The Plastiq Musiq Encyclopedia
A list of musicians associated with the Plastiq Musiq name
The following is an alphabetical list of bands and acts associated with the Plastiq Musiq label.
Plastiq Musiq was started in 1997 by Ronnie Martin of Joy Electric to advertise and promote synthpop bands under the Tooth & Nail label. In addition, the music was strictly about making music with analog synthesizers and dedicated to faith in Christianity.
A Plastiq Musiq postcard writes,
“Like a 1979 futurist convention in Sheffield, England, plastiqmusiq brings you the original blueprint for tomorrow. Our bands are armed with analog synthesizers, black ties, and pure hearts; ready and willing to introduce a new generation to the forgotten sounds of a lost era.”
The following list provides screencaps of their vintage websites and lost biographical info of a zeitgeist that time has forgotten. Vintage websites may be accessed by clicking on the links.
It is hard to imagine that over two decades ago, many electronic musicians had traditional to somewhat anti-liberal views against the modern world, but also embraced the futurism that technology was offering. We take for granted the technological monopolies we are under, and we lost a time when internet independence and a physical music industry were still a virtue.
The Plastiq Musiq movement was influential, and the data provided here is what I was able to salvage from the past.
Aside from the aesthetics of The Million Dollar Homepage or your typical Bad and Ugly websites, these Christian synthpop acts should inspire anyone to make electronic music in 2026 and beyond…
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20GOTO10 - Members: Sara Eugene, William Manke, Matthew Sturgeon, Corey Jenkins (website)
bio:
…The late 1970s literally changed the world in making home computers accessible to everyday consumers. Even children just old enough to read and count were writing their own computer programs using the simple BASIC programming language. For example, 20 GO TO 10 would infinitely keep looping between lines 10 and 20 until some new condition would redirect out to a different line in the program.
Fast-forwarding ahead two decades, two northeast-Ohioans named Matt Sturgeon and Bill Manke were discovering that even the incorporation of non-electronic instruments failed to give preprogrammed techno sounds the organic feel they wanted. They were stuck in a proverbial infinite loop from which they needed to escape. In the summer of 2003, they realized that early analog synthesizers offered more versatile and natural extensions of themselves, or, shall we say, offered a more bionic technological solution than sequencers. That new, analog approach also better accommodated their infatuation for electronic sounds with their love for thick, moody psychedelic/cinematic pop.
For the synthpop vision of 20goto10, the final ingredient was a female vocalist. Sturgeon and Manke needed a mix of skill and resonance that could add human warmth to the act, yet with an archetypal cool, new wave sleekness. They met Sara Eugene, a classically trained vocalist with a love for the melodic rock theatrics of Bowie, T.Rex and 80s metal. The chemistry worked, infusing new creative ideas into revisited technology and musical trends.
During 2004, 20goto10s pop sensibilities and conviction for strong live performances built a steady regional concert club following. That year, the band recorded its first CD entitled 8-Bit Demos, and April 2005 marked the release of the first formal 20goto10 album, Tears From the Electric Eye. Riding the buzz of enthusiastic fan and critical response to the new disc, 20goto10 is currently performing extensively in venues around Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
"Like the best pop from the early 80s, Tears From the Electric Eye questions artifice while smothering itself in digital disaffection. This is the crest of the new new wave.”
- Scene Magazine
"[an] unusual recipe of Handel, Whitesnake, Bernard Herrmann and Hank Williams [that] ultimately tastes a lot like late-70s/early-80s synth-pop
catchy pop vocals in a deep, dense sea of electronics.”
- Cleveland Free Times
”Not a weak nor disappointing track in evidence, making this a very impressive and classic Electro Pop album from an act with great potential.”
- Synthetic Vision
SARA EUGENE: Lyrically, we want a simple approach that doesnt have a lot of unnecessary intricacy or complexity to it, something that just speaks honestly without being too pretentious. But for a synthpop record, it has more questions than answers, and its tinged with a little bit of sadness.
BILL MANKE: The album is called Tears From the Electric Eye. I thought that title summed a lot of things up about its theme and attitude.
MATT STURGEON: The unifying theme is heartache, not just in a relationship sense, but also for other people and situations. But the mood isnt exactly depressing.
SARA EUGENE: I had never done vocals in a recording studio before 20goto10, and I find it to be a very cool experience. You hear such a true rendition of how your voice sounds down to the spit coming through your teeth. Some songs really take on a life of their own in the studio, though.
BILL MANKE: I wanted to make a synth album that was as raw and emotional as possible. I know it’s a trend right now, but we don’t feel the need for bare feet, flutes, and weed to come across as real and true and meaningful. We tried to get a full take of one good vocal to avoid the ProTools editing of modern recordings, instead preserving a good emotional flow through the songs.
MATT STURGEON: For We are the same, I wanted to convey a lot of intense feelings of heartbreak I had at the time I started recording this album. I tried to accomplish that with the melodies as well as the vocoder tracks. The goal with that one in particular was also to make a very emotional intense song with the robotic voice. I like the oxymoron in that. It makes things more interesting than talking explicitly about robots and technology.
SARA EUGENE: Performing live is one of those things that’s impossible to describe to someone who’s never done it. Whether there are 12 enthusiastic people in the audience or 120, it’s a rush to have their attention and to be able to communicate with them in such a powerful way.
MATT STURGEON: Not to sound cliché or anything, but I think the whole sharing energy live thing is said so much because it’s pretty true. This is the most important reason we play everything live and analog. Being able to add little things here and there on-the-fly or edit the sound live would be extremely difficult for Bill and I to do if everything was pre-programmed.
BILL MANKE: Back when I played drums, after a show I would have a sort of weird afterglow from being physically tired. If I can make that happen after playing keyboards, we have done a lot right. We hope to write songs that will let us be more spontaneous live.
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A Frame - Real Name: Aaron Melzer. RIP late 2020.
website: “aframe@music.com”
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Altair Prime – Real Name: Tigh Bradley
email: “yelgren@hotmail.com”
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Ani - Real Name: George Kazaklis (in Goodnight Star)
…videos he’s in:
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Anna Ranger - Members: Nathan Snell and Clint Hunt (website)
bio:
Anna Ranger is a pop music duo from central Ohio that combines elements of new romanticism from the eighties and traditional pop music together with analog synthesis. Anna Ranger creates a unique blend of melancholy and upbeat hooks with a strong dance element entwined between the two.
Nathan Snell -lead and backup vocals, rhythm programming, sequencing,
synthesizers, and guitar.
Clint Hunt - lead synthesizers, vocoder, and backup vocals.
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Anything Box - Members: Claude Strillo, Dania Morales, and Paul Rjinders.
…No introduction needed. They started this movement…
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Arkport - Christian indie band. (website)
Review: https://opus.ing/reviews/left-the-highway-arkport-2000-broken-factory-records
bio:
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erin berkey:
bands: coldplay, portishead, the cranberries
poet: Pablo Neruda
scripture: I have yet to commit to one...whatever helps me deal with current life
season: autumn
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matt doty
________________
-Support Independent Music-
broken factory music
jackson rubio
plastiqmusiq
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jon pierce
born-10.02.1981
influences-joy electric, fine china
"dont tell me how to live my life and dont ever stop the music"
im: minimicromoog
links: goat explosion
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jimmy pierce
born-04.23.1978
bands: starflyer 59, joy electric, danielson
links: affordable websites
im: lordofgun5000
icq#: 84529732
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jesse pierce
born-01.08.1983
i am jesse.......i play the bass for arkport....i like things that are fun.....and i like pretty things too........like the sunsets.......they are pretty...............my favorite type of day is a rainy one......i love clouds...............they are pretty.....and i like dogs they are cuter more than pretty.........and i like my church a lot.....it's the prettiest church...........and i think that praise and worship is the best type of music....................it's really pretty!!!..............and i know something else that is the prettiest thing in the whole wide world...........but you'll have to guess on that one............here's a hint.....it's really really pretty:):)
icq#: 85105003
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history:
Arkport is a synth-rock band from the state of NY. Over their past 2 years of experience they have been redefining music as it is known by Combining melodic synth lines, beautiful female vocals, simple drumming techniques, lush guitars and thick bass.
The band decided to start playing together based on a mutual love of music and spiritual beliefs. After the first few practices and song writing sessions the band knew they had something going and decided to pursue the project more intensely. They recorded a demo at their church on an audiotape and used this as a demo for shows and such. The first big break came when they were offered a show with Morellas Forest at the Flipside Concert series in Dansville, NY by Jesse Sprinkle (drummer of Poor Old Lu) in May 1999. The band gladly accepted. At this show they established relationships that would help them get to where they are today.
Over the summer of 1999, Arkport made their first line of merchandise in order to start raising money for what they envisioned as their first major project. Continuing into the fall, the band continued writing new material, playing shows and raising funds in order to make their dream to come true.
In January of 2000, the band had their first formal meeting with the staff at Mammoth Studios (Jesse Sprinkle and Shawn Harnish). This meeting, along with an inspiring performance with Morellas Forest at the end of the month, boosted spirits even higher and by the end of February, Arkport was in the studio recording their album, Left the Highway.
Since the release of Left the Highway, Arkport has played numerous shows and gained valuable touring experience. They’ve played with the likes of The Calicoes VBM), Havalina Rail Company (Jackson Rubio), Joy Electric(BEC), The World inside (Organic) and gained on-line distribution from one of today’s top electronic music companies, Plastiq Musiq.
questions or comments? email us.
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Ronnie Martin-Joy Electric, Plastiqmusiq
I had the privelage of booking Arkport at the venue in August of this year. They opened for Havalina Rail Company and Joy Electric, and they were new to almost everyone at the show. Most people had come to see Joy Electric, but many of the concert goers left the show talking about Arkport. Needless to say they did a great job. They were very easy to work with, and I would not hesitate to book them again.
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Asterisk* / Olney - Real Name: Kelson Herr (website)
ol·ney [ALL·knee] n. 1. An old fashioned brick avenue. 2. A musical heart.
“a world without music would be like a kiss without meaning...”
Basic Introduction
Olney began May 15th, 2003, continuing a project previously called Asterisk* (Electrophobia, UAC3) with new changes added to the previous style of music - all sounds on a record being the sounds of vocals and analogue synthesizers alone. Limiting as this is, it’s an interesting concept. In doing so the limitations are so strong but that increases a need for creativity and originality because of having so few bells and whistles to work with. With the few simple springs and gadgets of a small, “limited” machine creativity is among the most important things to exercise in making music. I would like to think I have accomplished that at least in a few ways.
The whole concept of using just my little Rogue Moog synthesizer to make songs and records began when I bought the little synth and a certain person told me I had wasted my money on the “limited” and “worthless” synthesizer. I was informed that The Rogue was so non-versital that I’d never get anywhere with it and that I should have purchased a different instrument. Of course, this meant that I just had to make an entire record with the Rogue alone just to prove it could be done and that it wasn’t so limited. So I spent about eight months working on “Songs for the Synthesizer” and also did another cover of “Here Comes Santa Claus” for Greenhorn Record’s “a Merry Christmas Compilation” which I also made entirely with my “limited” synthesizer and I am now working on a followup EP of “Songs...” and plan to have another entire album out in 2005...all done on the Rogue Moog only. You may call it overkill but I call it...mathematical proofs in perfection.
My electronic music influences include (but aren’t limited to) bands like The Human League, Aha, Yazoo, Kraftwerk, Professor Small, Joy Electric, Ladytron, Komputer, ISatellite, Anything Box, and Eiffel 65.
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Automate - ??? (only made two known songs in existence. “10:15” and “Type 1.”)
B! Machine - Real Name: Nathaniel L. Nicoll (website)
…Was previously in “Subverted Orpheus.” The demo tape can be found online.
On synths:
Roland, SH-101:
A personal favorite, I got this when it was new! It’s the only keyboard I own that has appreciated in value, what foresight. But seriously, this little beast is more often than not riding shotgun in most of my songs. It’s grey and the contacts don’t exactly work without error but the CV/Gate does just fine.
Roland, SH-9:
Released: 1979-81
I wanted one of these for while and finally found one in 1997. The sound possesses a priceless quality, its giving the SH-101 a run for the throne. The more I listen...Bass, resonance and noise.
Synthcon interview:
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Barry Lyndon - ??? (only made three known songs in existence. “Vocoded Song For A Past Romantic Interest,” “The Best Dream I’ve Ever Had,” and “Road To Luxembourg.”) email: “jonnytrolley@hotmail.com”
665 Newman Ave. Seekonk, MA, 02771-4419
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Benco – …Is associated with Pete Ellison (Peroxide Mocha) and his label Donut Nook.
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Blame Spree - Real Name: Abner Pedraza
111 Southwest 62 ct. Miami, FL, 33144.
email: abner@clearsurf.com.
