Download (band)
Encyclopedia
Download is an electronic music group formed by Dwayne Goettel
and cEvin Key
of Skinny Puppy
in 1994. The initial lineup also included Off & Gone's Phil Western
and Mark Spybey of Dead Voices on Air
, but has since been particularly fluid, with Key and Western being the only constant members following Goettel
's death. Download's music has been described as post-industrial, drawing from the band's genesis as part of Skinny Puppy
but also sharing common stylistic ground with such artists as Aphex Twin
and Autechre
. The primary instrumentation common throughout their albums is a blend of synthesizer
s and sample
d instrument
s; the music is particularly centered on elements of percussion
and rhythm
.
Other artists that have been involved are Genesis P. Orridge, Anthony Valcic, Bill Van Rooy, and Ken Marshall. Earlier releases frequently included vocal elements and lyrics
, but since III
(and Mark Spybey's departure in 1996) their work has been strictly instrumental.
, was arguably their least accessible—most of the tracks lasted for over four minutes, some lasting as long as nine minutes. Their next release, the Microscopic EP
continued this style. It featured three remixes of tracks from Furnace (only one of which was remixed by the band itself, the other two were remixed by Biosphere
and Newt), along with five original tracks.
was another experimental industrial LP by Download, except this LP was a soundtrack to the movie of the same name, and it had significantly different sound than the previous two releases. Instead of the beat-oriented music that dominated Furnace and Microscopic, this LP's music was mostly dominated by a simple beat along with many samples of anything from women orgasm
ing to airplanes taking off.
is arguably Download's most diverse-sounding and accessible industrial album. It spanned 14 tracks, most of which were about four or five minutes long. The only exceptions were the tracks "Glassblower" and "Collision", which were 3:02 and 10:38, respectively. Later that year, the EP
Sidewinder
was released by the band. In the same vein as their first EP--Microscopic--it contained eight tracks, except four were remixes. Three were remixes by Download of songs from The Eyes of Stanley Pain, and one was a remix of the song "Attalal" from Furnace by the band Haujobb
(although the packaging of Sidewinder spells it "Attallal"). The other four songs were original songs recorded by Download, and the last of Download's post-industrial era.
marked a turning point for Download. Their sound became more melodic and accessible while still retaining the experimental quirks of their older material. Their next album Effector
continued this direction.
and Inception were released as part of Subconscious Studio's From The Vault series. Inception contained outtakes from Download's more experimental early era, while III Steps Forward
included outtakes from the III and Effector eras as well as new tracks. Although the original pressing of each was limited to 1000 copies, 2nd pressing editions are currently available from Subconscious Studio's website.
was included in the series. Written by cEvin Key and Phil Western with a guest appearance by Mark Spybey. As stated on the official Subconscious Communications website, the album employs some of the oldest synthesizers the studio has in its sprawling collection. The result differs from the more ambient releases of Effector and Fixer and is more akin to Download's previous works such as Furnace or Charlie's Family. The album is available as part of the Beyond the Vault series or individually via the subconscious Communications website and as of February 2010 a digital download has become available through Amazon.com. The album has not yet been released through the iTunes Store.
A special-edition of Furnace was also released with Subconscious' From the Vault II series. The new release includes a second disc with a collection of the live jams and improvisations that were the basis of the finished album.
Dwayne Goettel
Dwayne Rudolph Goettel was a member of the industrial band Skinny Puppy. He played keyboards for an early incarnation of the Canadian gothic/synthpop band Psyche, as well as a band called Water, who opened for Skinny Puppy in 1985...
and cEvin Key
CEvin Key
cEvin Key is the pseudonym of Kevin William Crompton , who was a founding member of the industrial music band Skinny Puppy, along with Nivek Ogre. In addition to his work with Skinny Puppy, cEvin Key has had several side projects, including Doubting Thomas, Cyberaktif, and Hilt...
of Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy is a Canadian industrial musical group, formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1982. The group is widely considered to be the founders of the electro-industrial genre....
in 1994. The initial lineup also included Off & Gone's Phil Western
Phil Western
Phil Western is a Vancouver-based musician who is a founding member of the bands Download, PlatEAU, Frozen Rabbit, and Off And Gone....
and Mark Spybey of Dead Voices on Air
Dead Voices on Air
Dead Voices on Air is Mark Spybey's Experimental and Industrial project formed after his departure from Zoviet France. Many people classify a large portion of his works as Ambient, but Spybey insists his music is not ambient music of any sort and calls it "music for the eyes"...
