Ben Frost – SIDE-LINE

Click Interview with R010R: ‘Our Worldview Is Illusory’

Inferno Sound Diaries — Mon, 27 May 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Michael Renfield has been active with various music projects for several years. Some will no doubt remember Noise Process, but he is now back with a new album from R010R. “Total Disinformation Awareness” was released by Electro Aggression Records and delivers us 16 songs driven by intelligent, old-school EBM with a touch of Dark-Electro on top. This interview gives us a broader view of this in my opinion underrated musician.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: It’s been a while ago now you set up R010R. What were the triggers and influences to start this solo-project and how did you see R010R evolving throughout the years?

Michael: Hello, and thank you for this interview opportunity. R010R happened gradually after my previous music project Noise Process ran its course. I moved to New York, and started working with I, Parasite, an Industrial-Metal project. I wanted to create a solo endeavour that had no alignment to a genre or expectation. My initial album “Gradual Destabilization” (2008) was an experiment in deconstructing how I created music while I was also learning a DAW approach for the first time.

Previous to R010R, everything was hardware sequencers, synths, and drum machines. The software world was an interesting challenge. Since I was working with Christopher Jon and “I, Parasite, performing live noise/synths, the album was released on the Dark Vision Media imprint.

As far as an evolution, that is the very nature of R010R. I am not trying to make a product or sell a gimmick. I am just forging ahead and doing various audio experiments. Not everything works as an album or EP format. However, I do make new music consistently. I am just very selective about what I release.

Q: What means music to you? And tell us a bit more about the achievement of your new album “Total Disinformation Awareness”?

Michael: I do music for the love of it and mainly enjoy experimenting in the studio environment. My SoundCloud account has tracks that are only temporarily available, and it is not always feasible to make these into a cohesive release. I enjoy the temporary format and mainly use these as a springboard for new concepts.

After “Gradual Destabilization”, I created another album called “End Of All Reason” (2010). However, I decided to shelve the entire thing and go in another direction. The “Urban Renewal Program”-EP (2012) led to “Daybreak”, and “Unyielding” (2016). I made these while I was collaborating with Dejan Samardzic (Haujobb/DSX), and Martin Sax (Valhall/Ekobrottsmyndigheten) on their projects. “Unyielding” was polished up with Dejan’s feedback and released on their Basic Unit Productions imprint.

“Total Disinformation Awareness”, originated as a series of EP’s that I wanted to release through Bandcamp exclusively. In 2021 I sent a handful of tracks to Dejan again as well as Nader Moumneh (Electro Aggression Records) just to get some feedback as the music was a sort of ‘old school’, return to that 90’s Electro-Industrial sound. Basic Unit at that time was inactive as a label, but EAR had some plans for R010R because Nader stated that he loved the tracks, wanted more, and was considering releasing a CD of the material. I have worked with Nader and EAR for many years, doing artwork and remixes for bands on the label. So it seemed a perfect opportunity to create another album.

Q: What have been the different stages, challenges and difficulties you’d to go through to achieve this new work?

Michael: So now we get to the heart of it all. The challenge in creating “Total Disinformation Awareness” was not the music at all. It was the theme. With “Unyielding”, I was rattled by the Edward Snowden revelations. This led to reading about Thomas Drake and Bill Binney who were also NSA whistleblowers. This led to Wikileaks and Julian Assange, the Hillary Clinton emails, and Vault 7. Without getting into those details for the sake of your readers, my worldview journey eventually got to “Total Information Awareness”. A DARPA program of mass surveillance that utilized several defence and intelligence contractors that were also in Wikileaks documentation of interest. “Total Disinformation Awareness” is a nod to that program and the idea that social media took up where that program ended.

Q: Anything more we’ve to know about the lyrical content?

Michael: I think I made it clear with the press release. ‘There is a ton of disinformation being pushed through official channels and it is designed to keep us in a state of confusion and belligerence towards each other. It is imperative that we recognize and call out this attempt at deceit or we are going to become victims of oppression within our own ‘democratic’ systems.’

This has only become even more apparent with current news cycles where anti-war protesters are identified as anti-Semitic, COVID conspiracy theories are revealed to be factual, and politically aligned individuals are termed ‘a dangerous cult’. Meanwhile, all sides are pushing lies and misinformation frequently and without remorse. This is the art of destabilization that we must defend against. How can we be informed citizens and make informed decisions in our countries when our worldview is illusory?

