbert, guitar (J.A.C.K., JP and the Gilberts), Alex Hills, keyboards (Buy My Book, JP and the Gilberts), and Tim Monaghan, drums (J.A.C.K., Golem).

Abacus is currently playing shows in support of the record release.

www.abacusabacus.com

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