, but has since been particularly fluid, with Key and Western being the only constant members following Goettel
Dwayne Goettel
Dwayne Rudolph Goettel was a member of the industrial band Skinny Puppy. He played keyboards for an early incarnation of the Canadian gothic/synthpop band Psyche, as well as a band called Water, who opened for Skinny Puppy in 1985...
's death. Download's music has been described as post-industrial, drawing from the band's genesis as part of Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy is a Canadian industrial musical group, formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1982. The group is widely considered to be the founders of the electro-industrial genre....
but also sharing common stylistic ground with such artists as 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"...
and 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...
. The primary instrumentation common throughout their albums is a blend of synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s and sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
d instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
s; the music is particularly centered on elements of percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
and rhythm
Rhythm
Rhythm may be generally defined as a "movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions." This general meaning of regular recurrence or pattern in time may be applied to a wide variety of cyclical natural phenomena having a periodicity or...
.
Other artists that have been involved are Genesis P. Orridge, Anthony Valcic, Bill Van Rooy, and Ken Marshall. Earlier releases frequently included vocal elements and lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
, but since III
III (Download album)
III is an IDM album by Download.-Tracklist:# "Toooly Hooof" – 4:36# "Cunning" – 6:02# "Moth" – 6:59# "Tunnel" – 3:49# "Mzeo B" – 4:31# "Streaked" – 4:33# "Flight Of the Luminous Insects" – 6:11# "Beauty In the Eyes" – 6:12# "Sleeping Solus" – 6:21...
(and Mark Spybey's departure in 1996) their work has been strictly instrumental.
Furnace and Microscopic
In the first era of Download's career, the band's sound was an Experimental Industrial style which featured vocals by Mark Spybey and guest vocals by Genesis P. Orridge. Their first LP, FurnaceFurnace (album)
-Personnel:*Dwayne Goettel*Philth*Mark Spybey*cEvin Key*Genesis P. Orridge...
, was arguably their least accessible—most of the tracks lasted for over four minutes, some lasting as long as nine minutes. Their next release, the Microscopic EP
Microscopic (EP)
Microscopic is a 1996 EPs by the industrial music group Download. It was one of the first releases with a lenticular cover. Their previous LP, Furnace, also made use of this new type of packaging.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Dwayne Goettel*Philth...
continued this style. It featured three remixes of tracks from Furnace (only one of which was remixed by the band itself, the other two were remixed by Biosphere
Biosphere (musician)
Biosphere is the main recording name of Geir Jenssen , a Norwegian musician who has released a notable catalogue of ambient electronic music. He is well known for his "ambient techno" and "arctic ambient" styles, his use of music loops, and peculiar samples from sci-fi sources. His track "Novelty...
and Newt), along with five original tracks.
Charlie's Family
Charlie's FamilyCharlie's Family
Charlie's Family is the third LP release by the industrial music group Download. It was initially released through Download's 1996 tour in a limited run of 2,000 copies, though it was later re-issued as a digipak through Metropolis Records in 1997...
was another experimental industrial LP by Download, except this LP was a soundtrack to the movie of the same name, and it had significantly different sound than the previous two releases. Instead of the beat-oriented music that dominated Furnace and Microscopic, this LP's music was mostly dominated by a simple beat along with many samples of anything from women orgasm
Orgasm
Orgasm is the peak of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, characterized by an intense sensation of pleasure...
ing to airplanes taking off.