Q: Sound-wise there clearly is a sophisticated, ‘old-school’, EBM sound running through the songs which might remind to legendary bands from the Canadian EBM school but also to bands like Mortal Constraint, The Klinik ao. What does it say about your perception of sound, sound creation and global production?

Michael: This is always interesting to me, the alignments that the audience hears in my music. Of course, I am aware of and listened to this style of music decades ago. However, if you ask me what inspired me to write “Total Disinformation Awareness” I would say Modeselektor, Ben Frost, and Bosse De Nage. I listen to a great deal of music 24/7 and only a small percentage of it is still Electro-Industrial. I honestly love this modern landscape of music. Independent music has never thrived like this. I have several webzines and platforms I visit every week just to keep up.

Q: What comes after “Total Disinformation Awareness” and do you’ve plans to bring the music on stage?

Michael: Next up on the worklist, I continue the R010R EP’s I was writing before Total Disinformation Awareness”. I already have several new tracks that will drop on Bandcamp later this year. These will be more Techno and Noise-related than EBM or Electro-Industrial. However, I have been tasked with a handful of new remixes for EAR artists as well as some additional Electro tracks for the upcoming EAR compilation. Those will be along the lines of “Total Disinformation Awareness”. I also have plans to start doing live Noise webcasts through my Youtube channel, as well as a new free-form Noise project I call Diminished Bastard Sword. The best way to keep track of what I am doing is through SoundCloud and Youtube. I will drop a link below.

Lastly, negative. I have no plans to play out live. I have done that thoroughly in my youth and I rather stay in a controlled studio environment. I also have a family and a ‘day job’. Arranging shows or a tour schedule is not possible.

Thank you again for reaching out and arranging this interview. I very much appreciate it. https://linktr.ee/soillodge

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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Swans embark on first North American tour dates since 2017

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 08:18:58 +0000

Next month, Swans will be embarking on their first North American tour dates since 2017 (having cancelled a 2020 tour due to lockdown). They sold out all the dates on a European tour this Spring.

The band recently released their sixteenth studio album, “The Beggar”, on Mute / Young God Records (North America) on double vinyl in a brown chipboard sleeve (with a download card for accessing an additional 44 minutes of music, also included on the album’s CD version), as a double CD in a brown chipboard digi-pack, and digitally.

Michael Gira gave some extra details: “After numerous pandemic-induced cancellations of tours for the previous Swans album leaving meaning, and an apparent bottomless pit of waiting, waiting, waiting, and the strange disorientation that came with this sudden but interminable forced isolation I decided it was time to write songs for a new Swans album and forget about everything else. They came relatively easily, always informed by the suspicion that these could be my last. When I finally was able to travel, songs in hand, to Berlin to work with my friends recording this record, the feeling was akin to the moment in The Wizard of Oz when the film changes from Black and White to Color. Now I’m feeling quite optimistic. My favourite color is pink. I hope you enjoy the album.”

“The Beggar” was recorded and mixed at Candy Bomber Studio, Berlin, engineered by Ingo Krauss and mastered by Doug Henderson at Micro-Moose, Berlin. The album was written and produced by Michael Gira and features contributions from recent and former Swans, members of Angels of Light, as well as Guest Swan Ben Frost.

You can check out the album below.

Swans North American live dates

2 Sep – Dallas TX, Granada Theater
3 Sep – Austin TX, Paramount Theatre
7 Sep – Phoenix AZ, Crescent Ballroom
8 Sep – Los Angeles CA, Lodge Room – SOLD OUT
9 Sep – Los Angeles CA, Lodge Room – SOLD OUT
12 Sep – San Francisco CA, Great American Music Hall
13 Sep – San Francisco CA, Great American Music Hall
15 Sep – Portland OR, Revolution Hall
16 Sep – Seattle WA, The Crocodile Showroom
19 Sep – Omaha NE, Waiting Room Showroom
20 Sep – Minneapolis MN, Fine Line Music Cafe
21 Sep – Chicago IL, Cabaret Metro
23 Sep – Detroit MI, Magic Bag
24 Sep – Cleveland OH, Beachland Ballroom
26 Sep – Toronto ON, Phoenix Concert Theater
27 Sep – Montreal QC, Theatre National
29 Sep – Brooklyn NY, Music Hall of Williamsburg – SOLD OUT
30 Sep – Brooklyn NY, Music Hall of Williamsburg – SOLD OUT
1 Oct – Brooklyn NY, Music Hall of Williamsburg – NEW DATE

