Biography
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Years Active
1980 – present (44 years)
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Founded In
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom
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Members
- Andy Eardley (1990 – 1995)
- Ben Ponton (1980 – present)
- Lisa Hale (1980 – 1981)
- Mark Spybey (1987 – 1989)
- Mark Warren (1995 – present)
:zoviet*france: is an idiosyncratic collective of anonymous postindustrialists, dronologists, and pseudo-ethnomusicologists. Their investigations have taken them into semi-fictional cultures where reality is not easily located - although oft-forgotten historical markers, such as beachhead bunkers, occasionally punctuate their cover artwork - and often slips into the realm of the waking dream. Having secluded themselves in Newcastle, England since their inception in 1982, :Zoviet*France: have developed a radical relationship with the cheap technologies of old-fashioned tape recorders, homemade acoustic instruments, primitive looping and sampling devices, and basic dub trickery. From these machines, the collective has crafted a distinctly unique vocabulary of postindustrial sonic hypnosis. Just as :Zoviet*France:'s sound was alchemic reconfigurations of inexpensive technologies, their vinyl packaging literally covered their sounds with aluminum, roofing shingles, and porcelain. Adding to their mystery, linear notes are precious few and hard to find, to the point of 6-point typeface printed on the spine of Rorschach-like fold-out illustrations. In fact, during the pre-CD era their vinyl packaging usually evoked as much mystery and fascination as the music itself.
In spite of the digital polish resulting from their usage of hard disk editing on their latest records, :Zoviet*France: has continuously fashioned a beautiful eeriness with unplaced signifiers, sonorous echoes, and hazy driftscapes. There are no political, social or psycho-acoustic attributions to be found on a :Zoviet*France: product, which differentiates them from the sometimes didactic authorings by ambio-noise mates The Hafler Trio, Muslimgauze, Esplendor Geometrico and others. Perhaps the most fulfilling aspect of purchasing a :Zoviet*France: recording is its very absence of anything to latch your brain on to. One is left to his/her own mental formations as the artwork and music engage one to explore, sans reference, those pre-logical meanderings so much of this genre of music is all about.
Members:
Ben Ponton
Mark Warren
Past members:
Andy Eardley
Lisa Hale
Mark Spybey
Paolo Di Paolo
Peter Jensen
Robin Storey
Discography:
:Garista:
1982 - (:soviet:france: ) Cas
1985 - (Red Rhino\Singing Ringing) Cas
1990 - (Charrm CHARRMTC1) Cas
1990 - (Charrm CHARRMLP1) LP
1990 - (Charrm CHARRMCD1) CD
untitled (Hessian)
1982 - (Red Rhino RED 12 EP) EP
1985 - (Red Rhino RED 12 EP) EP
1990 - (Charrm CHARRMLP2) EP
1990 - (Charrm CHARRMCD2) CD
Norsch
1983 - (Red Rhino RED23) EP
1990 - (Charrm CHARRMCD3) CD
Mohnomishe
1983 - (Red Rhino REDLP40) Dbl-LP
1990 - (Charrm CHARRMCD4) CD
Eostre
1984 - (Red Rhino REDLP 45) Dbl-LP
1985 - (Red Rhino REDLP 45) Dbl-LP
1990 - (Charrm CHARRMCD5) CD
Popular Soviet Songs And Youth Music
1985 - (Singing Ringing/Red Rhino REDC58) Dbl-Cas
1994 - (Staalplaat STCD 024) Six-CD
1995 - (Staalplaat STCD 024) Tpl-CD
2004 - (Staalplaat STCD 024) Tpl-CD
Gris
1985 - (No Mans Land NML 8505) EP
1985 - (No Mans Land NML 8505) EP
Misfits, Loony Tunes And Squalid Criminals
1986 - (Red Rhino REDLP67) LP
1995 - (Charrm CHARRMCD8) CD
Gesture Signal Threat
1986 - (Red Rhino REDLP67A) Cas
1995 - (Charrm CHARRMCD9) CD
Loh Land
1987 - (Staalplaat STAALTAPE 00L) Cas
1992 - (Staalplaat STCD 018) CD
A Flock Of Rotations
1987 - (Red Rhino REDLP68) LP
1995 - (Charrm CHARRMCD10) CD
Assault And Mirage
1987 - (Red Rhino REDLP68A) Cas
1995 - (Charrm CHARRMCD11) CD
Shouting At The Ground
1987 - (Red Rhino REDCD91) Dbl-LP
1987 - (Red Rhino REDLP91) CD
1990 - (Charrm CHARRMLP12) Dbl-LP
1990 - (Charrm CHARRMCD12) CD
Look Into Me
1990 - (Charrm CHARRMLP14) LP/EP
1990 - (Charrm CHARRMCD14) CD
Just An Illusion
1990 - (Staalplaat STCD 005) CD
1995 - (Staalplaat STCD 005) CD
2005 (Staalplaat STCD 005) CD
Shadow, Thief Of The Sun
1991 - (DOVentertainment DOVeCD66) CD
Vienna 1990
1991 - (Charrm CHARRMCD15) CD
1991 - (Charrm CHARRMCD15) CD
Collusion
1992 - (The Grey Area Of Soleilmoon SION 1) CD
What Is Not True
1993 - (Charrm CHARRMCD17) CD
Unentitled
1995 - (These THESE 11 CD) CD
Digilogue
1996 - (Soleilmoon SOLV 004) LP
1998 - (Soleilmoon SOL 62 CD) CD
In.Version
1996 - (Charrm CHARRMCD24) CD
Mort Aux Vaches: Feedback
1998 - (Mort Aux Vaches / Staalplaat no#) CD
The Decriminalisation Of Country Music
2000 - (Tramway TRAM1 CD) CD
Music For A Spaghetti Western
2005 - (Klanggalerie GG111) CD
2008 - shteirlel
King Worldwide via alt.vinyl
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