It’s easy to forget how deeply strangers can be connected by music in recordings and performances. Sadly, we too often take this connections for granted until we lose someone. When Telefon Tel Aviv’s Charlie Cooper passed away earlier this year, the loss sent shockwaves through the electronic music community. Because his work was influential for many people here on the CDM community, we certainly welcome musical tributes.

Our friend King Britt of Five Six Media today posted a couple of heartfelt, beautiful tracks from Fhloston Paradigm, a mysterious duo from Philadelphia. They’re described as “songs of love and admiration.” I’ll leave it at that and hope you enjoy them. One thing, happily, musicians do not have to leave behind: silence.

Download / play links on this story require Flash.

Direct link to Five Six Media:
FREE DOWNLOAD: FHLOSTON PARADIGM TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE COOPER

Emusic added Telefon Tel Aviv’s new album, Immolate Yourself, which was released on the same week as the loss of Charlie Cooper, half of the duo. Cooper’s death has saddened electronic music lovers worldwide, and made the album title seem much bleaker. But I want to excerpt a couple of Charlie Cooper’s quotes to Emusic’s Michaelangelo Matos, talking about ways in which the album itself was intended as a new beginning. Now that that album itself can go out into the world after Cooper’s death, music, as ephemeral as it is, can mean new beginnings.

We actively wanted a different sound and texture from the record. We needed a new way to do things. The first thing was, “We’re gonna get rid of the Rhodes, we’re gonna use synths.”

We’ve always joked about metal bands in the ’90s, like Incantation and Immolation, with these long, ridiculous, monosyllabic names: “We’ve got to do a song one day called “Immolate Your Anus” or “Inverted Meat Hook Sodomy.” Charlie wrote the song and had a different title for it, but it had lyrics about lighting himself on fire. I said, “Dude, let’s call it “Immolate Yourself,’ brah!” [laughs] It kind of took on a whole new light for the record. We just took our back catalog and torched it to the ground. It’s not a phoenix — we’ve destroyed everything we’ve been working on and are starting over.

Who Are … Telefon Tel Aviv [Emusic Magazine]

Ellen Allien’s Berlin-based label bpitchcontrol this week released Telefon Tel Aviv’s third album, which we’ve sadly just learned will be a posthumous release for the duo’s Charlie Cooper.

“immolate yourself“ unites ten tracks with the aim to give the term electro pop a new definition for 2009. although each track has its own story to tell, together they paint a bigger picture that encapsulates the telefon tel aviv sound. arguably the albums standout track “helen and troy“ was in fact the last track to be finished and in a way marked the studio climax. as telefon tel aviv state, “we knew, after completing this song, that we were in fact finished with the record“.

It’s a sad time, but I can’t think of any better way to honor someone’s memory than to hear their music. Thanks to both of these creative artists for that gift.

immolate yourself CD order page

I’m incredibly saddened to learn that Charlie Cooper, half of Telefon Tel Aviv, has died at age 31. His death on January 22 was revealed by Josh Eustis on the Telefon Tel Aviv MySpace page.

We have been so fortunate to tour the world together, while at the same time having a massive amount of laughs at one another’s expense.

Aside from Charlie’s singular genius and musical gifts, I can tell you that he was a total sweetheart of a guy, and a loving friend and confidant to people everywhere. His musicianship was surpassed only by his greater gift to the world – his warmth, his generosity, his unquenchable humor, and his undying loyalty to those whom he loved. In the spirit of honorable mention, however, I should mention that he had a shoe collection that was marvelous, knowledge of hip-hop that was profound, and knowledge of wine that was subtle.

He is survived by a sister, a neice, a nephew, his mother, his stepfather, me, and more adoring friends than the Universe has dark matter. As such, his family and I ask for your discretion and consideration of our privacy during these extremely turbulent waters.

Reflections on the news from CDM contributor Liz McLean Knight:

Fairenheit Far Away: Charlie Cooper of Telefon Tel Aviv will be missed [Liz Revision]

I certainly wish to respect the privacy of his family and friends, but I suspect that his musical celebrity is such that some of the details of this tragedy may inevitably become public. XLR8R.com points to a CBS Chicago report that he went missing last Wednesday night; an autopsy is scheduled.

RIP Telefon Tel Aviv’s Charlie Cooper [XLR8R.com]

Elsewhere:

Our friend Charlie Cooper from Telefon Tel Aviv has passed away. An unstable time caused by concrete facts and when it is decided that things have settled – it is we who have changed.

A Friend Passes [TRASH_AUDIO]

My heartfelt condolences to Charlie’s family and friends. The musical world will miss one of its great innovators and creative spirits.

I’d certainly welcome thoughts and memories from readers and ways in which we can honor his memory. Feel free to leave ideas in comments.