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Swans share all new track from their sixteenth studio album soon out on Mute Records

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 24 May 2023 11:57:15 +0000

Swans have shared a new track from their sixteenth studio album, “The Beggar”, due for release on Mute / Young God Records (N America) on 23 June 2023. “The Beggar” will be released on double vinyl in a brown chipboard sleeve (with a download card for accessing an additional 44 minutes of music, also included on the album’s CD version), as a double CD in a brown chipboard digi-pack, and digitally.

Listen to “Los Angeles: City of Death” below.

The band’s extensive touring for 2023 started last week and continues through spring and summer with UK dates in August, and North American dates in September. In addition, Swans have confirmed a string of new dates across Europe in October and November – full details below.

Michael Gira adds: “After numerous pandemic-induced cancellations of tours for the previous Swans album leaving meaning, and an apparent bottomless pit of waiting, waiting, waiting, and the strange disorientation that came with this sudden but interminable forced isolation I decided it was time to write songs for a new Swans album and forget about everything else. They came relatively easily, always informed by the suspicion that these could be my last. When I finally was able to travel, songs in hand, to Berlin to work with my friends recording this record, the feeling was akin to the moment in The Wizard of Oz when the film changes from Black and White to Color. Now I’m feeling quite optimistic. My favourite color is pink. I hope you enjoy the album.”

Primary contributors to “The Beggar” were Michael Gita, Kristof Hahn, Larry Mullins, Dana Schechter, Christopher Pravdica, Phil Puleo and Ben Frost. Backing vocals are provided by Jennifer Gira, Lucy Kruger and Laura Carbone.

Swans, an experimental rock band from America, was established in 1982 by Michael Gira, a multi-talented artist serving as singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. This band is one of the rare survivors from the no wave scene of New York City, successfully transitioning into the subsequent decade. They are renowned for their dynamic musical style, shifting and exploring across various genres including noise rock, post-punk, industrial, and post-rock.

