Balligomingo

Tired of your job as a business consultant for IBM? Garret Schwarz was, so the Arizona State University grad decided to use computers for a more creative pursuit—downtempo electronica. Schwarz started tinkering with electronic composing in 1999—with absolutely no musical training—and dubbed his ambient exotica Balligomingo. Call it beginner’s luck. With the help of seven female vocalists well fit for the sultry futurism (including Kristy Thirsk of Delerium), Schwarz somehow created a breathtaking solo debut. Straddling the worlds of Enigma and Massive Attack, his traveling show (which includes two femme songbirds from the album) is the club equivalent of a candle-lit dinner.