Watch and listen as keyboardist, Dave Formula (Magazine, Visage), talks with Artrocker about his career. His first band, St. Louis Union, winner of a 1965 Melody Maker contest, was a mod/blues/soul combo. Here, he was known as David Tomlinson, before sharing a flat with Martin Hannett, and becoming a part of what was to become Magazine.
After Magazine and Visage, Dave tried life in a few more bands/projects - Ludus, The Angel Brothers, and Design For Living -before deciding to work on a solo album.
After working on his solo project for a year, with many members of Magazine, Robert Wyatt, and Swing Out Sister's Corrine Drury, it was finally released last year under the title "Satellite Sweetheart".
So, without further ado, keep on scrollin' and listen to Dave Formula.
For a band whose name is derived from a galaxy (Messier 83), you would imagine a sound that might be descibed as "space rock". But M83 probably owes more to the Cocteau Twins or the Jesus and Mary Chain than Pink Floyd or Hawkwind.
Their extensive use of pedals and effects, and other synth sounds, coupled with emotive lyrics, they have created an almost hybrid sound. Main band member, Frenchman Anthony Gonzalez, has been creating this sound for over ten years.
Their upcoming sold-out show at Toronto's Lee's Palace is considered a highlight on the GTA's musical calendar of events.
Here's the first video taken from their most recent release, Hurry Up We're Dreaming. The song's called "Midnight City". Oh, and you may recognize it from a recent Victoria's Secret commercial (if you were paying attention to the music), or heard it over the closing credits of an episode of HBO's How To Make It In America. Enjoy the creepy "Children of the Corn"-inspired video, something far removed from a lingerie commercial.
This musical duo, known collectively as She Wants Revenge, hail from "The Valley" (as in San Fernando), and have been gaining respect and admiration from fans and peers with their dark, dancey brand of rock and roll.
Respectful of their 80's influences, their synthpop sound has gained them support status on the tours for many of these same influences - Depeche Mode, Psychedelic Furs (even proving ultimate hero worship by covering "Love My Way"), and most recently Peter Murphy. Often compared in the press to gothic rockers such as Joy Division, Bauhaus, and Sisters of Mercy, Adam Bravin and Justin Warfield prefer to be regarded as more of a "dark dance" sounding band, not only "dark wave".
In a 2009 interview at hellox6.com, Justin described it as such:
"Dark wave to me is much darker than what we do. I mean honestly I consider it dancy rock n roll, not like rock n roll like early stones dancy rock n roll but certainly rock n roll to me like dance. And we’ve said before it’s like dark dance because it’s an easy way for people to wrap their heads around it. But you say dancy rock n roll and someone can think Eagles or Death Metal. If you get more specific yeah it’s dark and its influences lie in stuff like Psychedelic Furs, Franz, and stuff like that....."
With three albums and numerous EP's under their belt, including the 2011 release, Valleyheart, She Wants Revenge continue to mine that dark 80's synthpop beat. A quick check on You Tube reveals numerous videos, official and fan-based, for your viewing pleasure. A must-see....
Taken from Valleyheart, here's the Official Videos for the first two singles:
Be sure to visit their website for the free download of a half-dozen remixes of "Take The World".
If you're keen to see this pair live, and you're in the Toronto area, She Wants Revenge play Lee's Palace on November 23rd, in support of goth influence Peter Murphy, who is touring to support his latest release, Ninth.
Formed as a side project of Kurt Feldman, drummer of The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, The Ice Choir recalls that 80's synth sound of bands like Camouflage, When In Rome, and New Order.
With their debut 7" single, "Two Rings" scheduled for release on November 15 in the US and UK, could they be poised to be considered a contender for "the next big thing"?? Their nostalgic sound has already been leaked through Soundcloud postings, which I have included below.
In their short career so far, they have also contributed a remix of "Two Rings" to Recorded For Japan, a compilation album containing songs recorded between April and June 2011 to aid the victims of the earthquake, resulting tsunami, and nuclear emergency that happened on March 11th, 2011 in Japan. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this compilation will go directly towards the continuing recovery and reconstruction effort, specifically the Japanese Red Cross. Details on it`s availability are at the band`s website.
I'm sure it won't be long before we hear The Ice Choir on radiojive.com and/or Radio Zazoo. In the meantime, enjoy the tracks here.
As a visual treat, check out the boys performing their namesake song, "The Ice Choir" live, aboard a party cruise earlier this year.
Had to share this update on the festival mentioned in a post below. Courtesy of NPR Music and All Songs Considered, there are some wonderful photos, plus full concerts from Moby, Austra, and Tangerine Dream to name a few. Don't forget to check out the story on the "Mayor of Moogfest", Brian Eno, plus a story on the man whose namesake the show derives itself from - Robert Moog.