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Blue Ribbon - Members: Jon Erikson, Jesse Carter, Bryan Robertson, Steve Goodman. (website)
bio #1:
the band was started by jon and steve in 1997 under the name “how to draw robotech.” this line up featured steve on guitar, farfisa, and vocals; and jon on drums and a little yamaha keyboard. in 2003, bryan joined the group playing the bass, ms-10, and the jupiter 6, followed by jesse - master of the juno 60 and mono/poly keyboards. jon controls drum machines, drums,and plays mono/poly while sharing vocal duties with steve, who also works the jupiter 6 and ms2000 keyboards.
during this time, half of the band resided in new york city, and the other half in providence, where they played live shows with artists such as dirty on purpose, elefant, my favorite, au revoir simone, and more. in the next two years, blue ribbon contributed tracks to three compilations: “uac4” on the plastiq musiq label, “wxjl 2: music for the masses” on ninthwave records, and “hear you soon : part one” on blue bell records.
have you been searching for an album by a new artist and hoping to fall in love with every song on the record instead of just one or two tracks for once? do you like figurine? joy division? omd? hollAnd? new order? the cure? chameleons uk? the human league? if you answered “yes” to one or more of the questions above, you will absolutely be taken
by blue ribbon.
they are four guys in providence, rhode island: jon, bryan, steve, & jesse - and they make some of the most powerful and symphonic synth-driven melodies and sing the most memorable, catchy lyrics we have heard in quite some time.
their song “eagles fly“ appeared on the “hear you soon” compilation on blue bell records released in 2004 (w/ 808 state, figurine, hollAnd, marumari, lullatone, freescha, sybarite), and tons of listeners wrote in to let us know how much they loved the song and wanted to hear more - now we are quite pleased to give you what you asked for: blue ribbon’s debut album, “another time!”
we hope you enjoy this quartet’s first album of many to come, made to fill your ears with enchanting lyrics, thoughtful arrangements, and danceable beats. this record is one of those rare finds - after the first listen, the words and melodies were stuck stuck in our heads for days --- “she speaks and i don’t understand / she writes her number on the back of my hand / 6-4-6 is the area code / i’m gonna program her name in my telephone!”
blue ribbon has played shows from the east coast in brooklyn, new york to the west coast in portland, oregon with these folks: the sounds, au revoir simone, faux fox, dirty on purpose, the winter set, and countless other awesome musicians.
see a few show posters archived here.
bio #2:
Blue Ribbon currently resides in Providence, RI. There are 4 of them: Jon Erikson, Jesse Carter, Bryan Robertson, Steve Goodman. We play synth driven rock with live bass and drums with electronic triggers. Beer is pretty good. “Another Time” is our first CD out in Jan. on Blue Bell Records. We leave in Jan. for a U.S. tour
Band/artist history
Blue Ribbon was started by Jon and Steve in 1997 under the name “How to Draw Robotech.” This line up featured Steve on guitar and Farfisa as well as vocals and Jon on drums and a little Yamaha keyboard. Dawn Bossman joined the group to play ms-10 and to add some additional vocals. The name was changed to Blue Ribbon and this line up played shows regularly in NYC during 2002. Bryan joined the group in Spring 2003 to play bass; followed shortly by Ben Gworek on drums. This line-up rehearsed and played sporadically through 2003 with half the band living in NYC and half in Providence, RI. During this period Blue Ribbon contributed tracks to three compilations: “Hear You Soon Vol. 1” on Blue Bell Records, “UAC4” on Plastiq Musiq, and “WXJL 2: Music for the Masses” on Ninthwave Records. Blue Ribbon broke up briefly early in 2004. In Spring 2004 Jon and Steve moved from NYC to Providence, RI and re-formed Blue Ribbon. This is the beginning of the current line-up. The band did play one show under the name “Sky Lion” with a more “rock” feel to the music but decided shortly after to go back to the Blue Ribbon name and sound. Blue Ribbon’s sound is a combination of synth-driven melodies, thoughtful arrangements, danceable beats and distinct catchy vocals. Blue Bell Records is releasing their debut full length entitled, “Another Time” late November and the group is following up the release with a U.S tour winter 2005.
Have you performed in front of an audience?
We play locally in Providence and around the northeast. U.S. tour in Jan. 2005
Your musical influences
james figurine, human league, joy division, new order, sweden, ride, wake, roxy music, hollAnd, men without hats, hall and oates, psychedelic furs
What equipment do you use?
Roland Jupiter 6 Roland Juno 60 Korg Mono/Poly Korg MS2000 couple of steinberger knock-offs 60’s rogers 4 piece drum set w/ triggers for electribe sounds
Anything else?
HEADBUTT THE DJ... PORTAMENTO, DOOSH BAG... YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO DO A WHEELIE... DALACE, “LIVE THE DREAM”
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Brain:Blood:Volüm - Real Name: Geoff Dargan (website)
brain:blood:volum: A Brief History
brain:blood:volum is an industrial-based electronic solo experiment featuring Geoff Dargan. The project began in the mid ‘90’s when Geoff, then living in Nashville, TN, grew weary of the various failed “musical entities” he had been a part of (no offense to all the very cool people who were involved in said ‘entities’). So he decided to forge ahead, setting off on his own, taking elements of his favorite musical genres and combining them in creative new ways.
brain:blood:volum was developed in part as a response to the way media, politics, religion and many other cultural and philosophical factors influence both the way we see ourselves and the way we see others. Much of the music Geoff creates contains various AM/FM radio and television samples (often warped beyond recognition) in some cases they actually provide structure to the songs. This is an attempt to take the harsh, sterile environment of the airwaves and infuse them with emotion. Whether it has been a success or not is still open to debate...
Geoff now lives in Seattle, WA, and continues to work on music under the guise of b:b:v, as well as his other continuing projects, The Devouring Element (ambient/darkwave) and head.hangs.low (neo-folk/”indie-ustrial” acoustic music). He is also the sleepwalker behind the new indie experimental record label, Parasomnic Records, which will soon feature CD releases of all his musical projects, in addition to releases by musical cohorts Anaphylaxis, Hollydrift, Mayfairgrin and Kava.
Feel free to email Geoff with any questions, comments or conspiracy theories.
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Britannika - Members: Randall Stephens and Robert Cave, Jr. (Jetenderpaul) (website) (fan website)
To contact Britannika, email: jaredmiller@postoffice.worldnet.att.net
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Brus - Real Name: Andreas Wallgren (first website) (second website) (2007 site)
Brus info:
Brus is a swedish electronic pop act, with me - Andreas Wallgren, being the sole member. A website is being made, but don’t forget to visit Brus at Myspace, where you can listen to full length songs, watch a video, talk to me, and of course make a lot of friends.
Contact:
brusandreas@gmail.com
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Caleb Allen – Contributed one song, “When Night Falls Among The Thorns.” Possibly works in the Christian church.
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Candy Claws - Members: Hank Bertholf, Karen Hover, Ryan Hover. (blogspot)
Lasted from 2009 to 2013. Now known as “Sound of Ceres.” Opened for Beach House. As of 2022, Jon Sonnenberg and Jacob Graham currently work with Sound of Ceres.
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bio:
A new synthesizer band from New York, NY. Strictly voltage controlled instruments.
Cascading Slopes is the new project of Jacob Graham, founding member and synthesist of indie-pop group The Drums. He began his professional music career a decade ago touring and playing synthesizers for the seminal Christian synth-pop band Joy Electric.
With Cascading Slopes, Jacob returns to his roots, once again surrounded by radiant, intricately layered synthesizers crafted in the fashion and discipline of the great synthesizer pioneers of old. Electronic music’s propensity for the experimental and the avant-garde is all but absent here, replaced instead with concise songs arranged comfortably in the popular folk style.
In concert Cascading Slopes is a fully realized electronic chamber orchestra with the assistance of David Barnhart and René Pérez on synthesizers and Caleb Graham providing live electronic rhythms.
(lasted from 2013 to 2018, —failed to make a second album)
Opened up for Sound of Ceres in 2016 (Philadelphia and DC dates).
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Cause & Effect - Members: Rob Rowe, Sean Rowley (RIP). (website)
bio:
Robert Rowe and Sean Rowley formed Cause and Effect in 1989 a couple of years after an earlier line-up had failed and the two had gone their separate ways. In the first incarnation, Rowe had only played guitar and had yet to discover a passion for singing. The time apart allowed them to learn a lot more about making music so that when they got back together, the songs came much more quickly than with original line up. Choosing to concentrate on writing and recording instead of playing the limited live outlets their hometown Sacramento had to offer, it didn’t take long for Rowe and Rowley to get together a strong demo tape which was heard by someone from Exile Records a brand new label based in Northern California. Soon after, a contract was signed and C&E headed into the studio.
Rowe and Rowley recorded the single, What Do You See, at Music Annex in San Francisco. It was remixed by Tony Garcia and Rowley and then released as a 12” single. This single was released to DJ’s across the country. On the strength of the song’s melody, the great remixes and the help of independent dance promoter, Peter Knego, What Do You See reached No. 8 on Billboard’s Dance Chart. The success prompted Exile to request that the band get into the studio to produce a full length album.
The result of a marathon 2 week session yielded Cause and Effect’s self produced and self titled album which was released in January 1990. Exile enlisted the help of Nastymix records for national distribution. With Rowe on lead vocals and guitars and Rowley on piano, synthesizers, and background vocals, the album blended traditional song writing with the latest technology. The second single, You Think You Know Her, was released soon after with more remixing by Rowley and Garcia. Once again, Cause and Effect had a club hit on their hands with the single making it to No. 9 on Billboard’s Dance Chart.
Cause and Effect were offered an opening slot on an upcoming Information Society tour which they were quick to accept. Wishing to add to the dynamics of their live show, they recruited the help of long time friend and drummer, Evan Parandes. A month later, they headed out with engineer, Brady Green, in a borrowed van on the coast to coast tour. During the tour, radio started to catch on to what was going on in the clubs and C&E received their first air play. The album’s sales steadily increased until 50,000 copies were sold nationwide.
After the tour, Evan Parandes, decided to pursue a career and stopped touring with Cause and Effect. Rowe and Rowley asked Richard Shepherd, a well known free lance drummer to fill in until a permanent replacement could be found. After only a couple of weeks of playing together, Rowe and Rowley realized their replacement had to be Shepherd and they asked him to sign on as a full time member. Brady Green left the position of engineer to pursue a college degree so Ed Williams then took over to mix the live shows.
The success of their debut album attracted the attention of SRC/Zoo Entertainment a division of BMG Music who wanted to re-release the album with new artwork and the title Another Minute, taken from the song of the same title. With the re-release of the single and months of relentless promotion by the band and Zoo staff, You Think You Know Her, Cause and Effect’s popularity steadily increased and they received air play on alternative and pop radio stations all across the nation. The single steadily climbed Billboard’s Hot 100 for weeks peaking in the top 20. Cause and Effect once again successfully toured and U.S. and for the first time, Mexico. Sales soon reached over 300,000 copies.
In the fall of 1992, they were asked to tour again with Information Society. After only six shows, the band was hit by a tragedy. On November 12, 1992 during sound check for a show in Mineapolis, Sean Rowley suffered a severe asthma attack which resulted in heart failure. Devastated, the band and crew cancelled the rest of the tour and returned to California, believing Cause and Effect to be over.
As a tribute to Sean, Robert and Richard agreed to play an acoustic set that the band had been scheduled to play at KROQ’s Acoustic Christmas. The audience responded with such support that it convinced them to continue.
Rob called upon Keith Milo, a friend from Los Angeles with the song writing and programming talent to fill the void left by Rowley. Rob, Keith and Rich began work on a new album by recording demos at Rob’s house in downtown Sacramento. They wrote new songs and finished up the incomplete work of Rowley and Rowe’s earlier sessions. The tapes were sent to several producers one of which was Martyn Phillips who had produced several bands that had inspired C&E including Erasure, Jesus Jones and The Beloved. Phillips liked what he heard and requested that the band fly to London to record.
Over the course of several months, Phillips and the band creatively balanced acoustic and electronic instruments to produce a pop-alternative album titled Trip that was rich in sonic textures and emotion. The time in London had given band time to find out who they were and what direction Cause and Effect’s sound would go. Milo created many of the sounds with Phillips’ large collection of analogue synths giving the music a much warmer sound than the previous release. With the addition of Shepherd’s drumming and programming, the rhythms were more visceral and more mature. The extensive touring in support of the debut had strengthened Rowe’s voice giving him more dynamic control of tone and emotion. After months of hard work picking up the pieces, C&E had become a band again.
Back in the US, Zoo released the single, It’s Over Now, which was immediately added to the play lists of alternative stations and reached top 10 on Radio & Record’s Alternative chart. The band shot a video with director Camron Casey in Mexico and received air play on MTV’s 120 Minutes and Alternative Nation. In support of Trip, Cause and Effect toured sold out clubs in the U.S. and Canada selling more than 100,000 records on the strength of It’s Over Now.
After the tour, C&E got to work on what would be their third release for Zoo/BMG but didn’t get into the studio before Zoo’s budget, roster and staff were cut by new partners, Volcano Entertainment.
Not wasting any time, C&E; made plans to record some of the tracks they had written for their next Zoo release. In the spring/summer of 1997, they met in Los Angeles and recorded Innermost Station. The nine song self produced CD was released November 18th on the new label Liquefaction.
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Celluloide - Members: Darkleti, Member U-0176, Patryck Holdwem (website)
French synthpop band formed in 2000 in Marseille, France. Still active as of 2024. Joy Electric covered “People Like Me.”
2003 bio:
Celluloide explores both sides of their “experimental-synthpop project” presenting an alternative version of the title track of each mCD: The concept of the experimental project is to keep the vocal part from one version to another to preserve the synthpop heart of the song, and to reconstruct entirely a new song from the very essential melodies.
Though all the synthpop versions act in the same old-school fashioned electronics, the experimental tracks enlarge the electronic horizons of Celluloide from modern danceable beats to atmospheric ambiance...
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Children Of The Inquisition / The Weather Inside - Real Name: Yesha Cohen (website)
bio:
Yesha Cohen: vocals, piano, cello, guitar, percussion, programming, laptop.