Swans live dates

25 May – Zilina SK, New Synagogue
26 May – Ljubljana SL, Kino Siska
27 May – Innsbruck, AT, Heart of Noise Festival, Treibhaus
29 May – Bologna IT, Teatro Duse
31 May – Lyon FR, Transbordeur
2 June – Barcelona ES, Primavera Sound Festival
4 June – Lisbon PT, Culturgest – SOLD OUT
5 June – Lisbon PT, Culturgest
6 June – Faro PT, Teatro Das Figuras
9 June – Madrid ES, Primavera Sound Festival
11 June – Athens GR, Vraxon Theatre
13 June – Thessaloniki GR, Moni Lazariston
15 June – Antwerp BE, Bourlaschouwburg – SOLD OUT
16 June – Utrecht NL, Hertz Theatre – SOLD OUT
11 Aug – Brighton UK, St George’s
12 Aug – Manchester UK, Albert Hall
15 Aug – Newcastle UK, Boiler Shop
16 Aug – Glasgow UK, St Luke’s
18 Aug – Bristol UK, Arc Tangent Festival
19 Aug – Leeds UK, Belgrave Music Hall – SOLD OUT
21 Aug – Dublin IE, The Academy
23 Aug – Norwich UK, Waterfront
24 Aug – London UK, Troxy
26 Aug – La Tour-De-Peilz CH, Nox Orae Festival
2 Sep – Dallas TX, Granada Theater
3 Sep – Austin TX, Paramount Theatre
7 Sep – Phoenix AZ, Crescent Ballroom
8 Sep – Los Angeles CA, Lodge Room
9 Sep – Los Angeles CA, Lodge Room
12 Sep – San Francisco CA, Great American Music Hall
13 Sep – San Francisco CA, Great American Music Hall
15 Sep – Portland OR, Revolution Hall
16 Sep – Seattle WA, The Crocodile Showroom
19 Sep – Omaha NE, Waiting Room Showroom
20 Sep – Minneapolis MN, Fine Line Music Cafe
21 Sep – Chicago IL, Cabaret Metro
23 Sep – Detroit MI, Magic Bag
24 Sep – Cleveland OH, Beachland Ballroom
26 Sep – Toronto ON, Phoenix Concert Theater
27 Sep – Montreal QC, Theatre National
29 Sep – Brooklyn NY, Music Hall of Williamsburg
30 Sep – Brooklyn NY, Music Hall of Williamsburg
16 Oct – Hamburg DE, Kampnagel – NEW DATE
17 Oct – Copenhagen DK, Vega Store – NEW DATE
19 Oct – Oslo NO, Blå Residency – NEW DATE
20 Oct – Oslo NO, Blå Residency – NEW DATE
22 Oct – Stockholm SE, Slaktkyrkan – NEW DATE
24 Oct – Helsinki FI, Tavastia – NEW DATE
25 Oct – Tallinn EE, HALL – NEW DATE
27 Oct – Riga LV, Mežaparks Great Bandstand – NEW DATE
28 Oct – Vilnius LI, St John’s Church – NEW DATE
31 Oct – Warsaw PL, Progresja – NEW DATE
1 Nov – Praha CZ, Divadlo Hybernia – NEW DATE
3 Nov – Wien AT, Arena Wien – NEW DATE
4 Nov – Budapest HU, Akvarium – NEW DATE
7 Nov – Belgrade RS, Dom Omladine – NEW DATE
8 Nov – Zagreb HR, Kino Sc – NEW DATE
10 Nov – Foligno IT, Auditorium San Domenico – NEW DATE
11 Nov – Milano IT, Conservatorio di Milano – NEW DATE
13 Nov – Paris FR, Élysée Montmartre – NEW DATE
14 Nov – Metz FR, Les Trinitaires – NEW DATE
16 Nov – Brussels BE, Botanique – NEW DATE
18 Nov – Bochum DE, Christuskirche – NEW DATE
19 Nov – Den Haag NL, Amare – NEW DATE
21 Nov – Berlin DE, Admiralspalast – NEW DATE

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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Swans announce 16th album ‘The Beggar’ and 2023 world tour

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:53:29 +0000

Swans announce their sixteenth studio album, “The Beggar”, set for release on 23 June 2023 via Mute / Young God Records. The band also reveals an extensive 2023 tour across the UK, Europe, and North America.

“The Beggar” will be available on double vinyl in a brown chipboard sleeve, double CD in a brown chipboard digi-pack, and digitally. A download card offers access to an additional 44 minutes of music, also included on the album’s CD version.

Recorded and mixed at Candy Bomber Studio in Berlin, “The Beggar” was engineered by Ingo Krauss, mastered by Doug Henderson, and written and produced by Michael Gira. It features contributions from current and former Swans members, members of Angels of Light, and guest artist Ben Frost.

Michael Gira shares his experience of writing the album during the pandemic and forced isolation, expressing optimism and hope for the future: “After numerous pandemic-induced cancellations of tours for the previous Swans album leaving meaning, and an apparent bottomless pit of waiting, waiting, waiting, and the strange disorientation that came with this sudden but interminable forced isolation I decided it was time to write songs for a new Swans album and forget about everything else. They came relatively easily, always informed by the suspicion that these could be my last. When I finally was able to travel, songs in hand, to Berlin to work with my friends recording this record, the feeling was akin to the moment in The Wizard of Oz when the film changes from Black and White to Color. Now I’m feeling quite optimistic. My favourite color is pink. I hope you enjoy the album.”

Primary contributors to “The Beggar” include Michael Gira (vocals, words, acoustic guitar, production), Kristof Hahn (lap steel, various guitars, vocals), Larry Mullins (drums, vibes, orchestral percussion, Mellotron, various keyboards, backing vocals), Dana Schechter (bass guitar, lap steel, keyboards, vocals, piano), Christopher Pravdica (bass guitar, sounds, keyboards, vocals), Phil Puleo (drums, percussion, vocals, piano, exotic wind instruments), and Ben Frost (guitar, synthesizers, sound manipulations). Jennifer Gira, Lucy Kruger, and Laura Carbone provide backing vocals.

