The debut album from DEAD VOICES ON AIR (Mark Spybey of DOWNLOAD / ex-ZOVIET FRANCE), feat cEvin Key (SKINNY PUPPY / DOWNLOAD). "Abrader" blends processed sounds from primitive instruments and found objects into hypnotic looped rhythmic structures, with dark clusters of heavy ambient washes into what could be described as Organic Panambience, or 'music for the eyes'.
The hugely sought-after "Abrader" was the first of over 80 releases (so far) by Mark Spybey using the name DEAD VOICES ON AIR. It was recorded over the space of days in Vancouver in 1993 and released as a tape the following year by Akifumi Nakajima (AUBE), for his G.R.O.S.S. label. Chronologically, the material was recorded after most of the music that made up his first two releases on compact disc - "New Words Machine" and "Hafted Maul" - however, "Abrader" was released before both of those albums.
"Abrader Redux" features the three lengthy tracks that were released on the original cassette, plus the bonus tracks that were included in the 2009 reprint as part of the "Fast Falls The Eventide" double CD, and now with two 'new' previously-unreleased bonus tracks recorded 1994 - taking this masterwork up to 7 tracks and over 67 minutes of exceptional music.
"If most ambient is the laudanum of the new fin de siécle, then Dead Voices on Air are the absinthe" (Village Voice)
This release is dedicated to the memory of both Akifumi Nakajima and Zev Asher who both passed away in 2013. Spybey was introduced to Akifumi by his friend from Vancouver, Zev Asher. Zev had a noise project called Roughage and was also in a band called Nimrod, that had at one time been based in Japan.
The album for Cold Spring has been remastered by Martin Bowes from Attrition. Packaged in a matt-laminate digipak with art by Spybey, beautifully laid out by Abby Helasdottir.
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THE RECORDING OF ABRADER
Mark Spybey started to crudely play with the idea of phase shifting, using a simple four track cassette Portastudio, with one effect unit, a Boss SE50, to create simple delay patterns. He would set up sounds, using a variety of household objects and borrowed instruments and improvise, recording everything that he did. He recorded up to four tracks, building to a crescendo, ensuring that the tracks were slightly out of synchronisation. The 'pieces' were then mixed in real time as they were bounced in stereo to a DAT. He was especially fond of the way that Akifumi would build pieces from a single identifiable sound source, layering and processing each to the point that the sound became overwhelming: vast and cavernous. He was joined by his friend cEvin Key from SKINNY PUPPY (the two would later work under the name of DOWNLOAD) for one of these sessions who drummed on an inverted copper log barrel and played a borrowed Moog synthesiser.
Spybey says: "At this point in time I hardly had any equipment, just a few musical toys, a Portastudio, a microphone and a rented FX unit. We recorded in my small apartment. So I made music with whatever was at hand or whatever I could borrow from friends. I think it was Holger Czukay of CAN who said that "inability is the mother of restriction and restriction is the great mother of invention", and I have taken some pride during my 'career' in recognising my lack of ability! Far be it from me to say that my work has profited from such an approach but I have had a lot of fun. I also got to meet Holger and to play with members of CAN".
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MARK SPYBEY
Mark Spybey started his career in the North-East of England with ZOVIET FRANCE in the late '80s before moving to Vancouver. It was here that Dead Voices On Air were formed. Spybey was an original member of DOWNLOAD with members of Skinny Puppy, and was the voice of perhaps their most successful release, "The Eyes of Stanley Pain". He has also been a member of PROPELLER, SOFORTKONTAKT! (with Can guitarist Michael Karoli), BEEHATCH (with the late Phil Western), and REFORMED FACTION (with founding member of Zoviet France and Rapoon mainstay Robin Storey).
credits
released October 7, 2022
Mastered by Martin Bowes (The Cage Studios)
Artwork by: Mark Spybey
Graphic Design: Abby Helasdottir
Tracks 1,2,3 originally released as a tape on G.R.O.S.S, GR-30. 1994.
Tracks 4 and 5, recorded in 1994 and originally released as part of the double CD, Fast Falls the Eventide, Lens Records, LENS0109. 2009.
Tracks 6 and 7, recorded in 1994. Unreleased.
All compositions by Mark Spybey, except 4 and 5, which also features cEvin Key on Moog and Barrell Drum.
Dedicated to Akifumi Nakajima (January 13, 1959 – September 25, 2013) whose project Aube undoubtedly influenced the making of these recordings.