In his words: The Weather Inside began in 2000 as a project to express all of the things I find difficult sharing with people through various relationships. The human experience is dynamic and is deeply part of what makes each and every human unique, the everyday feelings of anxiety, joy, happiness, despair are a part of the lives we live. I like to look at those feelings as weather taking place in a variety of organic environments. Each day the weather can be quite different from the next... often times I found that cloudy days can in fact be the most colorful. The lulls we encounter in our fast-lane lives force us to become introspective and count the minutes as if hours. In this space we realize who we are... not as career persons or daily commuters in a materialist society, but as canvases awaiting a divine brush, to be colored brilliantly, to be painted perpetually. Like The Weather Inside, sight, sound, feeling, taste, colour, and scents are always changing. The result: a colorful year.
Yesha Cohen, is the glue of The Weather Inside. Yesha has been recording his music in various ways since the age of 13 when he discovered the guitar. Since then he has learned to play several different instruments and has played with a host of bands such as Faithmassive, Sadbot, Autumn Vortex, and Children of the Inquisition. Yesha likes to cook Indian food and read a lot of books, and can also read and write in Hebrew and speak a little Arabic & French. He dabbles in painting and indie film. Yesha is inspired by music, religion, cognitive sciences, and the human experience.
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Column 5 – Members: Blake Crawford, Darrin Davis, Micah Banes (website)
bio:
Column 5 began in 1999 when founding member Blake Crawford was unable to find enough Christian music in the style he enjoyed (Synth-Rock/Pop), so he decided to create his own. Being a Sci-Fi fan, and having always liked music that told stories, he began by developing the Column 5 futuristic background story to use as a base for the band’s stories. After 18 months writing the lyrics, Blake was ready for the next phase.
Early 2001, Blake spent 6 months building a recording studio in his home, then placed ads at all the local churches for a keyboardist. Micah Banes signed on in July 2001, and they spent the next year composing the songs for the first CD. Once the composing was completed, they were ready for the next phase.
Early 2002 they began the search for a vocalist, adding Darrin Davis to the band in April 2002. After recording the vocal tracks they released their debut CD, “Faith On the Line” in December, 2002.
Column 5’s debut CD “Faith On The Line” tells the story of a Military Chaplain in the year 2079.
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bio:
.. I greatly desire for everyone who comes in contact with me or my music to know that all I do is done out of a Love for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I believe that the one God of all sent His only son into this world so that sin may be done away with once and for all, and that if we trust in Him, He freely gives everlasting and eternal life to all..
Later helped Flashlight Party and helped operate Plastiq Musiq.
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Dawnfine - Members: Marcus Paulo, Jim Oliver, Jethro Mendonç.
Brazillian synthpop band known for their only album, “Imperfect Thoughts.”
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deepBlue Dream - Real Name: Matt Baker. Only has one song, “Do You Remember?” No connections with the 80s band. Perhaps a one-shot joke track.
6650 Rock Island Road #402
Springfield, VA, 22150.
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Dietrichs – Members: Liam Murtagh and Michael Patterson (website) (mirror of website)
2020 bandcamp bio:
The most expensive car my family ever owned was a green, 2001 Hyundai Accent. It was a sweet, basic car with roll-up windows and working AC - a real dang treasure of a car. It must have been 2003, or 4, or 5 when I begged my mom to let me borrow our magical Hyundai to drive from Tucson to Phoenix. I was dying to check out SKALAPOLOOZA 3, an AZ Ska show Rude Ryan was putting on. I was a pretty responsible square of a kid (I was in my early 20s), but I was still a little shocked when mom agreed to let me go. I must have skanked back to my room with glee upon her approval. Yes, I still lived at *home and yes, I planned my best ska outfit with pompadouric visions of BIG hair.
*There is nothing wrong with living at home. In fact, bills are terrible. Stay home. FOREVER.
I enjoyed all the boring scenery on the drive from Tucson to Phoenix with minimal nervousness; hell, I was freeeeeeeeeee. The 2 hour journey took me deep into downtown Phoenix to a space called Phix. It was an art gallery operated by what I would now refer to as a “moody dad type.” His name was Lee. #swoon.
The building had tall black walls that made me feel a little uneasy to be honest. What was beyond these intimidating walls and why were they so tall? My heart raced as I paid my cheap entry and got stamped in at the door, but a smile soon stretched across my face as I entered. There were pimply faced people decked out in checkers, chucks, and vintage everywhere. I realized I was among my people, Ska Kids.
I stood in the back in awe of my newfound heaven. A band named Fayuca was halfway into a Sublime-like set (no shade; I loved Sublime)(ok, some shade, why did we like Sublime?). I got the sudden urge to do a nice and easy skank to a sweet song they were playing. Dorkily nervous, I launched myself into the rhythm. It felt ever so nice.
Fayuca finished up and a band called The Dietrichs began to load in. I had heard the name “Dietrichs” a lot in my tiny ska circle and was ready to check them out for myself. The hot controversy surrounding the band was centered around the question, “Are they even a ska band?” Seeing them was partially the reason why I decided on making the trip. I was ready to officially hash out the controversy that plagued my ska heart for weeks. I’m kidding. I didn’t really care. All my friends loved them and I needed to know them for myself (Hi, Emily!).
Load in took a minute as they had quite a few members playing horns, a gigantic keyboard, and the typical guitar, bass, and drums setup. The crowd grew larger as we waited. I could feel the energy shifting. Then the vocalist walked on...
She was decked out in a full look, head to toe. She looked tough, unafraid to stare down the crowd and ready to smack down if things got outta control. I felt nervous and excited just looking at her. It was clear there wasn’t a single nerve in her body. She stepped up to the mic and greeted us with a simple, “Hi.” The band immediately broke into CHAOS. Every member struck, blew, or pounded at their instrument like it was the end of our lives. Bodies moved, fists pumped, vocals GANGED and SHOUTED at the tops of lungs. It was happening. I was at a DIETRICHS show.
Sweat poured down my face as I moved along ferociously with the crowd in mayhem! We shot our knees up in unison during “Youth and Consequences.” We pumped our fists and screamed the chorus to “Keep on dancing.” We hopped and hooted along to “Let’s go,” and when Liz went full scream on “Human Fly Trap,” my jaw dropped to the floor. I felt as if my youth had exploded with joy and intensity and launched my existence into another fucking dimension. This excited rage grew wilder as Steven (Trumpet and Keys) and Liz (Lead vocalist) manically performed the end of “Bats” with Steven convulsing on the floor while screeching “They’re coming - baby baby - they’re coming!” A silence fell over the room at the song’s conclusion, then Steven shot back up to the keys to play the intro to “One Final Stab.” We lost our shit collectively singing along “Oh yeah oh yeah oh yeah - alright alright alright.” God. Damn. This band could play. This band could perform. This band could convince us that nothing else held any importance over what we were collectively feeling in that room. No reservations. No worries. A Moment For Us. I was floored.
Amidst all the chaos came a moment that solidified my lifetime Dietrichs fandom. The tempo slowed and the lyrics started, “My fingers trace letters carved in cold stone. I just can’t bare to sleep in our home.” Our arms locked together in the crowd. We swayed back and forth emoting along with Liz, “Goodbye, goodbye, gooooodbyyyyyyeeeeeeee all the sunny days always end in black.” In that moment, I felt loved.
I’ll end this lengthy memory with 3 additional memories etched into my heart:
1) The Betsey Johnson Fashion Show (I still have a photo of Liz’s custom dress)
2) Seeing Dietrichs play the Marquee (We felt so proud)
3) The Balloon drop at the Violenlty CD Release show (Still makes me tear up)
I love you forever, Dietrichs. Thank you.
- XO JJS
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dj reLic - Real Name: Ben Prelich. One-shot experimental track.
email: djrelic@djcentral.com.
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Domi - Real Name: Jonathan Rose. Wrote one track, “Severed Truth.” (website)
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Dreamship – Real Name: Chris Stewart. Possible prog-rock Yes fan. Based in Williamsburg, Virginia.
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Electronic Dreaming - Real Name: Justin Griffin (website)
email: cybeminja00@hotmail.com
P.O. Box 1626 Winston, OR, 97496
Associated with Kelson Herr’s Greenhorn Records.
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Elkland - Members: Jon Pierce, Joel Tarpin, Adam Kessler, Jesse Pierce (website)
Opening act for Erasure during their 2005 North America tour. Broke up, formed Goat Explosion, and then The Drums.
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Energist / Earth Fault - Real Name: Jared Silvia (website)
bio:
Jared Silvia is the main composer in energist. He programs the synthesizers, sequences the music and beats, and writes the lyrics. Email jared at Energistboy@aol.com
…
The “Energist” name was active between 1997 and 2001. He created synth-heavy pop tracks, a few of which were released on compilations through the label Plastiq Musiq.
Owner of Circuit Church records.
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Fine China - Real Name: Rob Withem (website)
bio:
Fine China, “You Make Me Hate Music” (2002)
Many of the greatest artists in rock have been musical reactionaries. Fueled with passion for a more innocent or exciting era, these are people who were fed up with what is contemporaneously thought to be popular. They despise the smug radio pablum surrounding them, being played relentlessly on the radio and in LCD videos on TV. The punk revolution in itself was a response to the mire of mellowed out, instant hipness, caustically inspiring a new wave of musicians more interested in songs of pure pop joy and sincere viewpoints espoused than boring riffs and vain posturing.
“We don’t really care about styles so much,” Fine China lead vocalist/guitarist Rob Withem says. “Just songs that suck. There’s nothing worse than that.”
So Fine China has made it their mission to bring back the art of the transcendent rock song, best exemplified so far by their second album for Tooth & Nail Records, “You Make Me Hate Music.” From the opening melancholy anthem “Hug Every Friend” to the resplendent closer, “Forget The Experts,” the sophomore release features ten shining tracks of blissed-out Anglophiliac new guitar rock.
Fine China hail from Phoenix, Arizona, where they’ve received much love and respect for their previous recordings and performances. Fine China has opened for Pedro the Lion and The Faint, and toured with Joy Electric, Map, and Starflyer 59. Speaking of that last, critically-acclaimed band, SF59 leader Jason Martin is responsible for co-producing this follow-up and the same six-string organic-celestial vibe from his 2001 masterpiece “Leave Here A Stranger” can be heard all over “You Make Me Hate Music” as well.
“Our last record kind of polarized people because of the electro vibe,” Rob says. “But this one is a guitar record, and everyone likes guitars.” Even though the band line-up has stayed pretty much the same since the beginning including Joshua Block on keyboards, Thom Walsh on drums, and Greg Markov on bass “You Make Me Hate Music” breaks out of the keyboard-based “futurist retro” sound of their T&N debut, delivering what should be universally accepted modern rock. “We’re hoping it will open a lot of doors for us, and that a lot more people will hear the songs than have before.”
Just like Starflyer 59, Fine China actually did receive a great deal of press coverage for last year’s “When The World Sings,” though, including positive reviews in Magnet, Alternative Press, and many other mags and zines. Hopefully, this should pave the way for “YMMHM” to get the acclaim it deserves.
The band’s humble working class daily existences don’t betray Fine China’s intelligent, emotionally transparent pop. Rob, the group’s primary songwriter, was raised on Top 40 till he discovered “artsy alternative bands” Dinosaur Jr. and Smashing Pumpkins, but then came upon bands Joy Electric and Starflyer 59. “They really clicked with me because they were writing these really sad pretty songs I hadn’t heard before,” Rob explains.
The topics Rob addresses in Fine China songs sweep a broad range of human experience and engagement, from “feeling bad about being critical of people” (”Boo To The Freaks”) to “being broke” (”The Unsuccessful”), as well as “fears of losing friends” (”Hug Every Friend”) and “other people bringing you down” (”The World Wants Me Dead”). All of these are serious, potentially discomforting topics, but from the humor shown in the titles to the witty turns of phrase in the sharply written lyrics, combined with the ecstatic craft of the tunes, make the songs a joyful listening experience, no matter how sad the topic.
"You Make Me Hate Music" is going to make a lot of people love music, specifically the music of Fine China.
General Mail to the band: finechina@finechina.cc
Booking Mail to the band: booking@finechina.cc
Tour Booking: Faultline Talent: faultlinetalent@yahoo.com
Publicity: Skyscraper Media: skyscrapermedia@hotmail.com
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Fire Fly - Real Name: Mark Broomhead (website) (website #2)
bio:
From their formation in 1998 Fire Fly have built up a reputation as being the UK scene’s premier pioneers of impossible-to-pigeon-hole hard rock music.
Drums and Percussion (hitting stuff). Joined Easter 2001. He fitted in straight away and in a matter of weeks was recording “B4A”. Ben is a qualified drum teacher and before focussing all of his energy into Fire Fly regularly sessioned and toured for a variety of acts from jazz/funk to full orchestras.
Keyboards, Programming, Sampling, Looping, Popping, squeaking etc…..
Has been known to disappear into a room with a keyboard not to be seen again for days. Classically trained, brings many of the secret ingredients to the patented Fire Fly recipe. Finger lickin' Good.
Vocals and Guitars. Served apprenticeship with as bassist with Doom Metal band Seventh Angel. The voice, a man prepared to soil himself to reach the note. People ask how so much power can come from only one guitar? Well he is the man with answer, but he is keeping it close to his chest.
Bass Guitar. Has also been known to make occasional vocal outbursts, lets not call it singing. Served his apprenticeship as lead vocalist and bass guitarist with thrash band Detritus. If you want big bottom, he's got it. Some say a madman others say "yup, a madman". Born with the name the hair came later.