The Eyes of Stanley Pain and Sidewinder
What could be considered Download's third era to one fan could be considered a revisit to their first style by the next. The Eyes of Stanley PainThe Eyes of Stanley Pain
The Eyes of Stanley Pain is an album by Download.-Track listing:# "Suni C" – 5:29# "Possession" – 4:07# "The Turin Cloud" – 4:31# "Glassblower" – 3:01# "H Sien Influence" – 4:45# "Base Metal" – 5:00# "Collision" – 10:37# "Sidewinder" – 4:18...
is arguably Download's most diverse-sounding and accessible industrial album. It spanned 14 tracks, most of which were about four or five minutes long. The only exceptions were the tracks "Glassblower" and "Collision", which were 3:02 and 10:38, respectively. Later that year, the 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...
Sidewinder
Sidewinder (EP)
Sidewinder is an EP by Industrial music group Download released in 1996.-Track listing:# "Sidewinder " – 5:52# "Glassblower " – 3:30# "Base Metal " – 4:29# "Chalice" – 3:06# "Shemaesin" – 5:42# "IM5" – 3:25...
was released by the band. In the same vein as their first EP--Microscopic--it contained eight tracks, except four were remixes. Three were remixes by Download of songs from The Eyes of Stanley Pain, and one was a remix of the song "Attalal" from Furnace by the band Haujobb
Haujobb
Haujobb is a German musical project whose output has ranged drastically within the electronic music spectrum, from electro-industrial to IDM and techno...
(although the packaging of Sidewinder spells it "Attallal"). The other four songs were original songs recorded by Download, and the last of Download's post-industrial era.
III and Effector
IIIIII (Download album)
III is an IDM album by Download.-Tracklist:# "Toooly Hooof" – 4:36# "Cunning" – 6:02# "Moth" – 6:59# "Tunnel" – 3:49# "Mzeo B" – 4:31# "Streaked" – 4:33# "Flight Of the Luminous Insects" – 6:11# "Beauty In the Eyes" – 6:12# "Sleeping Solus" – 6:21...
marked a turning point for Download. Their sound became more melodic and accessible while still retaining the experimental quirks of their older material. Their next album Effector
Effector (album)
- Track listing :# "Carrier Tone" – 4:02# "Muscaria" – 5:09# "Vagator" – 6:12# "Ego Dissolve" – 5:31# "The Guide" – 5:27# "Chrysanthemum" – 5:03# "Ayahuasca" – 3:55# "Two Worlds Collide" – 6:44# "Affirmed" – 4:04...
continued this direction.
III Steps Forward and Inception
Two more albums, III Steps ForwardIII Steps Forward
III Steps Forward is a 2002 album by the band Download. It is a collection of new material, as well as outtakes from their albums III and Effector.-Track listing:# "Sticky Glandstin" – 3:14# "Dakota" – 4:30...
and Inception were released as part of Subconscious Studio's From The Vault series. Inception contained outtakes from Download's more experimental early era, while III Steps Forward
III Steps Forward
III Steps Forward is a 2002 album by the band Download. It is a collection of new material, as well as outtakes from their albums III and Effector.-Track listing:# "Sticky Glandstin" – 3:14# "Dakota" – 4:30...
included outtakes from the III and Effector eras as well as new tracks. Although the original pressing of each was limited to 1000 copies, 2nd pressing editions are currently available from Subconscious Studio's website.
Fixer
In December 2006, cEvin Key announced that new material has been recorded for a new album (entitled Fixer). The album was released on April 2007.HElicopTEr
In late 2009, Subconscious Communications announced the release of the "Beyond the Vault" series. With it, a new Download album titled HElicopTErHELicopTer
-+ Wookie Wall:...
was included in the series. Written by cEvin Key and Phil Western with a guest appearance by Mark Spybey. As stated on the official Subconscious Communications website, the album employs some of the oldest synthesizers the studio has in its sprawling collection. The result differs from the more ambient releases of Effector and Fixer and is more akin to Download's previous works such as Furnace or Charlie's Family. The album is available as part of the Beyond the Vault series or individually via the subconscious Communications website and as of February 2010 a digital download has become available through Amazon.com. The album has not yet been released through the iTunes Store.
A special-edition of Furnace was also released with Subconscious' From the Vault II series. The new release includes a second disc with a collection of the live jams and improvisations that were the basis of the finished album.
