Post punk, studio
fused tracks took the raw elements of an anti-establishment mentality whilst
embracing new technologies such as sampling keyboards and funky frequencies, to
redefine the sounds and styles of what we were used to hearing on our
turntables.
From as early as
1979, Mi-Sex, a neo-new wave collective, combined cutting edge studio
production with a dynamic live show to expand and explode this new
electronic/guitar noise on our unsuspecting eardrums. Led by enigmatic Steve
Gilpin as lead vocalist, Mi-Sex scorched the charts with sonic singles ‘People’
and ‘Computer Games’. The later timeless classic rammed a repetitive keyboard
loop into the mainstream, full of attitude with a brainwashing beat to
hypnotise and exorcise our living rooms.
Another epic slab of
energetic experimental ism came in the form of Body Electric, a loose studio
based band of post punk pioneers emerging from the ashes of Wellington’s punk
and proud The Steroids. Steered by the clever hands of Alan Jansson (yes, he of
‘How Bizarre’ fame), Body Electric tinkled with the idea of aural anarchy via
the airwaves of the burgeoning student radio network. 1982 saw their local
launch of ‘Pulsing’, an extended mix of chaotic frequencies, which took on the
mighty Sheffield synth gods Human League, taking a place on our national charts
after nearly 3 months of slow building airplay support. To this day ‘Pulsing’,
is highly unique, in that it sounds like a techno time capsule from the future,
beat-box blades scraping a mashed up melody from scraps of psychotic ranting,
hypnotic, harmful and yet fully immersive.
At this time Split
Enz were crafting a less manic mindset and New Zealand culture and sounds were
calming down from banging heads and piercing punk provocativeness to a
financially fused production experience. Often behind closed doors in well
stocked studios, overseas inspiration was flooding into our creative process,
with Kraftwerk and Public Image Limited paying a prominent part in shaping our
future sounds.
Check out some Mi-Sex and see how it stacks up with today's sound or delve into the equally excellent compilation It's Bigger than the Both of us, both well worth a re-visit.
Alternatively, for an equally excellent excursion slap on the Hallelujah Picassos, or the dreamy dubbed out bliss of Pitch Black, proud examples of what a well stocked studio can deliver.
Dave Tucker
