[Riverfront Times]

So, the Easter holiday scared off most everyone from the Oppenheimer show -- which is a shame, since the Irish duo was in fine form last night. Its Moog- and synth-laden music is somewhat akin to Air with pop sensibilities or a sunny Magnetic Fields; new songs from the forthcoming Take the Whole Midrange and Boost It are a wee bit heavier, but no less charming. (Also charming was Oppenheimer's stage banter -- I'm too tired to remember specifics now, but suffice to say all of it was funny.)

Other highlights include:

*Drummer Shaun Robinson asked the crowd the origins of the name of the city of St. Louis. People actually knew.

*The band admitted that during its first time in St. Louis, it blew an airhorn in Beatle Bob's face. Great applause ensued. (This isn't quite as shocking as it seems: One of its songs actually has an airhorn solo and it showed its appreciation for opening band Circus Window by blasting one several times.)

*Plenty of excellent Vocoder vocal workouts from Rocky O'Reilly.

*A song about Twin Peaks that went over grandly; new Midrange songs such as the barely-one-minute "Major Television Events."

If you want to find out what all the Oppenheimer fuss is about, tune in to my radio show, International Pop Overthrow, today from noon to two p.m. on KDHX. I had the band in for a session and an interview. They're charming chaps!

"Breakfast in NYC," live from the Bluebird last night:

-- words, video and pics by Annie Zaleski

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/

“Every quirky tick in their songs is meant to further the energy of a melodic arrangement, crafting a sunnier doppelganger to Ben Gibbard’s Postal Service.” Alarm Press/Spring 2008

“like a sherbert flying saucer, scanning planet Haribo, electro-pop rainbow drops like 'This Is Not A Test' and 'When I Close My Eyes I Fall In Love' might struggle to become your confectionary of choice this summer.” NME

“Oppenheimer are like the Irish Flaming Lips or Mates of State. It's extremely rare for a band from Belfast to have that otherworldly sound. They're an incredible new band.” Gary Lightbody/Snow Patrol

“The title of songsmith Nick Lowe's 1978 U.S. solo debut — Pure Pop for Now People — is the ideal phrase to describe the graceful synthpop crafted by Rocky O'Reilly and Shaun Robinson of Oppenheimer” Riverfront Times/St. Louis

“It is refreshing to discover Oppenheimer – two gents hailing from Belfast, Northern Ireland viz. Rocky O’Reilly & Shaun Robinson – who have revitalized what has been a moribund rock genre with an album that is simply irresistible.” Pop Culture Press

“Oppenheimer is an album that is totally devoid of any form of musical self-indulgence. Delightfully filler-free, each song succeeds by delivering a catchy melody quickly and getting out before it becomes predictable… thanks to its intoxicating mix of indie-rock guitar, Moog synths, and Beach Boys-meets-Kraftwerk vocals. Oppenheimer is breezy enough for a day at the beach but it's never lightweight, proving that good pop music doesn't necessarily have to be disposable.” Amplifier

"Breakfast In NYC"‚ is all poetic and blip-tastic. Oppenheimer are the bomb."

STUART BAILIE, BBC Radio Ulster

"Oppenheimer…is sweet and cosy. Just two blokes onstage, milling around a variety of instruments, turning dinky little electro-folk melodies into special moments we'll all take home."

BBC Across the Line Radio.

“…amalgamation of disco, electronica, funk and soul. If you can imagine a little less animated Junior Senior channeling a bit of Ron Trent you'd come close to the musical energy Oppenheimer delivers.” Pixelsurgeon.com

"Belfast's newest act, featuring R.Oppenheimer and S.Oppenheimer. Think Joyzipper with extra synthesisers and happiness and you'd be on the right track." Moving On Music, Ireland

"The two piece (guitarist/keyboardist and drummer/vocalist)…can only be described as sugar-coated, twee, glorious indie-pop. It's cute, it's…it's just fun. It's almost summertime and this could easily be this year's soundtrack to it. Check out Oppenheimer now."

Roadhouse Magazine, Ireland.

"The warm electro-pop of Belfast's Oppenheimer stands apart in a city dominated by dreary guitar bands." Colin Carberry, HOTPRESS magazine.

"They're called Oppenheimer, there are two of them, and they're from Belfast. And that's pretty much all we know. But their music has put a dirty great smile on our faces that we just haven't been able to shift." Hecklerspray.com

"Two people, one sound, perfect pop music chiming and beautiful electro pop enveloped in a uniquely romantic glow" SMALL TOWN AMERICA RECORDS

"... highly rated and immensely watchable intelligent-pop peddlers, the two piece act Oppenheimer." Belfast Telegraph... 8/19/05