Pia Fraus

Formed in 1997, Estonian shoegazers Pia Fraus started slowly after meeting while in high school in Tallinn. Guitarist/vocalist Rein Fuks and guitarist Tonis Kenkmaa formed the band with bassist Reijo Tagapere and drummer Joosep Volk. Cutting their teeth on the sounds of Stereolab and My Bloody Valentine, the group experimented with synthesizers and recruited vocalist Kristel Loide and keyboardist Kärt Ojavee. The band settled on the name Pia Fraus in autumn 1998 and began recording in 1999, recording the single "Blå." That session was soon followed by the recording of "Moon Like a Pearl," later featured on the Estonian Unsigned compilation on Operation B Records, and on the Clairecords' Atlantic Flowers disc. The group soon began regular recording sessions at Forwards Studios in Tartu, Estonia. 2001 saw the release of their debut disc, Wonder What It's Like, on their own Pia Records label. The album included remixes by Estonian electro bands Njuu, Galaktlan, Snafu, and Lobsand Dorje. Pia Fraus immediately began to perform regularly in Eastern Europe, and their cover of "Condemnation" was featured on the 2001 Depeche Mode tribute disc No Hidden Catch on Kaleid Records. These early releases attracted the attention of California's Clairecords, who released the band's In Solarium CD in 2002. Produced by Njuu's Hendrik Luuk and Galaktlan's Taavi Laatsit, the album showcased the band's atmospheric wall of melodic sounds. Loide married soon after, becoming Kristel Eplik. She amicably left the group and was replaced on vocals by Eve Komp. With Komp on board, the band then released its third studio effort, Nature Heart Software. In 2008, working with Teenage Fanclub's Norman Blake as producer, Pia Fraus released After Summer(amazon.com).

Wonder What it's Like - 2001



1. how fast can you love
2. obnoxious
3. moon like a pearl
4. obnoxious – galaktlan „tired“ version
5. summer before spring
6. in mind
7. deep purple girl – njuu version
8. summer before spring – snafu edit version
9. beautiful next time
10. deep purple girl
11. swim in eyes – lobsand dorje
“evening tea” version
12. swim in eye

Good Music!

In Solarium - 2002



1. 400 & 57
2. right hand traffic
3. how fast can you love
4. outskirts of me
5. no need for sanity
6. octobergirl
7. the end of time and space like we used to know it is after you heve finished your tea approximately at 5:07pm
8. bibabo
9. on you
10. zodalovers

Good Music!

Sailing On A Grapefruit Lake - 2005



1. moon like a pearl
2. obnoxious
3. summer before spring
4. deep purple girl
5. swim in eyes
6. summer before spring
13. pretend to be here

Good Music!

Nature Heart Software - 2006



01. Birds Still Swing
02. Pretend To Be Here
03. Chromatic Nights
04. Day Week or Season
05. You Know There Are People Living in the Country
06. Teenage Girl
07. Super Timeknowing Gentleman
08. Thank You Peter Parker
09. Come to Me
10. Feeling is New
11. No Borders
12. Japanese Heart Software

Good Music!

After Summer - 2008



01. Springsister
02. Yenissey
03. Sailing Yes
04. Doctor Optimism
05. House Eaten
06. After Summer
07. Late Again
08. Mute The birds
09. Loveloops
10. Far Fade Whisper

Good Music!