A Split-Second re-released their first official tape demo 'Stained Impressions' on Minimal-Maximal
In combination with their growing popularity and 2012 Tour, A SPLIT-SECOND re-released their first ever release “ STAINED IMPRESSIONS ”(MM007LP), out on MINIMAL>< MAXIMAL.
This is vinyl only release in a limited edition of 520 hand-numbered copies, 180 gram vinyl, plus insert. The first 200 copies will be available on white vinyl!
The making of...
1984 was a pivotal year for A Split-Second. Originally a new wave high-school band playing covers and a few own compositions, the first line-up disbanded as composer, singer and bass player Marc Ickx went more electronic with a primitive sequencer and drum computer.
Without previous studio experience, he started recording “Stained Impressions”, a demo tape recorded in single takes with cassette-to-cassette overdubs.
In between recordings he met with Chrismar Chayell, an old classmate who had a small multi-track recording studio. Chayell had already recorded among others the full length Twilight Ritual album “The Ritual”, and offered to produce and record five of the songs at his studio. The first five songs on “Stained Impressions” were recorded there. Chayell also arranged and played a keybord part on “Teargas and Champagne”, marking the beginning of what was to come for A Split-Second.
The songs also mark a transition, songs like “Hunger” and “Neurobeat” were written by Ickx for the previous line-up, of which “Neurobeat” was the only song to make it to the debut album “Ballistic Statues”. From the other songs, parts of titles and lyrics were picked up for later material, and “Resignation” bacame the blueprint for “Rigor Mortis”. Most of the other songs are largely improvised in a search for the new direction Ickx’ songwriting was heading for.
Largely raw and primitive, “Stained Impressions” provides an interesting look into the genesis of one of the most influential alternative electronic bands of the 80’s, and the variety and experimentation that marked this era.
A SPLIT-SECOND - Stained Impressions 2012 Tour (so far)
23.03.12 A Split-Second @ Nieuwe Nor - Heerlen – NL
24.03.12 A Split-Second + DAF + more @ 10 years Electric Tremor / BeatClub, Dessau, D
05.05.12 A Split-Second + more @ Bodybeats Fest / Zappa, Antwerp, B
25.08.12 A Split-Second + more @ Infest Festival / University, Bradford, UK
Sound snippets of Stained Impressions can be listend to on the link below!
Ok we admit, it's more technoid than industrial but the free Viral Conspiracy Records label sometimes has a few darker things on offer. Take Somatic Responses, the Healy brothers from a small Welsh town that have been making idm/industrial and God knows what else for about 10 years now. Their last album on Hymen was pretty good and here is a free 4-track EP for you industroheadz to nibble on!
Austrian multitalent Anja Plaschg is back with a new album! It took a while to come up with a successor to the sublime "Lovetune For Vacuum" of 2009 and with her new album "Narrow" also comes a European tour (with Ensemble). You have a few opportunities to see her:
03/15 - Rote Fabrik, Zürich, CH
04/11 - Scala, London, UK
04/17 - Le Trabendo, Paris, FR
04/18 - AB, Brussels, BE
04/20 - Motel Mozaique, Rotterdam, NL
04/21 - Kampnagel, Hamburg, DE
04/27 - LEV Festival, Gijón, ES
05/02 - Centraltheater, Leipzig, DE
05/03 - Tafelhalle, Nürnberg, DE
05/04 - Spielboden, Dornbirn, AT
06/24 - Kölner Philharmonie, Köln, DE
Shadowplay anounces 4 new names : FADERHEAD - DIORAMA - DREADFUL SHADOWS - MILDREDA.
The impressive list so far:
A THOUSAND SOCIETIES ; APOPTYGMA BERZERK ; ASCHE ; CARLOS PERÓN ; CEMETARY GIRLZ, THE ; CHESHIRE CAT (THE BOUNCING) ; CHRYSALIDE ; COMBICHRIST ; DE/VISION ; DEINE LAKAIEN ; DIORAMA ; DREADFUL SHADOWS ; EMBERS ; ESTAMPIE ; FADERHEAD ; FLESH & FELL ; GREYHOUND ; IN EXTREMO ; IN SLAUGHTER NATIVES ; INKUBUS SUKKUBUS ; KIDS (THE) ; LAST DAYS OF S.E.X. ; MILDREDA ; NÄO ; NOISUF-X ; NOSFERATU ; OOMPH! ; P•A•L ; QNTAL ; ROGER ROTOR ; SHORAI ; SONAR ; SYNAPSCAPE ; TYSKE LUDDER ; VNV NATION ; WIELORYB
Anathema has published a new song and gives it away for free here! It will be included on the forthcoming album "Weather Systems".
This album is the follow-up to 2010’s "We're Here Because We're Here". That album featured prominently in numerous end-of-year polls and the producer, Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), has described it as 'definitely among the best albums I’ve ever had the pleasure to work on.'
The bar for Weather Systems has been set pretty high then but, in an interview, Daniel Cavanagh, guitarist and singer, said: 'It feels like we are at a creative peak right now, and this album reflects that. Everything from the production to the writing to the performances are a step up from our last album.’
The album was recorded in Liverpool, North Wales and Oslo, each place significant to Anathema past, present and future. The record was produced and mastered by 5 times Norwegian Grammy nominated Christer-André Cederberg (Animal Alpha, In the Woods..., Drawn), who Daniel has described as ‘a revelation. His calmness and brilliance has helped to bring about the greatest inter-band chemistry that Anathema have experienced together in their career.’
Weather Systems will be available on Kscope from April 16th 2012. It is available to pre-order from the Kscope store.