Listen to “Paradise Is Mine”.

About Swans

Michael Gira founded Swans in NYC in 1982 and underwent multiple transformations over the years. The band ventured into various styles and genres, culminating in “Soundtracks For The Blind” (1996) before disbanding. Gira then worked on Angels Of Light and his label Young God Records, discovering and producing acts like Devendra Banhart and Akron/Family.

Swans was reactivated in 2010, releasing the album “My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky” and touring worldwide. That album was followed by “The Seer” (2012), “To Be Kind” (2014) and “The Glowing Man” (2017).

Swans’ music style can be described as experimental, encompassing a wide range of genres over their career. Their early work was characterized by brutal, high-volume onslaughts of sound, often described as no wave or noise rock. Over the years, they have ventured into harshly mechanical proto-industrial rock, atmospheric idylls, martial stomps, acoustic-based meditations, grand melody-dense sonic whirlwinds, and dissonant sharp-edged compositions. This eclectic approach has led to their music being associated with post-rock, experimental rock, and avant-garde genres.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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Swans to release ‘Where Does A Body End?’ DVD, Blu-ray, and deluxe Blu-ray on September 11th

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 17:18:13 +0000

Out in September is “Where Does a Body End?”, an intimate portrait of the band Swans, from their roots as a brutal, confrontational post-punk band that emerged from the same early 1980s era NYC that gave us Sonic Youth (and, somehow, Madonna) through their ill-fated bid at mainstream success in the 90s indie-rock gold rush. You’ll also get a glimpse of the breakups and chaos (on and offstage), in short the whole package.

For this concert film the editor waded through hundreds of hours of Swans (and singer-songwriter Michael Gira’s) archives of never-seen-before recordings, videos, and photographs. “Where Does A Body End?” has enjoyed festival success around the world from Chicago Underground Film Festival, Doc N Roll Festival (London and several other UK cities), Cinemateket Music Film Festival (Copenhagen), In: Edit Festival (Barcelona), Taoyuan Film Festival (Taiwan), Pop Kultur (Berlin), Sydney Underground Film Festival, Dok Station Film Festival (Bucharest), LUFF Lausanne Underground Film Festival (Switzerland) and many others.

The cast for this concert film includes: Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), Jehnny Beth (Savages), JG Thirlwell (Foetus), Blixa Bargeld (Einstürzende Neubauten), Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Kid Congo Powers (The Cramps / The Gun Club), Jim Sclavunos (The Bad Seeds), Daniel Miller (Mute Records), Steve Von Till (Neurosis), Dana Schechter (Angels Of Light), Devendra Banhart, Anna Von Hausswolff, Amanda Palmer, Ben Frost and Martin Bisi.

Below is a preview.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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Swans announce Summer tour – new album ‘Leaving meaning’ out now on Mute / Young God (N America)

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 10:20:00 +0000

(Photo by Jennifer Gira) Swans have announced a Summer tour to promote their new album “Leaving meaning” which is out now on Mute / Young God (N America). It’s the band’s 15th album.

The new album, “Leaving meaning”, was written and produced by Michael Gira and features contributions from recent and former Swans, members of Angels of Light, as well as Guest Artists Anna and Maria von Hausswolff, Ben Frost, The Necks, Baby Dee, and a Hawk and a Hacksaw.

Michael Gira explains: “leaving meaning. is the first Swans album to be released since I dissolved the lineup of musicians that constituted Swans from 2010 – 2017. Swans is now comprised of a revolving cast of musicians, selected for both their musical and personal character, chosen according to what I intuit best suits the atmosphere in which I’d like to see the songs I’ve written presented. In collaboration with me, the musicians, through their personality, skill and taste, contribute greatly to the arrangement of the material. They’re all people whose work I admire and whose company I personally enjoy.”

Listen to “It’s Coming It’s Real”

Listen to “The Hanging Man”

The band will be performing a series of festivals and dates from April on in Europe and North America before returning to the UK for a tour that will include Brighton, Bristol, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Manchester and Liverpool.