Akifumi released Abrader, as a cassette tape. My friend Zev Asher (May 9,1963 – August 7, 2013) introduced Akifumi to me. Both are sadly missed and warmly remembered.
REVIEWS:
"Mark Spybey's clanging Industrial sounds on 'Abrader Redux' are long, dense and purposefully hypnotic. The addition of Skinny Puppy's cEvin Key adds a twist... If David Lynch ever fancied rebooting 'Eraserhead', this would be the perfect soundtrack' (Electronic Sound)
"This is an album that matches its title – abrader. And much like the rock abrading tools are designed to break down, this is hard listening, but with some surprisingly melodic moments... The tracks are recorded loops of primitive instruments and found objects, so you are left with a totally 'original' sound, made up of the physical properties of the objects worked with at the time, overlaid with dark ambient washes and industrial whirring... it's the slow stretching of the fabric of sanity" (The Sleeping Shaman).
"The overhaul has brought out some warmth and greater attention to the nuances to be found embedded in pieces built around loops and the kinda electronic weaving one might expect from a chap who was once a member of Zoviet France and has subsequently long been a presence on the industrial drone circuit... the most rewarding [tracks] are the two which feature Skinny Puppy's cEvin Key on additional Moog and barrell drum. Both of these assume a more hypnotic quality guided by rhythms that most would deem 'tribal' and, once again, a part of DVOA's later trademark sound. " (Adverse Effect)
"Spybey used sparse equipment to record his music. On the three original tracks of 'Abrader', we find music created with short repeating loops... On top of those loops, Spybey adds a lot more electronics... The music has that overall industrial touch of being caught in the wheels of the industry... I enjoyed this particular history lesson a lot" (Vital Weekly)
"Abrader bezieht sich auf ein Werkzeug, das zum abschleifen verwendet wird. Dieser kopflastige Titel passt denn auch wenn die Songs aus echten Industrialsounds bestehen, gefällt Spybey der Begriff "Industrial" heute nicht mehr - er bezeichtnet die atmosphärischen Geräusche auf dem Album lieber als "Organic Ambience" oder "Music For The Eyes"." (Sonic Seducer)
"L'ensemble originel est le fruit d’une instinctive fulgurance... une plastique sonore bruitiste et faisant œuvre de mélange entre des sons "primitifs" et des sources issues d’appareils trouvés ou utilisés dans la vie de tous les jours. Le bruit à effet de répétition que tire Spybey de ces mélanges est hypnotique, atonal... La réécoute de l’ensemble de ces travaux donne alors à saisir une puissance d’intention, et celle du principe de faire à partir de peu : les soubresauts du son de Dead Voices On Air sont pleins de cette force d’intention, d’aucuns diraient "la vision". Car Mark Spybey, dans son processus, est un visionnaire" (Obsküre)
"El álbum “Abrader Redux” es espectacular tras este proceso de restauración sonora, haciendo que su audición se convierta en una exquisitez artística para ser disfrutada tan intensamente como si hubieran sido estos temas compuestos y grabados por primera vez en la actualidad... preciosa re-edición discográfica de esta obra maestra dentro de la escena industrial y experimental de vanguardia" (Lux Atenea)
"La cassetta originale, composta dalle prime 3 tracce, risulta fedele alle aspettative date dal titolo... un trionfo di sovraincisioni, metonimia di un macchinario che si accende e arriva alla massima potenza per poi spegnersi... nelle due tracce aggiuntive registra parti con moog e suonando barili: il risultato finale son due tracce percussive e vivaci... veniamo ad coi due brani finora inediti: Water Waetr ci porta ad ascoltare i rumori di “Abrader”, sott’acqua, con rallentamenti a go-go atti a suggerire l’ovattamento liquido. Gassbag con 6 minuti di sintetizzatore che potrebbero star bene in un disco dei Popol Vuh" (Impatto Sonoro)
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but particularly: Industrial, Dark Ambient, Black Ambient, Japanese Noise, Neoclassical, Dark Folk, Orchestral, Power Electronics, Noise, Drone, Doom, Death Industrial, Dark Soundtracks and Experimental music....more
supported by 33 fans who also own “Abrader Redux (CSR320CD)”
So happy I bought the vinyl, fantastic collection of Cevin's early music. Recommended if you're into Skinny Puppy or if you're a fan of early EBM, industrial or noisey beats! :) jeff
supported by 30 fans who also own “Abrader Redux (CSR320CD)”
This is entire album is axworld of it's very own. Entrancing and inviting. Every Download album is brilliant. cEvin Key is a true master of his craft!! jackchancey
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