Before vocalist Christine Zufferey was asked to replace the singer two years ago, All the Queen's Men was an alternative rock, somewhat rootsy outfit with ties to the Nashville music scene. Since then, the group has pioneered a heavy electronic dance floor-friendly mix of rock and techno they have dubbed rocktronica.

''We were about to put an album out, and that's when we lost our singer,'' said drummer Tamora Gooding. ''When Christine came along we realized we didn't want to just replace the old singer and do the same material. At that point we decided we wanted to explore different styles.''

They proceeded to dump the country-rock influences and veer toward the opposite direction. Gooding traded in her standard acoustic drum set for a high-tech electronic sound-sampling model. Now when she hits a drum any variety of sounds might come out, from cow bells to piano chords. Guitarist Cathy Capozzi bought all new effects pedals. To this electronic industrial foundation, Swiss-born Zufferey added ethereal keyboards, computer savvy, and a singing style that eschewed Americana entirely, evoking instead European Goth rock divas such as Diamanda Galas and Siouxsie Sioux of Siouxsie and the Banshees. ''We're all still rockers at heart,'' said Capozzi.

''We're trying to take this form that has been around forever, electric guitar, and trying to find a way to make it new and interesting. The hardest thing for me is to fit this old rocker image into this new electronic form without making it sound cheesy.''

Capozzi certainly knows her rock, and boasts prodigious playing chops; she was once named the winner of a guitar contest hosted by guitarist Brian May of the band Queen. She said she feels that although the band has changed its sound, the music is ultimately still rooted in the traditions of good old rock 'n' roll.

''The places we are playing around town are still the same clubs we played before,'' said Capozzi. ''Playing with local bands like Count Zero and Mistle Thrush.''

Meanwhile Zufferey, who was in Switzerland promoting the group at the time of the interview, has helped All the Queen's Men break through to a new international crowd. On their debut CD ''Madame Static,'' Zufferey's brother Andy, who has a recording studio in Switzerland, did an aggressive dance remix of the song ''Azalaya,'' and that track has made some headway in European discos, according to the band. Another song, ''You Want Me,'' a blistering diatribe against corporate corruption, has been included in a local independent film production ''Role Play,'' which is being screened at film festivals around the country.

You can see All the Queen's Men this Saturday at the Middle East Downstairs in a 9 p.m. release party for ''Madame Static,'' which is also part of the 20th-anniversary celebration of the local rock magazine The Noise.

The Middle East Downstairs is located at 472-480 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. This is an 18-plus show. Call 617-864-EAST for more information.

This story ran on page 11 of the Boston Globe's City Weekly on 9/16/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.

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