Join us at In Sheep’s Clothing HQ this Saturday to dive deeper into the world of X-Cetra.

Back in 2003, a handful of tracks from a remarkably odd and catchy project began to circulate online through WFMU’s 365 Day Project. The curious details behind the origin of these tracks would later surface:

“Preteen pop group X-Cetra formed at the turn of the millennium in suburban Santa Rosa, CA. 11-year-olds Jessica Hall, Ayden Mayeri, and Janet Washburn and 9-year-old Mary Washburn spent their time singing, dancing, and making videos inspired by The Spice Girls, Fiona Apple, and Destiny’s Child. X-Cetra’s one and only album “Stardust” came to life when musician Robin O’Brien — Janet and Mary’s mom — agreed to record the girls in her home studio. Drawing on her arranging and production experience, O’Brien set the girls’ wildly original lyrics to electronica tracks by a friend on the tape trading circuit, Berlin musician Künstler Treu. The resulting blend of the girls’ unbridled creativity and O’Brien & Treu’s professional touch is an addictive pop album unlike anything you’ve ever heard before.”

Over two decades later, X-Cetra’s lone album is now being released for the first time on vinyl by iconic Chicago-based imprint Numero Group. Existing in the beloved realm of accidental magic (revisit our article on Holy Grail Children’s Records), X-Cetra resurfaces now at the perfect time for the MTV and millennial generations who grew up on Destiny’s Child, Sugababes, The Spice Girls, etc.

Stylistically, X-Cetra’s strangely addictive music sounds worlds away from the aforementioned R&B groups and actually reaches into a sort of proto-hypnagogic pop (think Hype Williams) with the avant-garde, trip-hop, and euro-dance backing tracks by Achim Treu, a Berlin-based musician who has collaborated with electro-acoustic pioneer Jon Appleton and was once namechecked into the Frank Zappa camp with his early tapes. The wonderfully odd assortment of sample choices on the album include legendary jazz vibraphonist Roy Ayers, exotica pioneer Martin Denny, and Serge Gainsbourg collaborator Brigitte Bardot…

Check out X-Cetra’s Instagram page to dive deeper: https://www.instagram.com/x_cetra/

This Saturday, In Sheep’s Clothing and Numero Group will be presenting a very special album release party and 25th anniversary celebration for X-Cetra’s Summer 2000. Join us at In Sheep’s Clothing HQ for a dedicated listening session of the cult classic album along with a sure-to-be-interesting Q&A with original members of X-Cetra. Y2K sleepover core attire recommended!

Limited tickets are available now: https://link.dice.fm/U679e1fe7e83