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Flashlight Party - Members: Caleb Graham, Jacob Graham, Justin Jolley, Marina Robel. (myspace)
Member Since 8/4/2005
Band Members - Justin Jolley: guitar
Marina Robelle: synthesizer
Caleb Graham: drums
Jacob Graham: vocals
Influences - the Smiths, Joy Division, Kraftwerk
Sounds Like - Soviet, OMD, New Order
Record Label - plastiq musiq
Type of Label - Indie
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Freezepop - Liz Enthusiasm (Jussi Gamache), The Other Sean T. Drinkwater, and Kasson Crooker. (websites)
bio:
The summer of ‘99 was a hot one in Boston. Many fruity frozen treats were consumed. The only way to relieve the heat was to form a synthpop band, so that’s what we did. Freezepop is the union of Liz Enthusiasm, a stylish songstress with a cute chihuahua and mob ties to The Archenemy Record Company, the Duke of Belgian Waffles, programmer extraordinaire of the qy-70 and bound concubine to Splashdown; and the other Sean T. Drinkwater, a powerhouse of synths and vocoder, who is often confused with the original Sean T. Drinkwater (of Lifestyle and Archenemy Record Company fame), but is actually his genetically-engineered clone. Freezepop were born out of the glory dayz of synth bands like Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, and the Human League, but we have our tentacles wrapped around the future. We are hip enough for hipsters and nerdy enough for nerds.
Our upcoming release, Hi-Five My Remix, features new material as well as remixes by Stephan Groth from Apoptygma Berzerk/Fairlight Children, the Future Bible Heroes, Soviet, and more. A full-length CD is forthcoming early next year. Our debut album, Freezepop Forever, was released by the Archenemy Record Company in early 2001, and has been licensed by Elefant, a Madrid-based indiepop label, for release in Europe, Asia, and South America. .
Freezepop won Best US Band honor at the 2002 American Synthpop Awards after picking up Best New Band the previous year. Our songs are featured in the Sony PlayStation 2 music video games Frequency, Amplitude, and Downhill Domination. We have played on the Electroclash 2 Tour, as well as with bands such as Cibo Matto and Add N to (X), and have performed in Europe and throughout the US.
A typical day in the life of a Freezepop song: Liz wakes up at the crack of dawn and begins brewing a fresh pot of lyrics, sometimes innocent, sometimes less-than-innocent, and sometimes in another language and making very little sense. Meanwhile, the Duke drops the blippy drums off at school and swings by the cleaners to get the synthpads chorused up for the dinner party. later in the day, the Other Sean is out walking the vocoder and stops by the delicatessen for a fat bass sandwich. Later that evening after a long day, the Duke tucks song into bed and goes to read the latest issue of Scientific American.
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Futurewolves - (myspace)
Ohio-based synth jam band. From 2010 to 2012.
…video they are in:
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Ganymede - Members: David Friede and Patrick Runkle. (website)
bio:
Ganymede’s innovative electronic pop music is a sophisticated hybrid of vintage analog synths and the latest in modern production technology. With one foot planted firmly in the revered sound of synth pioneers like Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder and one foot in the shimmering electronic future, Ganymede has blazed its own path through the jungle of indie electronica.
With three albums, two singles, and numerous compilation appearances under their belts, Patrick Runkle and David Friede have proven themselves as producers, with the pulsating beats of songs like “Neon Rain” and “Hong Kong,” as songwriters, with the clever innovation of tracks like “This Wasn’t the First Time” and “Legacy,” and as performers, with shows at Synthcon in Hollywood, at Electroluxe (San Diego) and at Satellite and Transmission (L.A.).
Outburn Magazine recently called the band “bright electro pop stars that have an even brighter future.” Influential Belgian music magazine Side-Line said this about Space and Time, Ganymede’s third album: “Where the duo score so highly is in their knack of
turning out instantly memorable tunes and this is much in evidence throughout here ... if you’re looking for top-class analog synthpop this is where it’s at.”
Patrick Runkle (vocals, synths, programming) lives in Brooklyn. David Friede (synths, programming) lives in the Iron City of Pittsburgh.
Click here to email Ganymede.
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Gary Flanagan (website) (tripod website)
bio:
Gary Flanagan began to experiment with sounds as a teenager. A series of early recordings, done while he was 17 and still a high school student, showed little indication of the synthpop that he would one day make.
“It was mostly just experimental sounscapes back then,” says Flanagan, “I had no notion of songcraft or structure. I basically threw together a bunch of sounds through a mixer, recorded it to cassette and called myself TechNoir.” (This moniker was inspired by the night club featured in The Terminator.) A few years later, Gary would start to call himself Beatbox 81.
It was around this time that he began to cultivate an appreciation for songcraft. Early demos at this time were met by harsh rejection by every record label that Flanagan approached. “In hindsight, this doesn’t surprise me at all,” says Flanagan, “I think the A+R people probably got a huge laugh out of those terrible songs.” This was around 1993.
Having started out as an aspiring actor (he almost landed a gig in a beer commercial while living in Toronto), Gary soon turned his back on the acting community. “It just wasn’t enjoyable anymore,” he says. “I felt that there were so many politics, and at the end of the day, all I had was rejection. Most actors are starved for attention, and will do anything to hog the limelight. That’s just not me. I figured that if I pursued a career in music, I may still be surrounded by rejection, but at least I’ll still have the music.”
Gary locked himself in his bedroom studio for hours at a time, cranking out tunes fast and furiously. In the beginning, it was only friends and family who got to listen to Gary's synthetic opuses. "The response I got from them was encouraging, so I felt like it was time to get my music out there. Most people seemed to be genuinely charmed by the fact that I was doing sincere, '80s flavoured new wave on flea market synthesizers." Soon, word of Gary's unique approach began to spread.
In early 1999, Gary was inspired to start Nightwaves, a fanzine dedicated to all forms of electronic music. The beginnings were humble, but soon readership was worldwide. “That little zine opened up some amazing doors for me...it’s cool what some photocopied pieces of paper can do for you!” Past interviewees of Nightwaves have included Stephen Singleton (ABC), Ray Lynch, Robert Moog, Tracey Howe (Rational Youth), Joe Vizvary (Images in Vogue), Shades of Grey, Cosmicity, Stefan Doroschuk (Men Without Hats), Color Theory, Freezepop, Ron Mael (Sparks) and many others.
It was also in 1999 that Gary hooked up with David Richards, ‘80s afficianado and publisher of Lexicon, an acclaimed magazine dedicated to the ‘80s new wave and modern synthpop scene. David offered to release Gary’s first demo CD-r, Anthems For the Young At Heart, on his then fledgling Ninthwave label, and response to this odd CD-r was positive.
Gary soon began to cultivate a small following on the underground synthpop scene. His followup CD-r, Another Coin in the Daydream Machine, was released by Ninthwave in 2000. It was Gary’s friend C.S. Graves who offered to release Dressed in Black in 2000, a collection showcasing Gary’s more dark and obscure musical side. This CD-r was a minor hit on local campus radio and showed a side of Gary that few synthpop fans were aware of. Gary also formed a side project with Mister Graves called Dream Sequencer.
In 2001 Gary began to play live. His debut performance was at Electrobash in Fredericton, New Brunswick in the fall of that year. Gary was also one of the show organizers, and is a founder of BFM Productions, together with Jenn Brayton and Rod Marquart. Gary also formed another side project with Mr. Marquart, the quirky and bizarre collective known as Pillbox.
“I had such an amazing time at Electrobash,” says Gary, “it was magic.” A series of further live appearances are scheduled for the remainder of this year.
In 2001, Gary was taken under the wing of Cohaagen Music. Future Fashion, his fourth CD of material--and the first to be an official, pressed album--will be released in October, and production has been handled by the acclaimed synthpop duo Ganymede. “This disc is a little present for all the ‘80s children out there. We wrote some new songs and made full-fledged productions out of some of my demos. I’m sure that everyone will enjoy it!”
The music of Gary Flanagan is a celebration of the warmer side of electronic music. It is catchy and positive, simple and direct. It is the attitude of 1981, an orchestration of 4/4 beats, night clubs, boys and girls and electronic sincerity. Turn it on and take a trip back...
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Gentle Touch Of Beauty - Real Name: Derric Barnett
Unknown. Not to be confused with “Gentle Touch.”
—
bio:
Everyone makes mistakes. We’ve made a lot of them. One thing we did correctly was to shoot Elkland in the face. We scattered Elkland’s ashes in the Gulf of Mexico. Jonathan from New York’s Elkland and Jacob from Orlando’s Flashlight Party have RE-united after 5 long years, to RE-form Goat Explosion, because...HOPE IS ALIVE!
We have just finished recording our new ep “Hope Is Alive” in Williamsburg New York. Release date TBA.
See ya, Stupid.
mail@goatexplosion.net
646.243.0897
attn, Goat Explosion
75 Franklin st.3rd floor
New York, NY
10013
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Goodnight Star - Members: Jesse Carrigan, Rusty Arnold, Adam Cochrun, and George Kazaklis (website)
goodnight star is:
all music and voice: jesse carrigan
helping live and website tech: adam cochrun
bio:
the band first started out as me, jesse carrigan, rusty arnold, and george kazaklis. after finishing college all the guys went to their homes in other states leaving me all by my lonesome. on our first record we worked w/ ronnie martin of plastiq musiq and joy electric. the album had nice distrobution, but didn’t sell well. being a little young and inexperienced musically and in the scene (any scene) had a lot to do with it. after marrying, having a little girl, and getting a more flexible job, i’m ready to kick things in gear a little more. i am influenced by many genres of music, i really hope to create something fresh, and maybe sometimes a little uncomfortable. if you have any question feel free to email me at miniaturerecords@hotmail.com
Minature Records (website)
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Half-Handed Cloud - Real Name: John Ringhofer.
Indie act since 1999.
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Half O’ Port - ??? - Members: “R.Hugo” and “Michelle.”
One-shot project. “White label.” Only recorded one song, “I’m Game For Lunch.”
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Heliocentra – Real Name: “Jester” / Kim Bowers. Wrote one track, “Eleven.” Based in New Jersey. (website) (Church open mic site)
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House Of Wires - Members: Jon Sonnenberg and Robert Gutschow (website)
Formed after Pivot Clowj. Later went solo.
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In A Lonely Place – Real Name: Darryl Mitchell
1998 Dark Wave music project from Darryl Mitchell of Upside Down Room / Pony Express.
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Inorder – Real Name: Samuel Coronado
Only wrote one track, “Streets of Gold.”
email: “glitch_synthesis@yahoo.com”
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Iris / Forgiving Iris - Members: Reagan Jones, Matt Morris, Andrew Sega. (website)
bio:
forgiving iris began in 1993 when two members of a college electronic music class realized they had identical tastes in music. the band began playing covers of their favorite songs at various clubs in town and eventually started opening for national acts with their new set of original material.
in 1999, forgiving iris changed their name to iris to better allow for future solo projects by the members of the band.
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I Satellite – Real Name: Rod MacQuarrie (website)
bio:
Take a seat in the autodrone for a retro-futuristic glide through the world of tomorrow. From the clangy robot pArade, to the poppy bUbbleboy, the pulsing autoMat, to the brooding out of spaCe, I SATELLITE blend electronics and emotion at every turn :creating a streamlined view of the future reminiscent of 70s Kraftwerk & 80s New Wave.
I SATELLITE | AUTO:MATIC is available now through Amazon.com, A Different Drum, CDBaby, CDStreet, and JAM Recordings, or directly from the artist at order@isatellite.info.
Also available, the limited edition 5 track AUTO: EP. Strictly limited to 100 signed copies. Includes outtakes, alternate versions, and a cover of Alphaville’s A Victory of Love.
Our web site is currently under construction. Check back in a couple of weeks for more information. In the meantime, there’s a free MP3 hidden on this page to tide you over.
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Associated with Greenhorn records. (link)
bio: classic synthpop for the new century. Based in Texas.
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Jagdish Lives – Real Name: Josh Jones
Uknown. Wrote one song, “Late Night Carlinville V2.01.”
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Jamie Long
2009 solo act.
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Jason Grant – (website)
bio:
I was born on May the 19th in the year of 1985. I never really grew up in a Church, we would visit a Church here and there but never joined. In my second grade year of school I was diagnosed with type1 diabetes. The only question in my mind for the next year was why did God make me have diabetes? I got really interested in music in my sixth grade year of school, my cousin had a tape by a band called DC Talk. One listen and I was hooked. So I found out that dcTalk was performing at a Billy Graham crusade and of course I went. I had a awesome time but at the end of the message by Rev. Graham, I felt something drawing me to come forward. I had accepted Jesus Christ as my savior that very night that I thought I was going to a rock and roll concert. In my seventh grade year I was baptized and I joined a Southern Baptist Church. After my conversion I totally stopped cursing and I wanted to live my life the way Christ would in the spirit of the new W.W.J.D. trend. My bold move to do that bought me tons of persecution in which I left public school and went to a school by the name of Shining Light Baptist Academy for my eight grade year. The school had so many rules and so much hypocrisy that by the end of the year I had turned very bitter I totally got away from reading my Bible and praying on a day by day basis. After that I went back to public school where I was in the same situation I was in the last time I was in public school. So one third through my tenth grade year I
left and started attending Northwest Baptist School where went well however I felt like I needed a school where I could be with more teenagers. Now I attend Oak Level Baptist academy of Stokesdale, NC and I live every day for Christ and I will go where he leads me to take my music.
I am more than willing to perform at your Church or organization:
If you would like to help me spread the word through my music please contact me by
calling (336)643-1759 or e-mail me at jason@christianstreetteam.com
I am looking for a record label with national distribution:
If you are interested in a recording contract with me contact me using the above info, I am really dedicated to this cause and I know that God will provide me with open doors.
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Jyro Xhan - Real Name: Jeff Lavilla
In the band, “Mortal.”
