Biography
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Years Active
1998 – present (26 years)
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Members
- Isaac W. Glendening (1998 – present)
- Matthew Cargil (1998 – 2001)
- Vince Guzzardo (1998 – present)
Cesium_137 is an electronic-industrial/synthpop musical group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA composed of Isaac Glendening and Vince Guzzardo.
Each member has a background in classical music study, and contemporary electronic music production, bringing a true understanding of song structure in each fold of the production process. The two have been working in the music industry for over a decade each and strive to create a unique sound that reaches out and grabs the listener. Simply put, their music is the dream of Cesium_137 conjured into reality. It is a perfect synthesis of classic pop song structures, emotive vocals, and hard dance music grafted into one form.
The band formed in mid 1999 and originally consisted of Isaac Glendening and Matt Cargill. They tested the waters for their unique brand of electo-industrial by self-distributing their demo CD "The Art Of Controlling And Composing" produced by Tom Shear of Assemblage 23. Local reaction was extremely positive and encouraged them to sign to Tonedeaf records and spend the next few years crafting their first full release. They were joined by Vince Guzzardo another electronic musician who had done some session work with another band from Philadelphia on the Tonedeaf label, Tech-9. The first full length album "Advanced/Decay" was released in 2001 and gained widespread attention, particularly with the moody dance track "Regrets", which was also released as a single and became a danceclub hit.
Soon after the September 11, 2001 attacks Matt Cargill joined the U.S. military and although he stayed in contact with fellow band members, he was no longer available as a member to contribute to Cesium_137. There was a hiatus of three years before their next release.
That release was “Elemental” in 2004; it was issued with Metropolis Records, a much more prominent label than Tonedeaf. It was soon followed by an E.P. release, “Luminous”, also in 2004 on Metropolis; it composed largely of remixed material from “Elemental”. Cesium_137’s style was much mellower and synthpoppy and less angst-ridden on these releases than on “Advanced/Decay”. Whether that was simply a natural progression or whether Cargill was the primary source of angst and took it with him is a matter of conjecture.
Several years later in 2006 Cesium_137 released “Intelligent Design” which featured another evolution of their sound, this time incorporating trance/IDM elements. Their latest album “Proof of Life” was released in 2007 and featured their most introspective, contemplative and moving subject matter to date, sparked by both the birth of Isaac's son and the passing from cancer of local electronic/noise artist Frank Miller of Projekt 2501.
They are currently working on a new album entitled "Identity" intended for release in 2009, that while maintaining links to pop and electro elements in recent releases also signals a return to their harsher roots. Several of the tracks will also depart from the 4/4 beat structure that has become the de facto prevalent formula of modern electronic dance music.
Footnote:
The name Cesium_137 is derived from a radioactive isotope of cesium. It continues a tradition in industrial music of incorporating a number in the band name, which became popular after the example of Front 242. It also continues the narrower tradition in industrial music of adopting the name of an isotope as the band name, as with Carbon 12 and Front 242 offshoot Cobalt 60.
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