Discography
| Title | Release date | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furnace Furnace (album) -Personnel:*Dwayne Goettel*Philth*Mark Spybey*cEvin Key*Genesis P. Orridge... |
October 3, 1995 | Cleopatra Cleopatra Records Cleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label.- History :Founded in 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in gothic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music... , Subconscious Communications Subconscious Communications Subconscious Communications is an independent record label based in Toluca Lake, California. Originating in Vancouver B.C., Canada, it was founded in 1993 by Dwayne Goettel of Skinny Puppy and Phil Western of Download... |
Re-released in 2007 as part of the Vault II series with bonus disc |
| Microscopic Microscopic (EP) Microscopic is a 1996 EPs by the industrial music group Download. It was one of the first releases with a lenticular cover. Their previous LP, Furnace, also made use of this new type of packaging.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Dwayne Goettel*Philth... (EP) |
January 9, 1996 | Cleopatra, Subconscious Communications |
|
| Charlie's Family Charlie's Family Charlie's Family is the third LP release by the industrial music group Download. It was initially released through Download's 1996 tour in a limited run of 2,000 copies, though it was later re-issued as a digipak through Metropolis Records in 1997... |
1996 | Metropolis Metropolis Records Metropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres.... , Subconscious Communications |
|
| Sidewinder Sidewinder (EP) Sidewinder is an EP by Industrial music group Download released in 1996.-Track listing:# "Sidewinder " – 5:52# "Glassblower " – 3:30# "Base Metal " – 4:29# "Chalice" – 3:06# "Shemaesin" – 5:42# "IM5" – 3:25... (EP) |
April 30, 1996 | Nettwerk Nettwerk The Nettwerk Music Group is the umbrella company for Nettwerk Management, Nettwerk Records, Nettwerk One Publishing, Nutone Records, and Artwerk. With over 150 employees, the Vancouver-based company has offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Boston, Nashville, and Hamburg... |
|
| The Eyes of Stanley Pain The Eyes of Stanley Pain The Eyes of Stanley Pain is an album by Download.-Track listing:# "Suni C" – 5:29# "Possession" – 4:07# "The Turin Cloud" – 4:31# "Glassblower" – 3:01# "H Sien Influence" – 4:45# "Base Metal" – 5:00# "Collision" – 10:37# "Sidewinder" – 4:18... |
May 28, 1996 | Nettwerk, Subconscious Communications |
Music video for "Glassblower" directed by William Morrison William Morrison (director) William Morrison , is a Canadian born Juno Award-nominated music video director, documentary film director, and musician... |
| III III (Download album) III is an IDM album by Download.-Tracklist:# "Toooly Hooof" – 4:36# "Cunning" – 6:02# "Moth" – 6:59# "Tunnel" – 3:49# "Mzeo B" – 4:31# "Streaked" – 4:33# "Flight Of the Luminous Insects" – 6:11# "Beauty In the Eyes" – 6:12# "Sleeping Solus" – 6:21... |
October 21, 1997 | Nettwerk, Subconscious Communications |
|
| Effector Effector (album) - Track listing :# "Carrier Tone" – 4:02# "Muscaria" – 5:09# "Vagator" – 6:12# "Ego Dissolve" – 5:31# "The Guide" – 5:27# "Chrysanthemum" – 5:03# "Ayahuasca" – 3:55# "Two Worlds Collide" – 6:44# "Affirmed" – 4:04... |
October 24, 2000 | Nettwerk, Subconscious Communications |
|
| Inception: The Subconscious Jams 1994-1995 (Compilation) | January, 2002 | Subconscious Communications | From the Vault #1 (of 7), Limited to 1000 copies |
| III Steps Forward III Steps Forward III Steps Forward is a 2002 album by the band Download. It is a collection of new material, as well as outtakes from their albums III and Effector.-Track listing:# "Sticky Glandstin" – 3:14# "Dakota" – 4:30... |
April, 2002 | Subconscious Communications | From the Vault #3 (of 7), Limited to 1000 copies |
| Fixer | April, 2007 | Subconscious Communications | From the Vault II |
| HElicopTEr HELicopTer -+ Wookie Wall:... |
2009 | Subconscious Communications | Beyond the Vault |