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Joshua Bourke (website)
"Your music is very intense and we do like it. I took the tape with me
while driving by car and I enjoyed very much listening to it."
by Oli Rosch of Hyperium and Hypnobeat Records
Joshua Bourke - Regenerated - (Cassette)"Debut release from American
solo artist Bourke, which is now available in the States via STAR CRASH RECORDS as a CD. His brand of electronic music which is EBM with a
commercial edge, lies somewhere between the catchy songs of Depeche
Mode mixed with touches of experimentation with sounds that bring to
mind Fad Gadget. The material is definitely being aimed at a wider
audience, with more resources for production and promotion who knows."
by BIZARRE issue number 9
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Joy Electric - Real name: Ronnie Martin (website) (fan website)
bio:
ronnie martin - Synthesizers & Singing
jeff cloud - Synthesizers
Joy Electric is a christian synth band signed to BEC records. They have three albums and three eps. They are now finishing a maxi-single entitled “children of the Lord” witch will be available in jan. they are also working on another full length albun entitled “christian songs” wich will be done around march. ronnie has a record lable called plastiq musiq and jeff has a lable called velvet blue music.
Correspondence: Joy Electric P.O. Box 30164 Santa Ana, CA 92735
Booking: Velvet Blue Booking (714) 963-3521
Concert Line: (714) 768-JOYE
“brings a smile both to your face and your feet.”
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Leiahdorus – Members: Jason Smith, Darla VanWinkle, Fox Fletcher. (website)
American synthpop band formed in 1998.
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Lifesavers Underground - Real Name: Michael Knott (website)
bio:
Michael Knott’s evolving career has many facets including some thirty five albums, hundreds of original paintings and thousands of adoring fans who collect his musical and artistic works as soon as they hit the scene. This maverick of talent never seems to run out of inspiration. Whether it’s touring some two hundred plus days out of the year or spending time recording and painting, he always comes up with a new view on life, it’s characters, as well as its struggles and elations. His work has been released to the general market via Warner Brothers (Electra Records), to the gospel market via Word (Metro One Records), and to both markets through several groundbreaking independent releases. Audiences and critics on both sides of the fence are united by Michael Knott’s ability to tap the well of emotion connecting all of us.
Michael Knott’s many recordings are as varied as the many bands he’s fronted: Aunt Betty’s, Lifesavers, Lifesavers Underground, Cush, Idle Lovell, Strung Gurus, Bomb Bay Babies, the list goes on and on. Most notably are his heart felt solo works where he can take the listener on an emotional journey from the soft drip of a heart, to the full blown rage of a caged soul. Many articles in many publications, world wide, have featured this very unique and introspective artist. There seems to be no stopping his obsession to create with many new Cd’s, Painting and writings to come.
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Lodus - Real Name: Adam Chronister - email: “midfimusic@hotmail.com”
Also known as “Otari.” Also in Goodnight Star. (website)
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Lunasect – Members: Daniel Farris, Jessica Grant, Jonathan Hyatt. (website) (website #2)
bio:
Lunasect were active from 1998-2003. The band has since evolved into the current project known as Black Pill.
The Black Pill came to be during the 2003-2004 writing & recording sessions for the third Lunasect album. The sound & songwriting for those sessions were becoming very focused & didn't seem to fit the "anything/all the time" experimental & more synth driven sound of Lunasect.
Lunasect formed in the Summer of 1998, evolving from the electronica duo Moonbuggy featuring Jonathan Hyatt and Paul Gaspelin. Moonbuggy were expanding their sound and songwriting and added vocalist Heather Bray (Summer Darling, Kissing Cousins) and guitarist/engineer Daniel Farris. After gigging throughout the Southeast from late 1998 through mid 1999, Lunasect went to work on their debut album, Long Lost, which was released early summer of 2000. The band continued touring and writing and underwent some line-up changes in 2001. Vocalist Heather Bray moved to Los Angeles and was replaced by Jessica Grant. During the recording sessions for the second album, Paul Gaspelin also moved to Los Angeles and reunited with Heather Bray to form Intercom. Lunasect released their second full length (and double album) Points of Departure in April of 2002, featuring core members Grant, Hyatt and Farris, but also featuring drummers Les Nuby (Verbena) and Matt Kimbrell as well as guest musicians Chris Bentley (Tarantella), Tim Boykin, and others. The album was widely critically acclaimed and the band played several showcase dates at music conferences, festivals and indie clubs throughout the US in 2002 and 2003. The band writing in 2003 and 2004 started leaning towards a rawer, more rock-n-roll and disco punk sound and changed their name to Black Pill in 2005 featuring the core of Grant, Farris, Hyatt and Nuby.
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Mad at the World - Members: Roger Rose, Randy Rose, Mike Pendleton, Brent Gordon, Ben Jacobs, Mike Link. (website)
bio:
Few Christian bands have enjoyed the longevity and underground critical acclaim as Mad at the World. From the day mailman and lead singer Roger Rose stuck a tape in a record company executive's mailbox until current times, Mad at the World has turned heads with their provocative music.
The first two albums featured a synth/pop style of music. Then, in order to have a sound more amiable for live performances, the band's musical style shifted to hard rock for the next three albums. The last two albums brought some member changes and a more retro sounding style of music.
Lyrically, the band delves into the many struggles we face in life and reminds us of our hope in our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Issues dealt with in the songs include drugs, anger, hopelessness, and lost loves -- as well as hope, love, peace, forgiveness, blessed relationships, and eternal life.
This website provides information about the band and its members, as well as a discography of all of their albums from the group’s inception in 1987 to its “indefinite hiatus” since 1998. Also, the discography spans the career of Randy Rose in his band Rose and his more recent collaboration with Danny Rose known as Mothership.
Frontman Roger Rose is the main lyricist of the group. He does the vocals and guitars throughout most of the songs.
Roger’s brother Randy plays drums and has written and sung songs such as “Marshmallow Land,” “Don’t Give Up,” “Sunday,” “Trapped,” “Alone,” and “When Life Has a Plan.” He also co-wrote the songs “The Love,” “No Secrets,” and “I Need You.”
Mike Pendleton played the guitar, keyboards, and percussion on the first two albums, and then switched over to bass for the third through fifth albums.
Brent Gordon climbed on board for the third album in 1990, and he played lead and rhythm guitars up through the band’s fifth album. He co-wrote the song “Draggin’ the Chains” on the Boomerang album. He also provided some of the artwork on various albums.
Both Mike Pendleton and Brent Gordon exited the group in 1992, and two new members were recruited from Randy’s band, Rose.
Ben Jacobs took over the position as lead guitarist, and Mike Link became the new bassist for the group. This lasted for the last two studio albums until the group’s “indefinite hiatus” since 1998.
Ray Rose helped out on the last three albums by playing bass on a handful of songs. Danny Rose co-wrote the songs "The Love," "No Secrets," and "I Need You."
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Matthew Messenger
Unknown. Wrote one track, “Bounce.”
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Mortal (Mortal Wish) - Members: Jerome Fontamillas and Jyro Xhan. (website)
Synthpop/Industrial band from 1988. Later formed “Fold Zandura.”
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Mothership – Real Name: Randy and Danny Rose
bio:
Randy Rose formed the band Mothership and also worked on other projects in order to experiment with different musical styles than what he had previously done with Mad at the World and his metal band Rose. In 1995, Randy worked on a side project called Mood Ring, and he released the song "Mood Ring" on a R.E.X. compilation that year. In 1997, Randy released a 7" vinyl record of rockabilly songs using the band name The Crocodiles. This release titled Black Tar contained the songs "Grease" and "In Your Arms." Also in 1997, Randy formed Mothership (briefly named Saturn Project) with cousin Danny Rose and released an album titled L.P. that contained ethereal synth music. In 2002, Randy abandoned the synthpop sound and continued his band Mothership into the realm of alternative rock. The subsequent album Rockstar is often compared with the style of Weezer, The Vines, and The Strokes.
Also published under “Saturn Project.”
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Nikmis - Real Name: William Simkin
bio:
Joy Electric forum user. Based in Japan. Makes homemade synthesizers. Loves Neko-Pan.
“Brainchild of William Simkin, a 17th century harpsichord player who, after a time travel experiment gone awry, has found himself stranded in the present day. William has taken a liking to modern-day synthesisers and has been quoted as calling them ‘manageable’. The project’s name stemmed from a childhood nightmare William had of a giant man/toast beast with the face of a cat. He dubbed the creature Nikmis, his last name backwards.”
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Norway - Members: Eric Melzer and Doug Huibregtse (official site) (website #2) (label website)
bio:
music style:
electronic pop
recommended if you like:
joy electric, erasure, pet shop boys, aqua, echoing green, dance music
equipment used:
digital and analogue synthesizers, human voice.
…Before you ask, the answer is no.
Eric Melzer and Doug Huibregtse have no great stake in the country of Norway. They claim no ancestral ties, nor do they hold any quizzical fascination with the culture. Melzer & Huibregtse reserve such wonder exclusively for the pop song, the perfect crafting of which provides the two members of Norway with ample challenge.
Norway’s debut is peppered with glittering pop gems, dance-floor diamonds that provide more than a mere four on the floor with sentence-long lyrics. Melzer and Huibregtse make dance music that you can sing along to.
“Electronic music has been continually changing and evolving...this style of music is a challenging one,” explains Melzer. Since he and Huibregtse met in junior high school, they have been writing songs together, themselves evolving from electronic metal, through industrial and trance, before finally arriving at their cushy synthpop destination. “Like a wise man once said, ‘It’s not the sounds, it’s the songs’,” he continues. “We try to stick to that.”
And what songs they are. “So You Say” opens throttle with pulsing bass and glittering keys. “Here We Go Again” and “With All My Heart” are windows-down, summer driving epics, verses opening into heavenly choruses, beats steady and infectious. “Confused” was built for club play, a touch of minor-key melancholy coloring the melody. Melzer and Huibregtse even offer a cover of oft-forgotten Southern California pogo-punkers Undercover. “As a kid, [they] were my inspiration,” explains Melzer. “They made me fall in love with music.” Norway’s cover of “Jesus Girl” is a giddy homage.
Norway is the third proper release for Plastiq Musiq, Tooth & Nail’s electronic-pop division. While some bands persist for years with little attention from a label, Norway landed a spot on Plastiq Musiq with little difficulty. “I had written to Ronnie [Martin, label head and Joy Electric front man] just as a fan,” Melzer recalls. “I mentioned that I had some songs I was working on, just as a hobby. He suggested that I send them to him and, shortly after, asked us if we wanted to do a record.”
“Norway brings to the label a sense of pure pop,” Martin explains. “That’s something I’ve always been a fan of.”
..
August 22, 1998
I’ve got some news from Norway. They should be recording in mid-November, and aiming for a Spring ‘99 release. Eric M. says “it is going to be very danceable synth pop, and ronnie and i think it is going to turn out good.” The deal with Tooth and Nail seems to be going well. If you want to see Norway’s Webpage, it’s at http://members.tripod.com/~analogical/norway.html and Eric’s email is arockdisco@yahoo.com. This info. will be added to the band pages as well.
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Oracle - Members: Brittany Potter, Ian Potter, Blake Potter.
Also known as “Kaboing.” Released one album.
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Otari – Real Name: Adam Chronister
301 Rolling Hills Drive, Yakima, WA, 98908.
website: “http://www.otarimusic.com.”
Also known as “Lodus.”
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Peppermint Kisses – Members: Jenny Andreotti and Joseph Andreotti. (blogspot)
One-shot side project of Funeral Club or Fawns Of Love.
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Permanent Solution – Real Name: Steven Bogaerts (mp3.com site)
Chiptune to synthpop project on Ballistic Test Productions.
Currently teaches computer science.
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Phillip Tubbs
Indie rock synth guy. Wrote “If I Win” and “Atlanta, GA.”
Possibly in Cigarettes After Sex.
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Pilots Vs. Aeroplanes – Members: Alan Singley, Brad Register, Chris Harry, David McMahon.
Emo, Post-hardcore band.
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Pivot Clowj - Members: Jon Sonnenberg and Robert Gutschow (website)
1994 synthpop band before they changed their name to “House of Wires.”
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(private forum and intel collecting)
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Pony Express - Real Name: Jeff Cloud
Solo project. Jeff currently operates Velvet Blue Music.
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Purveyor - Gary Fisher & Stuart Currie (website)
Synthpop duo with one release.
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Quandary – Real Name: Todd J. Bush.
Self-released his music under “Extinction Records.” From 2003 to 2012.
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Qub3 – Members: Jared Silvia, Matt Doty, Joel Tarpin, Jonathan Pierce. (website)
One-shot side project from Arkport, Elkland, and Energist.
phone: 607-734-0322.
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Red Orchestra – Real Name: Israel Slick (website)
Solo act. Played at Cornerstone Fest 2003. Friends with Jon Sonnenberg.
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Relic Pop
Unknown. Possible collaborative effort. Influenced by Japanese themes. Single 2014 release.
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Rhythmic Symphony – Real Name: Justin Kesselring (website)
email: “rhythmicsymphony@yahoo.com”
bio:
At the age of 13, inspired by the likes of The Echoing Green, Joy Electric, and my 16 bit Super Nintendo games, I took to my family’s long neglected keyboard and began to write my first songs. I found the synthesizer at the end of the dark hallway in our house, strangely out of place as it was shoved into a corner that was not meant to be a home to anything.The old machine was cheap and displayed an impressive collection of aging dust, but over the next several years this new companion and I would produce over 60 songs as my love to create unfurled it’s wings and took flight.
Synthpop is what I play, although it is often mistaken for techno. Electronic would definitely be accurate, coupled with perhaps ecclectic and occasionally even a little off the deep end psychosis. Rhythmic Symphony is most accurately a collection of my thoughts, ponderings, and theories carried in the vehicle of my artistic expression. I cringe at the idea of using drum loops that I or someone that I’m working with didn’t create, or just pressing the button that does it all for me, so everything you hear, besides synthesizing the instruments themselves, is homegrown right in my bedroom. Still curious? Go to contact and shoot me an e-mail!
