Cell 7
Encyclopedia
[ cell 7 ] is an electronic
industrial
band formed in Perth, Western Australia
. Starting in the early 1990s, [ cell 7 ] was initially influenced by IDM
artists such as Autechre
and Aphex Twin
as well as the more mainstream sounds of Depeche Mode
, the Cure
and Nine Inch Nails
. The band has been referred to as 'endustrial' in sound, possibly to indicate the distinction between [ cell 7 ] and the normal perception of the industrial genre
. The band is a duo consisting of Nick Mueller and Paul Harrison, with occasional additional live performers.
The name [ cell 7 ] is a reference to biological cells rather than incarceration
, and the square brackets are part of the official moniker.
, attending the same primary school. Meeting up again at university, after Mueller had trained in classical music, they began experimenting with sounds and instrumentation, combining alt-metal, goth and industrial
noise
elements with synth-pop, techno
and electronica
. They built a strong local following which was recognized with [ cell 7 ] winning 3 consecutive WAMI awards
(1999, 2000, 2001) and performing live on RTRFM
. A limited edition mini-album (300 signed and numbered EP
s) Precognition was released, selling out in under 72 hours.
In late 2001 both members relocated to Sydney, Australia for work reasons, and [ cell 7 ] took a hiatus from live performance. As Nick explained in a 4ZZZ
radio interview - “real life got in the way”.
In 2007, Nick moved to Amsterdam
in the Netherlands and there completed the recording and production on a full-length album. RE:COGNITION was digitally released worldwide in late 2009, reaching number 1 on the FiXT Music
store sales and critical acclaim. The album was named as one of FiXTs 'Must Have Albums', and the opening track ‘Red’ was selected by FiXT Records
to be remixed by their online community, with the resulting album RED: the FiXT REMIXES released in June 2011 (containing 6 additional mixes and a previously unreleased track, Splinter).
In 2010 the [ cell 7 ] cover version of the R.E.M.
track “Losing My Religion
” was selected for inclusion on the Dependent Records compilation Septic IX.
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
band formed in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. Starting in the early 1990s, [ cell 7 ] was initially influenced by IDM
Intelligent dance music
Intelligent dance music is a term that describes an electronic music genre that emerged in the early 1990s. The genre is influenced by a wide range of musical styles particularly electronic dance music such as Detroit Techno...
artists such as Autechre
Autechre
Autechre are an English electronic music duo consisting of Rob Brown and Sean Booth, both natives of Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1987, they are one of the most prominent acts signed to Warp Records, a label known for its pioneering electronic music and through which all Autechre albums...
and Aphex Twin
Aphex Twin
Richard David James , best known under the pseudonym Aphex Twin, is an Irish-born electronic musician and composer described as "the most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music"...
as well as the more mainstream sounds of Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
, the Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
and Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
. The band has been referred to as 'endustrial' in sound, possibly to indicate the distinction between [ cell 7 ] and the normal perception of the industrial genre
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
. The band is a duo consisting of Nick Mueller and Paul Harrison, with occasional additional live performers.
The name [ cell 7 ] is a reference to biological cells rather than incarceration
Incarceration
Incarceration is the detention of a person in prison, typically as punishment for a crime .People are most commonly incarcerated upon suspicion or conviction of committing a crime, and different jurisdictions have differing laws governing the function of incarceration within a larger system of...
, and the square brackets are part of the official moniker.
History
Nick and Paul both grew up in the hills of PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, attending the same primary school. Meeting up again at university, after Mueller had trained in classical music, they began experimenting with sounds and instrumentation, combining alt-metal, goth and industrial
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
noise
Noise
In common use, the word noise means any unwanted sound. In both analog and digital electronics, noise is random unwanted perturbation to a wanted signal; it is called noise as a generalisation of the acoustic noise heard when listening to a weak radio transmission with significant electrical noise...
elements with synth-pop, techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
and electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
. They built a strong local following which was recognized with [ cell 7 ] winning 3 consecutive WAMI awards
West Australian Music Industry Awards
The Western Australian Music Industry Awards are annual awards presented to the local contemporary music industry, put on by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc...
(1999, 2000, 2001) and performing live on RTRFM
RTRFM
RTRFM is a not-for-profit, community radio station based in Perth, Western Australia. It is self-funded, largely through listener subscription and fund-raising events, however it does carry some "advertising material" at a maximum of 5 mins per hour. It broadcasts 24 hours a day, on 92.1 in the...
. A limited edition mini-album (300 signed and numbered EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
s) Precognition was released, selling out in under 72 hours.
In late 2001 both members relocated to Sydney, Australia for work reasons, and [ cell 7 ] took a hiatus from live performance. As Nick explained in a 4ZZZ
4ZZZ
4ZZZ is an independent community radio station operating in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, at the frequency 102.1 FM. As a community radio station, 4ZZZ is a member of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia...
radio interview - “real life got in the way”.
In 2007, Nick moved to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
in the Netherlands and there completed the recording and production on a full-length album. RE:COGNITION was digitally released worldwide in late 2009, reaching number 1 on the FiXT Music
FiXT Music
FiXT is an American independent media company with several divisions including a record label, an online music store, a film/TV/video game music licensing arm, and a remix contest site and community...
store sales and critical acclaim. The album was named as one of FiXTs 'Must Have Albums', and the opening track ‘Red’ was selected by FiXT Records
FiXT Music
FiXT is an American independent media company with several divisions including a record label, an online music store, a film/TV/video game music licensing arm, and a remix contest site and community...
to be remixed by their online community, with the resulting album RED: the FiXT REMIXES released in June 2011 (containing 6 additional mixes and a previously unreleased track, Splinter).
In 2010 the [ cell 7 ] cover version of the R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
track “Losing My Religion
Losing My Religion
"Losing My Religion" is a song by the American alternative rock band R.E.M. The song was released as the first single from the group's 1991 album Out of Time. Based around a mandolin riff, "Losing My Religion" was an unlikely hit for the group, garnering heavy airplay on radio as well as on MTV due...
” was selected for inclusion on the Dependent Records compilation Septic IX.
Members
- Nick Mueller (vox, guitars, synthesizers, violin, percussion)
- Paul Harrison (piano, synthesizers)
Previous Live Members
- David Thomas (synthesizers)
- Daniel Clarke (guitars)
- Anabel Nguyen (vox, synthesizers)
Discography
- [ cell 7 ] - Precognition (independent release EP, 2000)
- [ cell 7 ] - RE:COGNITION (Cognition Records CD, 2009)
- compilation - Kiss My WAMI 2000 (WAMI, 2000)
- compilation - Dark Eyed and Starry They Were: Volume 2 (Heartland Records, 2000)
- compilation - Septic IX (Dependent Records, 2010)
- FiXT remix - RED: the FiXT remixes (FiXT, 2011)