Swans live will be: Michael Gira (acoustic and electric guitar and voice); Kristof Hahn (lap steel guitar, electric guitar, loops); Phil Puleo (drums, percussion, gizmos); Dana Schechter (bass guitar, lap steel guitar, keys); Christopher Pravdica (bass guitar, loops, keys); Ben Frost (synthesizer, Mellotron, electric guitar).

The tourdates

EU tour

25 April – Nürnberg DE, Z-Bau – SOLD OUT
26 April – Krems an der Donau AT, Donau Festival at Stadtsaal Krems
28 April – Berlin DE, Festsaal Kreuzberg – SOLD OUT
29 April – Prague CZ, Divaldo ARCHA Theatre
30 April – Warsaw PL, Progresia
3 May – Stockholm SE, Nalen
4 May – Copenhagen DK, Vega Main Hall
5 May – Hamburg DE, Übel & Gefährlich
8 May – Barcelona ES, Razzmatazz
9 May – Madrid ES, KristonFest at Sala la Riviera
10 May – Porto PT, Hard Club
13 May – Zürich CH, Rote Fabrik
14 May – Milan IT, Santeria Social Club
15 May – Belfort FR, La Poudriere
18 May – Wiesbaden DE, Kulturzentrum Schlachthof
19 May – Paris FR, Le Trabendo
20 May – Amsterdam NL, Paradiso Music Hall
22 May – Brussels BE, AB
23 May – Cologne DE, Gebäude 9 – SOLD OUT
25 May – London UK, EartH – SOLD OUT
26 May – London UK, EartH – SOLD OUT
27 May – London UK, EartH – SOLD OUT

North American tour

5 June – Dallas TX, Granada Theater
6 June – Austin TX, Empire Garage
9 June – Los Angeles CA, Regent Theatre
10 June – San Francisco CA, The Fillmore
12 June – Portland OR, Revolution Hall
13 June – Seattle WA, The Neptune
16 June – Minneapolis MN, Varsity Theater
17 June – Chicago IL, Thalia Hall
19 June – Detroit MI, El Club
20 June – Toronto ON, Lee’s Palace
21 June – Montreal QC, Theatre National
24 June – Allston MA, Brighton Music Hall
25 June – Philadelphia PA, Underground Arts
26 June – Brooklyn NY, Warsaw
27 June – Brooklyn NY, Warsaw
** with very special guest Anna von Hausswolff

EU tour

2 Aug – Trondheim NO, Olavesfestival, Nidaros Cathedral Stage
5 Aug – Oslo NO, Parkteatret
6 Aug – Malmo SE, Plan B
7 Aug – Arhus DK, Voxhalle
8 Aug – Rees Haldern DE, Haldern Festival
12 Aug – Berlin DE, Festsaal Kreuzberg
13 Aug – Tilburg NL, 013
16 Aug – Budapest HU, A38 Ship
17 Aug – Dresden DE, Beatpol
19 Aug – Saint Malo FR, Route de Rock Festival, La Nouvelle Vogue
21 Aug – Brighton UK, Chalk
22 Aug – Bristol UK, ArcTanGent Festival
24 Aug – Newcastle UK, Boiler Room
25 Aug – Edinburgh UK, Summerhall Series
28 Aug – London UK, Islington Assembly Hall
29 Aug – Manchester UK, Stoller Hall
31 Aug – Liverpool UK, Invisible Wand Factory
1 Sep – Nottingham UK, Albert Hall
3 Sep – St Petersburg RU, Aurora
5 Sep – Moscow RU, Theatre

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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The Normal returns on Mute Records after 40 years of silence… with more silence

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 09:39:49 +0000

Earlier this year, in January to be precise, we posted this article “When an April Fools prank becomes reality: ‘STUMM433’ (feat. Laibach, Depeche Mode, …)” describing how Mute would release a box set featuring 50 Mute artists giving their interpretation of John Cage’s silent track “4’33”.

Today, The Normal aka Daniel Miller, has shared his tribute to John Cage’s “4’33””. It will be the first ‘music’ released by The Normal on Mute since the debut 7”. On Mute that is indeed because “Live at West Runton Pavilion”, The Normal’s second release, done with another Mute Records act Robert Rental, was released on Marat Records in Germany as Daniel Miller Robert Rental Live, with a black and white picture sleeve.