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Rock Creek Park – Members: Donnie Kessler and Mike Perez.
Unknown. One-shot act with one song, “Am Gut Ache.”
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Robotkid / Institute of Technology - Real Name: Josh Randall (website)
bio:
Education:
Silver Lake Regional High School
Keene State College
Massachusetts College of Art
Made music under the name “Institute of Technology.” Opened up for Freezepop. Currently works with video games and composes soundtracks.
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Rubicon 7 - Members: Brandon Scott, Elizabeth Thompson. (website) (website #2)
One-shot Christian electronica project. Post Frontline records. Also known as “ Lode,” and “Rule Of Faith.”
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Said Fantasy - Real Name: Ronnie Martin and Beth Martin
Post Joy Electric project name. Ronnie’s daughter, Beth, played synths during a few shows. Went solo under “Ronnie Martin” after the 2017 release. Recorded at “eepsociety,” which later became “The Holy Haus.”
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Sea Of Glass
Unknown. Wrote on song, “Love Sick.”
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Secret Swimmer – Real Name: Greg Connour
Associated with Minature Records. Did the art for Goodnight Star.
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Seven Red Seven - Members: Mitchell Adrian and Dave Sears (website) (website #2)
bio:
Sometimes you hear something so great you want to scream at the world to take notice. The Chicago duo Seven Red Seven garner that type of reaction. Blending hauntingly eerie keyboard music with the best, most “out there” dance/altemative sounds that a producer could possibly find, the combination of Chicago’s Mitchell Adrian and David Michael, make for one of electronic music’s most talked about acts.
Seven Red Seven was formed in the late 80’s, when both were 18 and had known each other through their roles in different high school bands. Their love for 80’s synth music prompted the duo (David being the programmer/engineer, Mitchell the vocalist) to begin working on tracks. Their first LP, “Shelter”, released in 199 1, produced the club hit “Thinking of You” which managed to find it’s way onto the Billboard Dance Charts and spawned a whole nation of fans hungry for a more “underground” approach to synth pop.
Stations such as KITS, KNNC and WCBR all embraced the band and the name Seven Red Seven began popping up everywhere within the electronic world. Shortly after releasing “Shelter”(Speed Records) the band parted ways with it’s label and decided to take an approach that would ultimately give them more control and freedom. They started their own label, Magnetic Records.
Their first and only release was the now classic “Bass State Coma” LP (later remixed, remastered and released as “Liquid” on Jarrett Records). This album contains their version of the Stevie Wonder hit “Superstition” which rapidly gained fame in Germany (ZYX licensed the album) and in clubs all across America. The Motion Picture Corporation of America approached the band and licensed three of their tracks for inclusion in three independent motion pictures.
Recording under the alias’ “Emit” & “DJ God”, the boys have contributed to many rave and techno compilations including “Rave New World” and Rhino Record’s “Zoo Rave”. David has also done production on the Christian Dance Classics “House of Praise I & 11”. In addition, Seven Red Seven have done remixes for Psychosonik, Anything Box, Brave New World, Mesh and LaTour.
Now in 1997 the band is currently enjoying the success of it’s “Acceleration 7” EP and the warm reception received by the remix of “Bass State Coma”. This time around the band enlisted members of “Stabbing Westward” and “Machines of Loving Grace” to add some live musicians to the mix and the result wound up getting the band played on stations from LA’s KROQ to Atlanta’s WNNX.
Currently working with Mark Picclotti at Chicago’s MARK! Productions, David Michael is busy laying the tracks for Seven Red Seven LP #3, slated for release on Jarrett Records in early 1998. [It never came out.]
bio #2: (link)
Welcome to the Home of 7 Red 7.
Whats new: We are in the process of working on our new
album "Relay". We are a little more than half way done and will hopefully be done in about 2 months. We have no shows or anything planned untill the record is done.
Hopefully you have heard "Bass State Coma" (our current single) on the radio in your town and if you haven't call and complain. I'm not sure we are going to be shooting a video like I last reported because of deadlines and timing issues related to the band's schedule. I hope we can do one soon.
thanks,
David
1997.
-
Well it seems like forever since we last talked.
So what have we been doing? Not much music lately.
My wife and I just had our second child in early Sept.
and Mitch moved to Colorado to get married so
as you can see we haven’t been to busy with 7 Red 7
lately. But all that is-a-changin.
Mitch and I have scheduled some time at the-ole-studio
and the real work on “Relay” (our next fulllength release)
will begin soon. I think a lot of you will probably be surprised
with the direction of the new songs. I can’t wait for everyone
to hear them. I’m going to try to keep this page updated
more regularly so keep checkin’ in and I’ll let you know
what’s going on.
Later,
David
1997.
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Shephanim
Unknown. Wrote one song, “Dead Unicorns."
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Simulator – Division - Real Name: Ross W. Beall (website). Now in the band “RAILWRX.”
bio:
Simulator creates hard-hitting music that spans the gap between dark synthpop and melodic EBM. The project of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Ross W. Beall, Simulator has already found himself in high demand as a remix artist as well as a live keyboardist, having played with the popular future-pop band Lost Signal, among others.
(The Electrogarden Network site)
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Situation – Members: Fort, Misty Fort, and Noah Sogolow. (website)
bio:
Denver, CO based group Situation was formed in March of 1997, and within five months were asked to perform at Tomfest sharing the main stage with Joy Electric and The Echoing Green for a crowd of over 2000 people. In 1998, the band recorded their first two songs, which were chosen by Tooth & Nail Records to be included on a compilation CD and went on to receive rave reviews. The band has continued to sharpen its live shows by performing the past three summers on the Extreme Tour, playing clubs, churches, festivals, and other events totaling 500 shows in all.
Situation is Bill Fort (vocals), Misty Fort (vocals), and Noah Sogolow (keyboards) and they describe their sound as electro/synthpop/new wave. The band says, “our songs speak of hope and turning mourning into dancing! We write songs from the heart and spirit and we believe the word of God when it says, ‘out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks’. This is so true of these songs.”
“A New Wave of Joy” is a collection of high energy, danceable tracks produced in part by Joey Belville (Echoing Green) and Quinton Gibson (Strange Celebrity, Plumb, Nate Sallie).
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Solvent - Real Name: Jason Amm (website)
bio:
Solvent is Jason Amm, a robot music composer, analog synthesizer fetishist, and co-founder of the reknowned Suction Records label. Born in Zimbabwe in 1972, Solvent currently resides in a room full of machines in Toronto, Canada.
Solvent has been releasing his unique brand of synthesizer-pop music since 1997, and is best known for his releases on Suction Records (1999’s “Solvently One Listens”) and Morr Music (2001’s “Solvent City”). Solvent has created his own unique version of electro-pop: too elegent and sincere for the electroclash set, too complex and contemporary to sound like it was recorded in 1981, and too seeped in the time-honoured traditions of melody, songwriting and hands-on synthesis to be lost in the overcrowded world of IDM. Along with some notable remixes including Soft Cell, Adult., and Kid606, Solvent has also contributed standout tracks to several influential electronica compilations in recent years, including “Putting The Morr Back In Morrissey” (Morr Music), “Disco Nouveau” (Ghostly International), and “Misery Loves Company” (Ersatz Audio). Today, Solvent is widely regarded in the underground electronica community as being at the forefront of electro-pop’s return to form.
UK magazine The Wire recently described Solvent as part of a new generation of composers “gleefully blurring the lines” between modern techno and vintage techno-pop.
Solvent’s 2004 release schedule is set to be his busiest yet: the 2-part “Radio Ga Ga” remix 12”s were released in February, his “Power Failure” collaboration 12” with Lowfish is coming out in April on Holland’s Vynalogica label, and June will mark the release of Solvent’s fourth, highly anticipated full-length release, “Apples and Synthesizers”, on Ghostly International.
Jason also directed and produced the synth documentary film, “I Dream of Wires.”
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Soõl
A French one-shot project. Made one song, “Love is Everywhere.”
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Soviet - Real Name: Keith Ruggiero (website) (website #2)
2007 bio:
Soviet grew out of what others had thrown out.
Shifting through vintage electronics at pawnshops, soviet created itself on forgotten dreams, and dreams yet to be had. The 1990’s were not the most friendly of times for electronic musicians, and the new generation of teens and college students had nearly forgotten about the genre that was young enough to be their older sibling.
But the lack of interest in electronics did not stop Soviet front man Keith Ruggiero from being inspired from bands who had no place in the hectic and fast paced world of the 1990s. Soviet had a rare and special ability to turn a dusty dream into a modern success.
As the dust cleared, and the dream grew, Soviet became a reality. Soviet’s first album, “We Are Eyes, We Are Builders” was released in 2001, and people from all over the world embraced, and wanted more of what Soviet had to offer with its interesting, beautifully haunting take on music. Instead of building itself on retro fashions and over produced live shows, Soviet built itself on solid, melodic songs, and raw live performances; which is sadly rare in todays music world. Anyone who has ever seen a Soviet show, or listened to a Soviet album will tell you that Soviet is something to never be forgotten. With numerous american tours and events played, Soviet was able to grasp the attention of curious music lovers, and media from around the world. Rave reviews about “We Are Eyes, We Are Builders” put Soviet on another level; A level that every musician dreams about.
Today marks a new and interesting time for Soviet. As the madness and excitement from their first album settles, the world is truly theirs. While other bands aim to please the current trends, Soviet takes the more interesting, and harder road of making music that is completely timeless and unique.
While Soviet readies up for the next album, it’s interesting to stop and see the influence that Soviet has created since their debut. Numerous other musicians, and music lovers (new and old) have gained a new respect and understanding for the type of music Soviet has created. Not only has Soviet proved their own place in the music world, they have also help dust off and shed light on those forgotten icons that Soviet itself grew out of.
- Hunter Skowron, 2007
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Spacehonky – Real Name: Dar Robinson (SoundCloud)
Active from 1990 to 2003.
bio:
I have been making noises and songs for myself for many years. the songs i am posting span from the present to about 1990. i made these things for my ears, but now i've decided to throw them against the wall to see what sticks. you might find something interesting, or not. thanks for listening.
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SPQR – Members: Noah M. Thomas & Andy M. Schamp (website)
bio:
SPQR (pronounced “Speaker”) is Noah and Andy. We like to make music.
SPQR is an attempt at blending EBM and Industrial with Synth-pop and the other styles we love.
In the spring of 2002, our label Pattern 12 produced the album Analog Angel, 10 tracks of our best material.
We are in the process of working on a second self-released album, yet untitled, to be released as soon as it can be filled with songs, most likely in the spring or summer of 2003.
We like to make music. We also like poetry and prose, and nearly all forms of literature that demonstrates mastery of the art, but our love of music is greater.
Noah comes from a background of Goth, Black, Space, and Viking Metal, 80s electronic music, along with Classical. Andy has been greatly influenced by Classical, particularly Baroque, and Jazz, not to mention percussion and a tad of Classic Rock and Punk.
Together we dig of Synthpop, EBM, Futurepop, Industrial, and anything involving electronics.
We currently use a combination of software (FruityLoops, Cubasis, Wavelab), analog synths (Korg Poly-800), samplers, sequencers, and our own custom synth that we are modeling in Reaktor.
For a better idea of the things that influence us, consider the following acts (in no particular alphabetical order). Keep in mind, these groups have not exerted an equal influence.
Asscioated with Greenhorn Records.
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Starflyer 59 - Real Name: Jason Martin (website)
Minimal shoegaze/hard rock solo act/collective by Jason Martin. Since 1994.
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Stereophonic Lullibi – Members: Magdlyn, S. Williams Dahl, Noize. (website: “www.mp3.com/lullibi”) Recorded one track, “Abstraction.”
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Stratos - Real Name: Bryan K Borgman. (website) (website 2004)
bio #1:
This website launched March 1, 2002
Stratos is currently in the studio remixing “Eternity” by Alex Gordon, “I’m A DJ” by Sonic Animation, and
“Believe In Me” by Lenny Kravitz - Stay Tuned!
Stratos released an original song, “sydney.bristow”, on March 1, 2002 thru ACIDPlanet.com.
“sydney.bristow” will be featured on an upcoming Christian music compilation album and as a maxi-single.
Label-mate Jennifer Greenawalt will also be featured on the same compilation. Stay tuned for more details.
Stratos recently remixed three #1 hits by Madonna which can be heard Right Here.
-
bio #2:
In October 2000, I began recording electronic music, techno, and dance in my own home studio, GreenMan Entertainment.
My first two songs were released on The Screen, Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, for which I also served as Executive Producer. The songs, ‘Sonik Dissonance’ and ‘Revelation [In the Woods]’ both received light airplay on several regional radio stations.
Throughout 2001 and 2002, I released over 40 songs through mp3.com on various album collections. I also worked on several authorized remix contests for internationally known artists such as Madonna, Lenny Kravitz, and Tommy Lee. In late 2001, I was a runner-up for my remix of Madonna’s ‘Ray of Light’.
In March 2003, I remixed ‘Hands off the Wheel‘ by mainstream rock artist Oleander and was awarded First Runner-Up in mid-July 2003.
In April 2003, I completed my first official album featuring 16 original songs. The album entitled, Autumnal Slumber was released on my independently owned label, Bailey Records.
In addition to a new album, I also released two new songs: ‘For Avion‘, on the Music For Martha benefit compilation CD released on Bailey Records and a remix of the song, ‘Sunlight’ by Micah Klotz, on UAC4 on Plastiq Musiq.
