Jacket Weather
When Shadows Move
Gassen formed the pioneering minimalist-electro-wave act Jacket Weather in 1982, mixing dual Casiotone keyboards, real bass and drums - with the desolate imagery of the Arizona desert. "I loved the contrast of the synths with human percussion and the sensual backdrop of the desert," Gassen adds. "We thought the tension of my cold, distant vocals and synths with the bombastic rock rhythm section made our sound unique." Described in their day as a cross between Joy Division and Young Marble Giants, with some Wall Of Voodoo mixed in, Jacket Weather etched their own minimalist sound. Staccato, expressionistic vocals accent the snake-like mingling of the Casiotones, while a steady dance pulse backs the eerie mixture. Equally enraptured with Euro-synth, English post-punk and Los Angeles punk-wave, Jacket Weather found inspiration from such opposites as Our Daughters Wedding to the Suburban Lawns for their Casiotone symphonies. The band recorded a cassette album in 1982, released a six-song vinyl EP in 1983 (titled "When Shadows Move") and also recorded a complete album that remained unreleased - until now.