But back to 2019. Miller recorded his piece at a site in North London that will be familiar to fans of the label as the site of its foundation: 16 Decoy Avenue. Listen to The Normal’s take on “4’33”” right below.

Daniel Miller: “John Cage’s 4’33” has been present in my musical life for as long as I can remember as an important and inspiring composition. When the idea of every Mute artist doing their own interpretation of the piece came up during a conversation with Simon Fisher Turner, I immediately thought this was the perfect way to mark the label’s MUTE 4.0 (1978 > TOMORROW) series.”

Ironically, last year we had the idea to create an April Fools prank with a fake compilation with a lot of famous musicians covering John Cage 4’33 silent track. We decided not to do it, not sure if most of you would grab the irony.

Which Mute artists are featured in the boxset?

The boxset will feature over 50 Mute artists including A Certain Ratio, A.C. Marias, ADULT., The Afghan Whigs, Alexander Balanescu, Barry Adamson, Ben Frost, Bruce Gilbert, Cabaret Voltaire, Carter Tutti Void, Chris Carter, Chris Liebing, Cold Specks, Daniel Blumberg, Danny Briottet, Depeche Mode, Duet Emmo, Echoboy, Einstürzende Neubauten, Erasure, Fad Gadget, Goldfrapp, He Said, Irmin Schmidt, Josh T. Pearson, K Á R Y Y N, Komputer, Laibach, Land Observations, Lee Ranaldo, Liars, Looper, Lost Under Heaven, Maps, Mark Stewart / Sonskrif / The New Banalist Orchestra, Michael Gira, Mick Harvey, Miranda Sex Garden, Moby, Modey Lemon, Mountaineers, New Order, Nitzer Ebb, NON / Boyd Rice, Nonpareils, The Normal, onDeadWaves, Phew, Pink Grease, Pole, Polly Scattergood, Richard Hawley, ShadowParty, Silicon Teens, Simon Fisher Turner and Edmund de Waal, The Warlocks, Wire, Yann Tiersen and Gareth Jones.

The designers behind the visuals

Contributing designers include Simone Grant who worked with Miller on a lot of the early Mute artwork (The Normal, Fad Gadget and Depeche Mode); Steve Claydon, a member of Add N To (X) who designed for Goldfrapp; Slim Smith, who worked with Mute through the 1980s and 1990s; Malcolm Garrett, who designed the “House of Illustrious” box set for Vince Clarke and Martyn Ware; Tom Hingston, who has worked with Erasure and created the majority of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Grinderman artwork since the early 2000s; and Anton Corbjin, who has worked closely with Mute on many campaigns since the early 1980s, including those of Depeche Mode, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Fad Gadget.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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Cosey Fanni Tutti reworks Penelope Trappes track ‘Carry Me’

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Thu, 09 May 2019 13:49:06 +0000

Cosey Fanni Tutti has reworked the Penelope Trappes track “Carry Me” for Trappes’ “Redeux” album which will be released June 7th on Houndstooth. The track is out as a standalone single.

Here’s some more info on this album. After the release of her sophomore solo album “Penelope Two”, Penelope Trappes and Houndstooth announce “Redeux”; an album of reworks of tracks from “Penelope Two”. On the album you find covers by Scottish post-rock legends Mogwai, Factory Floor member Nik Colk Void, Throbbing Gristle’s Cosey Fanni Tutti, Shelter Press label founder/producer/visual artist Félicia Atkinson, Throwing Snow, Icelandic multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Jófríður Ákadóttir aka JFDR, Poppy Ackroyd with Hidden Orchestra member and One Little Indian signee transposes Kismet on piano, Savages producer Jonny Hostile, Ben Frost and Tim Hecker collaborator and Sigur Ros’ musical director Paul Corley and Swedish techno duo Aasthma (Peder Mannerfelt and Pär Grindvik).

Full tracklist:

Burn On (Mogwai Rework)
Carry Me (Cosey Fanni Tutti Rework)
Maeve (JFDR Rework)
Farewell (Johnny Hostile Rework)
Night Hive (Paul Corley Rework)
Nite Hive (Nik Colk Void Rework)
Connector (Aasthma Rework)
Farewell (Throwing Snow Rework)
Kismet (Poppy Ackroyd Rework)
Burn On (Félicia Atkinson Rework)

Who is Penelope Trappes?