Currently, a few songs from Autumnal Slumber are in light to regular rotation on several Christian radio stations including Radio U of Columbus, OH and Whip of Cords in Sharpsville, PA.
In July 2003, I became a “performing” artist on the MASTERS of the UNIVERSE Tour, playing bass guitar with The Stereoflowers and mixing between 8-35 minutes of “live” music with samplers and a Korg Electribe ER-1 rhythm synthesizer. This was the first time I took my music “on the road” in front of a live audience. The experience was very rewarding.
Beginning in late July 2003, I will work on booking solo shows at small clubs, cafes, and youth events. The shows will feature additional equipment such as my MicroKorg and Gemini SP-1 Circle Surround Processor. I intend to book 60-90 minute shows of “original sci-fi electronica, techno, and dance plus authorized remixes of today’s hottest pop stars!”
Currently I am writing and recording several new soundtracks and working on various mainstream, Christian, and indie artist remixes!
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Temper Trend – Real Name: Ken Elrod
5325 East Norweigian St.,
Pottsville, PA 17901
Only recorded one song, “Heavens Hand.”
—
The Automatic Hearts – Real Name: Bertie Pearson (and some machines)
One-shot project.
bio (could very well be):
Bertie Pearson serves as rector of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. He also produced the popular podcast The History of Christianity with Bertie Pearson. This podcast is an exploration of the ideas and themes which continue to shape the Christian faith, and is available on Spotify, iTunes, and wherever fine podcasts are distributed. Before his current parish, Bertie served both Spanish and English-language churches in Austin and San Francisco, played drums in the band Poolside, and toured as a DJ. He now lives a much more sedate life with his wife, Dr. Rahel Pearson, their two children, a small room full of dusty records, and a very goodhearted Australian Shepard named Ida.
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The Calico Sunset – Members: Joseph Andreotti and Jenny Andreotti (website)
bio:
The Calico Sunset was formed simultaneously with the relationship between
Joseph Andreotti and Jenny Alvis two years ago. Of course "The Calico Sunset" then was not similar to "The Calico Sunset" now. It wasn't even called "The Calico Sunset"; it was called "Jazz Goes to Junior College". But when Joseph Andreotti and Jenny Alvis realized that they no longer went to Junior College, and the music they were making wasn't jazz, they quickly changed their name to "The Calico Sunset" (which is the name of a hotel/resort in Nova Scotia). After consistently experimenting with many sounds within the same genre, six months later "The Calico Sunset" played their first show at the "Phoenix Theater". The rest is history, the present, and the future.
Also known as “Fawns Of Love,” “Funeral Club,” and “Peppermint Kisses.”
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The Daphne Oramics – Members: Ronnie Martin and Jon Sonnenberg.
A one-shot side project that played only a few shows. Active from 2010 to 2014.
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The Drums - Real Name: Jonathan Pierce.
Originally a spin-off project between Jonathan Pierce and Jacob Graham, and then became canon out of popularity. Jacob left the band in 2016, and Jonathan Pierce continues to use the name as a solo act.
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The Echoing Green – Real Name: Joey Belville (website)
Welcome to ECHOCENTRAL!
The official home of The Echoing Green
On behalf of, well, ourselves - we would like to welcome you to our humble domain. Feel free to hang out and goof around.
What is The Echoing Green you ask? On the surface, it’s an electronic group making music that makes you smile... and think... and think about smiling. Making music that makes you jump up & down and freak out in general. Making music that makes you want to kiss your mom. Making music that makes you want to thank God for your very breath. And sometimes, making music that makes you take a hard look at yourself.
On the inside, The Echoing Green is a collective. Founded by one guy who figured out there is more to life than just tears - and that it sometimes takes tears to figure that out. The Echoing Green is not about making fans - it’s about making friends. If the music of The Echoing Green has ever touched you in any way - even if it only accomplished the simple task of putting a smile on your face, if only for a minute, then you are are part of it, too.
So, again, welcome to The Echoing Green and make yourself at home...
but please leave loneliness and despair at the door.
Joey B.
bio #2:
You would be hard-pressed to find a more relentlessly cheerful individual in Christian music than Joey Belville, the creative force behind The Echoing Green. His motto is “Defend Your Joy,” and Joey describes his music as “aggressive smile-pop.” He’s been cranking out his unique brand of electronic music since 1992, gaining The Echoing Green an extremely large and devout following.
But for Joey Belville, his relentlessly cheerful demeanor did not always come easy. His mother passed away when Joey was seven years old, and his father moved around a lot to find work. Joey spent weeks at a time with family friends, and wound up living on a boys’ ranch for his junior high and high school years. “This was hard for me,” Joey recalls, “because I thought the things that I was going through weren’t supposed to happen to `normal’ people. I resented God for taking my mother away. But, the angrier I was, the more He revealed Himself to me.”
Joey says he had to hit rock bottom before he could recognize that God wanted to help and not hurt him. “I realized that only Christ could quench my insatiable thirst for purpose in life, as well as provide a reprieve from the aches of my past. I had some incredible people praying everyday for me to get right with God. One night I went to a Foursquare Church in Albuquerque and laid it all down.”
During these difficult years, Joey says his love for pop music was a source of solace. “I first discovered pop music at about age 10 or 11. I grew up on MTV. My classmates were into John Cougar Mellencamp while I was into Flock of Seagulls. I was always fascinated with electronic music. I would spend hours trying to figure out how they made those cool sounds and beats. (But at the same time I thought Duran Duran had the coolest hair!”)
From the age of twelve through college, Belville received a classical training in both voice and trombone. “But I kinda had to chuck the training out the door to do the kind of music I do now, although it definitely comes in handy when arranging. I was a legit musician who had to learn to program what I wanted as opposed to just playing it. I always knew what I wanted the keyboards to do, but getting them to do it was sometimes a hair-pulling experience. I immediately started recording stuff in my dorm room on a keyboard and a 4-track, which later got played on the college radio station.”
Over the years, The Echoing Green’s music has gone through just about every permutation that the dance music genre has to offer. Joey says he thinks “electronica” is the best description of the music on his newest self-titled release with 5 Minute Walk Records. “I went for a more aggressive sound without the use of guitar. Instead, I incorporated distorted 303’s and tweaked-out samples to get the job done. There are some very different elements ranging from old school-scratcb-and-make-you-wanna-breakdance hip hop, to deep house, and even jungle.” Joey says his favorite tracks include “The Power Cosmic” (”It’s pretty and majestic at the same time”); “Empath” (”It’s basically about how numb we all are to the disasters and troubles that are outside our immediate surroundings.”); “Redemption” (”It thoroughly admits failure and frustration and closes with a plea for redemption”) and “Hide” (”This song recognizes personal limitations and the need to take refuge in Christ”).
The Echoing Green has had a very high profile on the Internet for quite some time, perhaps being one of the few Christian artists to take advantage of its capabilities. Joey says that presence is very important to him. “I think it is the best way to make a personal connection between band and fan. The internet kept The Echoing Green alive when our former label dropped the ball. I also think there is a kind of connection between electronic music and computer geeks (which I am myself). Our fans are totally dedicated, It’s amazing!”
In the studio, Joey still likes to do things pretty much on his own. On The Echoing Green, Masaki (Five Iron Frenzy, Dime Store Prophets) provided engineering and production guidance, and some special guests dropped by as well. “I borrowed Jerome of Fold Zandura for a couple songs but mostly I worked with a secular band called Deepsky. I wanted to use them because I knew they would not let me succumb to the ‘will the Christian market approve of this?’ mentality and would force me to make a record that would be legit and hold its own with any general market release - musically speaking.”
The Christian audience will always be a primary target for The Echoing Green. “But I would be stoked if we had a 12” release to club DJ’s” says Joey. “How many times have you heard a song once or twice yet it stuck in your head for weeks after! I think our music will be effective due to the simple fact that the Word never returns void. My Christianity shows up plain as day in most of my music.”
- by Bruce A. Brown.
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The Fax – Real name: Michael Pagnotti (website)
bio:
One-shot snythpop project.
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The Peoples
2005 pop act that made one album under Ninthwave Records.
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The Promise Book - Real Name: Jacob Graham (website)
Jacob Graham: synthesizers, vocals
Joshua Graham: electronic drum kit
Caleb Graham: synthesizers
If you found yourself travelling through the remote wooded areas of northeast Ohio on a cold wintery night, you might by chance happen upon a small log cabin. Inside, the brothers Graham are gathered around a warm fire. But take care not to disturb them! They are fast at work, writing songs on their synthesizers. This process will continue late into the night, and is how many of The Promise Book’s songs are written.
But they don’t spend all their time in a cabin. The Promise book has already been on three tours, opening for synthesist forefathers; Joy Electric. Winning fans all over the country with their energetic, live performances and easy going personalities. This spring they’ll be touring extensively with the likes of Travelogue, Anna Ranger, and Joy Electric once again. Then playing the Cornerstone music festival in July as part of the Plastiq Musiq showcase.
The songs of the Promise Book range from harder hitting anthems (Passageways, Magic in the well) to slow, spinning ballads (fairytale, the Night’s End), but they always retain a certain magical quality that fans and critics seem to love. So, here is a band with a unique flair that is young, ready to record, and eager to tour. The Promise Book is like hot chocolate in a industry full of coffee bands.
Contact: jacob@thepromisebook.com
Web: www.thePromiseBook.com
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The September Equation - Real Name: Nathan Shroeder (website)
Solo act and artist.
“12.2.02…
thanksgiving has come and gone and i am the better for it. i had a wonderful thanksgiving with my family. very inspiring and fulfilling.
i have been very busy finishing up the goat explosion layout and the joy electric picture book layout both of which turned out quite well. it’s good to work hard at something…”
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The Viirus - Real Name: Adam M. Batley
bio:
THE VIIRUS is the electronic music project of Adam Batley.
THE VIIRUS is hard edged feel bad synth pop signified by relentless rhythms, mangled samples, cinematic movements, vocal hauntings, and industrial snarl. With emphasis on mechanical motifs, THE VIIRUS aims for timelessness. While influenced and inspired by musicians and technologies of the past, this is no nostalgia affair. Disparate elements unify forming the deliberate and choreographed whole.
THE VIIRUS is currently finalizing an album release, tentatively scheduled for sometime before our impending societal collapse.
..
last update: 10-22-2006 [0454h]
i don’t know what you know but this is what i know.
part-time working stiff. part-time DJ bot. over-time noisemaker. musicologist and recording artist.
i dj and have done this for years. my tastes are somewhere between classic sounds and new noise; acid, disco, dub, electro, house, italo, minimal, techno. i am no pioneer of special techniques or working methods but i strive to follow in the footsteps of the many groundbreaking djs before me. giving more than just beatmatching and crossfading; giving something which re-evaluates what music is or can be.
i have no formal musical education and question everyday if what i create is even music. i make noise and arrange these noises in songs or tracks or arrangements or whatever people call them. the only requisite i place on my work is that it must move me. (sometimes it moves others.) my tools are electronic. ever since hearing new wave as a child, i have been intrigued by pop music, dance music, electronic sounds and musical instruments. i am inspired by modern electronic music with a great emphasis on that which is equally dance music as it is listening music. the possibilities are near endless and the journey toward the fruitition of those impossible dreams is half of the fun.
the name was a typo.
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The White Noise - Real Name: Real Name: Kevin Roybal
Wrote one song, “Foreverland.” Based in New Mexico.
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This Fish Needs A Bike - Real Name: Erik Bengtsson (website)
bio:
swedish retro electronic pop release w/ hits like Crash, The Drone, and Robot Wife. Expect minimal catchy old school electronic pop in early Depeche Mode vain.
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Timid Conversationalist
Unknown. Wrote one song, “Window Sill.”
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Toy Dept. - Members: Danny Barrious and John Oyler
email: “toy_dept@yahoo.com”
Wrote one song, “Kiss Me Dark.”
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Translucid (Trans Lucid) – Members: Shea and David. (website: “www.mp3.com/translucid.”)
Unknown. Wrote one song, “Hang.”
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Travelogue - Real Name: Jon Sonnenberg (website)
bio:
I believe there is a God. A single God, who created the universe. I believe in the Bible, a book that took centuries to write, and is written by numerous authors, yet stays within an amazingly coherent account of what we know as Christianity.
This is such a disturbing statement to some. Some people find this very offensive and would say that this is a very narrow minded point of view. I believe that they have the free will to think whatever they like - and if they want to think that, so be it - it is their decision. Don’t get me wrong - this doesn’t mean that I think they are correct in their belief, but I respect their intelligence and ability to make their own choices.
The fact of the matter is that truth is not relative. My truth is not just true for me, while your truth is true for you. If I firmly believe that the earth is flat, or that clouds are made out of salt, it is not truth, it is a belief. There is a difference between truth and belief. Truth is absolute. There is a truth about our world, where we all came from, how we should act towards each other, and where we are going. I believe that the Bible answers all of these truths.
I believe mankind to be created in God’s image. We are created as thinkers, with an ability to be creative, ourselves. We all have distinct personalities, interests, and environments that have helped us develop our talents. Everyone has the choice to use their talents and creative potential for whatever they want. Although my songs rarely sing about God, I try to keep positive and hopeful lyrics in my songs. I sing against greed and pride. I am human though - I too, at times, feel lonely, helpless, sad, faithless, angry, etc. These emotions can leak into my songs as well.
According to many historical records (not just the Bible), there was a man named Jesus Christ who lived 2000 years ago. No one in history has ever had as much influence as Jesus Christ. He claimed to be the messiah, the son of the one true God. We have written testimonies who heard his teachings and were influenced by them. He taught the world (and still teaches through the Bible) that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control are values to be cherished and that we should all strive to be this way. He also promises that believing in him and having faith in God will change your life.
