He's also a recording and performing artist and he brings his quartet to the Middle East Upstairs Tuesday May 20. His music, evidenced on his fourth CD, "Sirens of the Apocalypse," is expansive, inquisitive prog-rock - a pleasing mind-scramble of voices, sounds and genres. "These songs are really very personal," says Bisi. "The gender stuff is part of my entire life. I've been drawn in and out of genres because of women - a crush on a techno girl ... I've been led by my libido into no-wave and hip-hop. About the record, there's gender conflict, almsot some passive aggression as my social commentary is filtered through the various women."
  Is it Bowie-esque, Roxy-esque? "I do agree," he says. " I like Roxy Music,  Yes, I do. ... Songs and recordings develop slowly. I have a hard time seeing where a song is going in its entirety from the get-go. It starts from guitar, and something melodically works from my brain. I kick it around 'til there's a beginning of a song. Also, I think I'm more confident about things. I lack confidence in blatantly cheesy things that speak to me. Then, I have a problem. I'm forced to corrupt it. I think too much. I'm very analytical."
  Of his plaudits as a behind-the-scenes guy, Bisi says, "I do take pride in the big picture. It may be nebulous. I've been consistently involved with grass-rooots things that developed over time. A lot of what works live is my personality. It's kind of about me - quirky irreverence, a little unhinged, somehow sitting in this chaotic, but controlled, enviornment that would kind of mitigate the cheesy bubblegum sound. The context is chaotic. The melody has a social context. I'm deliberately trying to present something a bit lowbrow. ... A lot of what happens around me is highbrow." Martin Bisi plays with Black Fortress of Opium, Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys and What Time Is It, Mr. Fox. Starts at 9. Tickets: $8.

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