Penelope Trappes is a London based Australian born vocalist, musician and soundscape artist signed to Houndstooth. She spent 2016 writing and recording what would become her first solo album, “Penelope One” in a piano studio in East London. The LP was released via Optimo Music in 2017 on vinyl and as a photo book.

Penelope signed to Houndstooth in 2018 and released her sophomore LP (and photo book) “Penelope Two” in October 2018.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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When an April Fools prank becomes reality: ‘STUMM433’ (feat. Laibach, Depeche Mode, …)

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 13:02:57 +0000

Last year we had the idea to create an April Fools prank with a fake compilation with a lot of famous musicians covering John Cage 4’33 silent track. We decided not to do it, not sure if most of you would grab the irony. You can imagine our surprise when Mute announced a box set this morning featuring 50 Mute artists giving their interpretation of… yes, 4’33.

From the artist that started Mute, The Normal, to the label’s newest signing, K Á R Y Y N, “STUMM433” will feature over 50 Mute artists – including Depeche Mode, Yann Tiersen, Liars, Silicon Teens, Irmin Schmidt – presenting their own interpretation of one piece of music: John Cage’s 4’33”.

Fortunately you’ll get a visual to accompany each ‘performance’ of 4’33”. The box set launches with a video from Laibach which you can see below.

Net profits from the release of STUMM433 will be split between the British Tinnitus Association and Music Minds Matter. These charities were chosen to honor Inspiral Carpets’ founding member Craig Gill who suffered from anxiety and depression as a result of his tinnitus in the years up to his untimely death. The box set will be released in May 2019.

Artists featured include: A Certain Ratio, A.C. Marias, ADULT., The Afghan Whigs, Alexander Balanescu, Barry Adamson, Ben Frost, Bruce Gilbert, Cabaret Voltaire, Carter Tutti Void, Chris Carter, Chris Liebing, Cold Specks, Daniel Blumberg, Depeche Mode, Duet Emmo, Echoboy, Einstürzende Neubauten, Erasure, Fad Gadget (tribute), Goldfrapp, He Said, Irmin Schmidt, Josh T. Pearson, K Á R Y Y N, Komputer, Laibach, Land Observations, Lee Ranaldo, Liars, Looper, Lost Under Heaven, Maps, Mark Stewart, Michael Gira, Mick Harvey, Miranda Sex Garden, Moby, Modey Lemon, Mountaineers, New Order, Nitzer Ebb, NON, Nonpareils, The Normal, onDeadWaves, Phew, Pink Grease, Pole, Polly Scattergood, Renegade Soundwave, Richard Hawley, ShadowParty, Silicon Teens, Simon Fisher Turner, The Warlocks, Wire, Yann Tiersen.

Side-Line also covered Laibach’s ‘Click Interview’.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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Legendary label Mute Records visually documented in hardback book ‘Mute: A Visual Document’ incl. Depeche Mode, Erasure, …

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 18:00:34 +0000

Mute and Thames & Hudson have announced details of “Mute: A Visual Document”, a 320-page hardback book, available November 28, 2017 and ready for ordering right here.

“Mute: A Visual Document” is packed with artwork and photography – much of it previously unseen – from the Mute Archives and from Daniel Miller’s own archives, including photography and video stills from legendary photographers, conceptual artworks, rare ephemera and equipment.

The book features comprehensive discographies, a family tree of Mute artists, an extensive introduction and commentary by Daniel Miller – who has curated the materials for the book – plus anecdotal and photographic contributions from key figures in the label’s story, including Moby, Alison Goldfrapp, Anton Corbijn, Bleddyn Butcher, Brian Griffin, Jon Spencer, Barry Adamson, Ivan Novak (Laibach), Angus Andrew (Liars), Adrian Shaughnessy and Tom Hingston.

Mute was created by Daniel Miller to release his debut single as The Normal, “Warm Leatherette” / “T.V.O.D”, in 1978. The label quickly grew and established its reputation through the music of its community of artists – ranging from Fad Gadget, Goldfrapp, Moby, Can, Diamanda Galás, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds to Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure, Laibach, Liars and Ben Frost.

Here are a few teasers:

Side-Line also covered Depeche Mode’s ‘Where I Wait’.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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