…An extensive list of my favorite albums [2006]
For years, I collected records. Vinyl started to lose its importance to most when CD’s came onto the scene. As used record stores were becoming cheaper and cheaper, my collection grew larger and larger. In the early 90’s, Rhino Records in Los Angeles at one time had so many used records coming in, that they would have these huge parking lot sales where nothing was over a dollar. There were multiple tables of records and they would range in price from 25 cents to $1.00. Occasionally, there would be a “half price day” where things would be priced then 12 1/2 cents to 50 cents!!!! My record collection doubled at this time. Many of my favorite albums I have on CD now, but I still keep the thousands of records that I collected over the years. (some of these are ONLY available on record)
I still buy music from time to time, but I don’t collect like I used to. At one time, I became so obsessed with collecting that I found myself very upset and depressed when a certain friend of mine got a record that I had been looking for for years. I was angry, frustrated with this friend - then realized how crazy this collecting was making me. Collections can control you if you let them. My collection was controlling me! I was defining myself and self worth based on what I had. God doesn’t care who we are or what we have. Every one of us is unique and important, regardless of looks, talents, or posessions. Although I find music fun to listen to and analize, I no longer feel the controlling obsession that I had (thank GOD!) Jesus died for ALL of us and God loves us ALL, even if we listen to country music. I really don’t buy that much music anymore and when I do, I don’t feel that I HAVE to have it. It is enjoyable and has shaped who I am today, but does not control me.
Peiter Nooten and Michael Brook : Sleeps with Fishes - some of the most soothing, beautiful music ever created. Some of the songs were originally recorded on the early Clan of Xymox albums. Probably my favorite album of all time. (4AD era)
The Tear Garden : Tired Eyes Slowly Burning - definitely in my top ten favorites. Production-wise, some of the greatest sounds I have ever heard are on this record
The Innocence Mission : Birds of my Neighborhood - wistful and peaceful. Very folky and simply beautiful songs. Lyrics always uplifting
Clan of Xymox : Medusa - I love it’s haunting beauty. I wish that Ronnie Mooring weren’t a moron. His answers in interviews that I have read over the years, in addition to the info on his website, just make him seem like a self absorbed, self indulged, shallow man. He lost a lot when Anka and Peiter left the band : creatively beautiful chord progressions for one, a great female vocalist for another...
Clan of Xymox : self titled -again, an early COX album from when they were REALLY good. I know what you’re thinking: but didn’t they re-record a lot of the old songs recently? yes... but why mess with perfection. The originals are better.
Mad at the World: Mad at the World - When I was in High School, I believed this to be the best Christian band ever. I saw them several times in concert and loved the first 2 albums, especially this one. I even recorded a cover of ‘Mad at the World’ for House of Wires album, ‘Monogamy’.
The Cure : Head on the Door - ‘Inbetween days’, ‘Six Different Ways’, ‘Close to me’, and ‘Push’ are great s... heck, the whole album is full of great songs.
The Cure : Staring at the Sea : I bought this record when I was in Junior High. It was the 3rd full album I ever bought. Before this, all I ever bought were 7” singles. I still love this record.
Howard Jones : Human’s Lib - speaking of early records that I bought, I bought this the first month it came out. Howard Jones was a huge influence on me from 5th grade all the way through High School. During that time, I bought all his records.
Portion Contol : A Step Forward - early industrial. Many early industrial bands (Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly) have said that they were influenced by Portion Control. How can you not be. I even recorded a cover of “Havoc Man” on the Pivot Clowj album.
Portion Control : Rough Justice - I don’t think that this was ever on anything besides the single, but then again, I never did get that re-issue Portion Control CD that came out a while back.
House of Love : A Spy in the House of Love - actually, my self-made ‘b-sides’ compilation comprises my favorite House of Love material, but I am including this because the song ‘phone’ is perfection.
Kissing the Pink : Naked - I did not discover this album until the mid 90’s, even though it was from England’s early 80’s. Why this album was not more popular, I will never know. 80’s pop music with hints of art music and industrial. I often quote the song “big man restless” because it seems so random... “In awe of industry” and both versions of “the last film” are just amazing.
Grandaddy : the software slump - Actually, I like most everything that I heard by Grandaddy, but this album is a must. Most guys that I know who hear this love it while most girls don’t for some reason (including my wife and my brother’s wife)
Fad Gadget : anything with the song “Ricky’s Hand”... oh, well I guess that is only either the “best of” or the single....
Fad Gadget : GAG while I am on it, I have to put this album in the favorites as well. Jump, the Ring... both incredible songs - and percussion by Einsturzende Neubaten!
Ulrich Schnauss : A Strangely Isolated Place : Best new electronic album I have found. Slowdive meets Chemical Brothers. Schnauss really has a great handle on melody and chord progressions.
And Also The Trees : Green is the Sea - I know that most AATT fans like the earlier stuff better, but this album has such a strange combination of sounds on it...
And Also The Trees : From Horizon to Horizon - Okay, so this is actually a collection of songs from other albums. . A great collection though. ‘The secret sea’ is an amazing song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Severed Heads : The Big Bigot - from one of the most unique electronic bands of all time. Sometimes the Low-Fi recording quality due to recording into the computer technology of 1986 is somewhat noisy/annoying, but at times, it also really adds to the sound. I traded this record for an Attrition record to Robert Gutschow (House of Wires), who was collecting Attrition at the time, and have never regretted it. what a trade.
Tomita : Pictures at an Exhibition - I love electronic music albums from the 70’s. this is one of my favorites. What Tomita did with Moog synthesizers in the 70’s is unprecedented and timeless.
Slowdive : Souvlaki - shoegazer at its best.
Bjork : Homogenic - I love the combination of acoustics and electronics.
Legendary Pink Dots : The Golden Age - I have heard this one so many times now, It is somewhat over analized inside my brain. This album is on the back of my hand.
Spit Like Paint : Happy Song - I only have this on record. Actually it is an EP of 4 songs and I never found anything else by them. I would love to find something else by them, though. The gothy, punky, title track is a great combination of Joy Division meets And Also the Trees meets the Dead Milkmen.
Minimal Compact : I love the song “Losing Tracks in Time”. I think that it is on 2 of the 5 records I have by them. One is a live version, but I like the studio version better.
Edward Ka-spel : Khataclimici China Doll - mad science electonic bliss. Singer of the Legendary Pink Dots and Tear Garden. I love the way this album switches from song to song instantly, with many interesting seques
Edward Ka-spel : Tanith and the Lion Tree - another of Ka-spel’s best work.
The Magnetic Fields : Songs of the Highway Strip - Stephan Merritt is/ was a great songwriter during this era of the Magnetic Fields. I can’t say that I like anything he has done lately, but I am a huge fan of this album as well as Get Lost
The Magnetic Fields : Get Lost (see above)
Joy Electric : Hello Mannequin - I love this record. I think this is Ronnie’s best work yet. Before this, I thought that ‘5 Stars for Failure’ or ‘Old Wive’s Tales’ was his best material. This takes the cake as essential Joy Electric material.
The Smiths : The World Won’t Listen - This was the first Smiths record I ever bought because even as an import, the record store I was in wanted twice as much for ‘Louder than Bombs’. This album made me a fan of all Smiths and most Morrissey albums.
Pavement : Wowee Zowee. Indie rock fascinates me. Some Pavement I find too raw and uninteresting, though. This album keeps an indie edge, while staying highly experimental. Great sounds, great songs.
Adorable : Fake can be just as good - A very underrated band. ‘have you seen the light’ is a must hear.
The Chameleons : Strange Times - The Chameleons were one of those bands that my friend Robert would ALWAYS play in his car and they just grew on me. I love every song on this album as well as the live bonus disc that comes with the vinyl.
Belle and Sebastian : If you’re Feeling Sinister. I wish all Belle and Sebastian were this good.
Leonard Cohen : Songs - I think that folk music is very attractive for its simple stories and poems : all verses and no chorus is very influential to me
Simon and Garfunkel : folk songs by Simon and Garfunkel - I think Bleeker St. is gorgeous. Harmony to daydream by.
Thomas Dolby : The Golden Age of Wireless. forget that this is an 80’s album. I find this album timeless. Production, sounds, and songs are still great sounding today.
OMD : Architecture and Morality. If you have heard OMD and don’t like them, check this album out anyway. I think that they got really hokey shortly after this album when they were trying to make pop music. This album is a serious and beautiful creation of electronic music.
Pet Shop Boys : Behavior. I admit, I was never a huge Pet Shop Boys fan. This album stands out as the pinnacle of their work. Nothing else that they have recorded has come close as far as production and song writing.
Human League : Reproduction. I have to include this album in this list. The Human League were the ideal artsy electronic music band until the girls joined in. Actually, they would have been even better had they not tried so much to sound like Roxy Music and done silly covers of things like “you’ve lost that loving feeling”.
Human League : Travelogue. Many people ask me if I got the name of my band from this album. Partly, this is true. I love this album. I think it half of the album is the best material from any electronic band of any era... There are some pretty lame songs as well, though
Human League : Dare- a bit more poppy, and the girls are in this band by now. I use to have a lot more respect for this album until I found that the producer of this used some of the same sounds and drum programming on other albums (like Pete Shelley’s Homosapien), once I realized that the Human League probably had little to do with the programming, I lost a lot of hope in this band. I know that by now, with their recent albums, they have learned over the years, all there is to know about synthesizers, but they seem to have also lost their ability to write good songs. If you lose the main musicians in your band and add a couple of hot looking female vocalists and use a great producer, Dare is what you get.
Duran Duran : Rio. Although a rip-off of Japan’s ‘Quiet Life’ era, I like the way everything come together on this album.
Erasure : Erasure - Although later in their career, the programming of Vince Clark really shines here.
Anything Box : Worth. This album deserves much more attention than it ever received. Pretty amazing work. And I have always had a lot of respect for Claude for keeping everything so positive and hopeful.
Gary Numan : The Pleasure Principle. this and the next entry are simply classics. The best Numan of all. Actually, all the early Tubeway Army and Plan material is great. Too bad he turned into this dark, NIN want to be. for such an early innovator, he certainly became a run of the mill conformist that makes mediocre music.
Gary Numan : Replicas
Kraftwerk : Radio-Activity. a classic from a classic band.
Olive : You’re Not Alone - for this kind of dance music, this song has catch without getting old or repetitive.
Solvent : Solvent City - The fact that one can make instrumental music, keep a beat, and not get mundane or boring is a huge feat. Jason uses chord progressions and sounds that are fun to listen to, and never get old. Oh, and Jason, congrats on the new baby.
Portishead : Portishead. Definitive trip hop.
X Marks the Pedwalk : Retrospective - I know that it is kind of cheesy to put a “best of” or “retrospective” on this list, but I really like these songs. (especially the first 4) Facer is by far my favorite, though.
Goodnight Star : Mr. Customer - Jesse! Are you still making music in California. You’d better be. This album is amazing. Great sounds, great songs.
Aphex Twin : Come to Daddy. Actually, Aphex Twin has had so many good releases, it is hard to narrow it down, but because this song has such a disturbing and interesting video, I included this one.
u-ziq : The Fear - there is something about this song that makes me feel like it is life’s soundtrack whenever I hear it.
Siouxie and the Banshees : Peepshow. I cannot believe how this album never seems to get old. Production is flawless and every song is epic.
Ah-ha: Scoundrel Days. Perhaps their less popular second release, but this has some flawless songs on it, even with the occasional DX-7 preset sounds. Manhattan Skyline and the Soft Rains of April are untouchable. And what about the singer??? one of the best vocalists of all time, both in range and tone.
the Zombies: Odyssey and Oracle. Speaking of incredible vocalists, Colin’s airy voice is another one of my favorites. I love this album. Great pop hooks, nice 60’s Bacharach chord progressions. I saw them live a couple years back. It is no mystery on why they split up. Between Blunstone and Argent, their egos are ready to kill each other. I don’t care for Argent at all. Does EVERY song need a ten minute keyboard solo?
A Morr music compilation: Blue Skied and Clear. I like Slowdive a lot. I like electronic music a lot. I like electronic music bands covering Slowdive songs a lot. I have actually gone and bought most of the full-length albums done by these bands because I like their Slowdive renditions so much.
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Ultraviolet – Real Name: Timothy Owens
email: “timgetshisemail@yahoo.com”
P.O. Box 307, Harrisville, NY, 13648
Wrote one song, “Return To Zero.”
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Untold Dream - Members: John Timson and Phillip Timson (website)
Untold Dream and representatives may be contacted at:
General Contact: info@untolddream.comBooking - Philip Timson @ booking@untolddream.com
Website - Ian Loudon @ ian@smashingrecords.com
Label - Smashing Records @http://www.smashingrecords.com
Snail Mail -
Untold Dream
c/o Smashing Records
PO BOX 51453
Riverside, CA 92517Phone - soon
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Warp Factor 9 – Members: Jonathan Moore, Jen Halverson, Davis Turel, and Michael Hollifield (Bandcamp)
Math rock band that did not have any proper releases, but played live many times.
Based in Oregon.
Active from 1996 to 2002.
Reformed as “Streetcar Conducter.” Associated with “King Black Acid.”
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Winterlisch – Real Name: David Barnhart
Michigan-based one-shopt project. Recorded one release, “The Great Ice Barrier.” Active from 2008 to 2013. Helped run Plastiq Music later on.
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[Ether(real)m]– Real Name: Dan Keams.
email: “jackiexdan@hotmail.com”
Uknown. Wrote one song, “Right and Wrong.”
END.
-pe
12-27-2025