Robotanists

Songwriters and husband / wife duo Daniel de Blanke and Sarah Ellquist lie at the ghostly heart of ROBOTANISTS, while rhythm section Keith Boyarsky and Preston Scott Phillips are the unwavering nerve center. In 2007 the foursome met up in Silverlake, and began working on "Close Down the Woods," a eerily breathtaking EP drawing inspiration from numerous places including, Ellquist and de Blanke's classical roots, a unanimous love of all things Radiohead and the harmony drenched songs of Electr...

Songwriters and husband / wife duo Daniel de Blanke and Sarah Ellquist lie at the ghostly heart of ROBOTANISTS, while rhythm section Keith Boyarsky and Preston Scott Phillips are the unwavering nerve center. In 2007 the foursome met up in Silverlake, and began working on "Close Down the Woods," a eerily breathtaking EP drawing inspiration from numerous places including, Ellquist and de Blanke's classical roots, a unanimous love of all things Radiohead and the harmony drenched songs of Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). The result is a debut effort in a musical place all its own. Although effortlessly boasting epic stadium-worthy choruses, the songs of "Close Down the Woods" still carry their own with an alluring bedroom intimacy. At barely 37 minutes long, it is a brief seven song collection that intentionally leaves you wanting more – a prelude to a band as they are at this moment, wandering today's musical landscape, and creating their own world, in the absence of home. ......... NOW FOR SOME QUOTES........ "[Ellquist's] timeless voice is the venom that takes you under after you’ve let your guard down from the music underneath it. She sings from a place that isn’t just lost in most singers of today, it’s become completely uncharted and only the brave dare to venture there." ~ Over Hated (American Music Blog - Album Review) “Ellquist’s vocals keen through the din like Liz Frazier’s (of Cocteau Twins) angry baby sister -- the result, nothing short of phenomenal.” ~ Filter Magazine (Live performance review) "un sonido maduro, un rock que viaja por distintos estilos sin perder la línea" ~ Fragments Soniques (Spanish Music Blog - Album Review) “A bold mixture of PJ harvey and Pale Saints.” ~ Performer Magazine (USA) “In such a bleak musical environment, [Robotanists’ EP] Close Down The Woods is a float for rescue. In just 36 minutes Sarah Ellquist’s angelic voice leads us to different acoustic spaces, whether it be orchestrated pop, jazz or straight up Rock and Roll… with such impeccable performances, it is clear that this the surprise album of the season.” ~ Idealno & Pragmaticno (Serbian Music Blog - Album Review) "Their songs are Immediate and warm, closer to the gentler moments of Mogwai, the torch songs of Jeff Buckley and the ether-clouded melodies of Broadcast." ~OC Weekly (USA) "If you’re not captivated by [the song “Wait a Minute here”], then I don’t know how you can ever claim to have been in love and possess a heart… it brings such a strong longing sense that it’s hard to properly compare it to something else. The simplicity of it adds such an epic feeling to the song. You might ask how is such possible. It’s simple, really, the fact that it feels so bare bones is how it fuels the ‘just out of reach’ sensation of the song that the lyrics bring." ~ Over Hated (American Music Blog - Album Review) "A voice that ranges from Beth Gibbons to PJ Harvey, Ellquist's vocals are both alluring and invigorating" ~ Music Connection Magazine (USA) "Beyond Breathtaking" ~ Over Hated (American Music Blog - Album Review) “Ellquist sings sad but full, holding her own with the sonic melodies and supernova crescendos that are in the realm of Godspeed you Black Emperor, Sigur Rós and Glenn Branca.” ~ Res Magazine (USA) "[Robotanists have] a mature sound, that travels through different styles without missing a beat, at times with dense atmospheres, retro moments, and many interesting arrangements, a little guitarrazo shoegaze, jazz, and an intense, sensual voice… [Close down the Woods is] the complete picture of a good band, premiering itself" ~ Fragments Soniques (Spanish Music Blog) "Portishead inspired drones to effects drenched jams a-la Sonic Youth" ~ Music Connection Magazine (USA)