Faultline (musician)
Encyclopedia
Faultline is an electronic music project centred on producer David Kosten.
This UK act's enigmatic music has background death threats, Dennis Hopper dialogue and cover versions sung by rock stars. Faultline is the recording moniker for David Kosten, who claims to have turned to samplers and synthesizers after bursting a lung while playing clarinet for the National Youth Orchestra. On his debut album, 1999's Closer Colder, Kosten wrenched spectacular results from both this contemporary technology and more antiquated means of music making (strings, xylophone, trumpet). Faultline's debut single, "Control" (originally released via the Fused & Bruised label but also featured on his debut album) hung around apparently genuine death threats left on Kosten's answer phone. It transpired that the vicious, intimidating messages had been left by a singer with whom Kosten had aborted a planned collaboration. Kosten appropriated the message, knowing that the singer could not claim any credit without incriminating himself, applying the threats alongside wayward noise and Steve Reich-inspired neo-classical music. On Closer Colder (released via the intriguing Leaf label), Faultline continued this approach to music making, utilizing samples in place of vocals. Most notably, the album's title track lifted Dennis Hopper's voice from Blue Velvet. Kosten is reported to have obtained permission to use the sample directly from Hopper and David Lynch, both of whom requested copies of the album. Upon the release of Closer Colder, Kosten claimed to be enamoured with broken amplifiers and malfunctioning circuits and, despite its careful construction, his music has appeared on extreme noise mix albums compiled by artists such as Speedranch and Jansky Noise. Kosten has confessed to humming along to the vicious distortion that punctuated his debut, admitting that he deluded himself that he was creating catchy, commercial pop music. His single "Papercut' was also, notably, used as the title music to Channel 4"s onedottv.
On the eloquent and intelligent post-dance album Your Love Means Everything, Kosten seemed to invert his attitude to "voices', with vocal contributions from Coldplay's Chris Martin, Jacob Golden, the Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne and Steven Drozd and R.E.M."s Michael Stipe. Kosten expressed incredulity about recording his favourite childhood song - Brothers Four's "Greenfields" - with the R.E.M. singer.
Alongside his own music, Kosten has produced albums for Bat For Lashes (Mercury Music Prize nominated and Ivor Novello winning Two Suns and Fur And Gold), Everything Everything (Mercury Music Prize nominated and Ivor Novello nominated Everything Everything (Man Alive), Guillemots (Walk The River), Curry And Coco (We Are Beauty), Joseph Arthur (Our Shadows Will Remain), Chew Lips (Unicorn) and Ben Christophers (My Beautiful Demon and Spoonface).
This UK act's enigmatic music has background death threats, Dennis Hopper dialogue and cover versions sung by rock stars. Faultline is the recording moniker for David Kosten, who claims to have turned to samplers and synthesizers after bursting a lung while playing clarinet for the National Youth Orchestra. On his debut album, 1999's Closer Colder, Kosten wrenched spectacular results from both this contemporary technology and more antiquated means of music making (strings, xylophone, trumpet). Faultline's debut single, "Control" (originally released via the Fused & Bruised label but also featured on his debut album) hung around apparently genuine death threats left on Kosten's answer phone. It transpired that the vicious, intimidating messages had been left by a singer with whom Kosten had aborted a planned collaboration. Kosten appropriated the message, knowing that the singer could not claim any credit without incriminating himself, applying the threats alongside wayward noise and Steve Reich-inspired neo-classical music. On Closer Colder (released via the intriguing Leaf label), Faultline continued this approach to music making, utilizing samples in place of vocals. Most notably, the album's title track lifted Dennis Hopper's voice from Blue Velvet. Kosten is reported to have obtained permission to use the sample directly from Hopper and David Lynch, both of whom requested copies of the album. Upon the release of Closer Colder, Kosten claimed to be enamoured with broken amplifiers and malfunctioning circuits and, despite its careful construction, his music has appeared on extreme noise mix albums compiled by artists such as Speedranch and Jansky Noise. Kosten has confessed to humming along to the vicious distortion that punctuated his debut, admitting that he deluded himself that he was creating catchy, commercial pop music. His single "Papercut' was also, notably, used as the title music to Channel 4"s onedottv.
On the eloquent and intelligent post-dance album Your Love Means Everything, Kosten seemed to invert his attitude to "voices', with vocal contributions from Coldplay's Chris Martin, Jacob Golden, the Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne and Steven Drozd and R.E.M."s Michael Stipe. Kosten expressed incredulity about recording his favourite childhood song - Brothers Four's "Greenfields" - with the R.E.M. singer.
Alongside his own music, Kosten has produced albums for Bat For Lashes (Mercury Music Prize nominated and Ivor Novello winning Two Suns and Fur And Gold), Everything Everything (Mercury Music Prize nominated and Ivor Novello nominated Everything Everything (Man Alive), Guillemots (Walk The River), Curry And Coco (We Are Beauty), Joseph Arthur (Our Shadows Will Remain), Chew Lips (Unicorn) and Ben Christophers (My Beautiful Demon and Spoonface).
Albums
- Closer Colder (1999)
- "Awake" – 4:52
- "Tiny Consumer" – 5:27
- "Mute" – 8:51
- "Papercut" – 4:03
- "Control" – 3:21
- "Closer Colder" – 5:40
- "Salt" – 4:44
- "Partyline Honey" – 5:11
- (Untitled) – 6:41
- Your Love Means Everything (September 10, 2002)
- "Your Love Means Everything" – 3:41
- "Where is My Boy?" (featuring Chris MartinChris MartinChristopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is an English song-writer, who is the lead vocalist, pianist and rhythm guitarist of the band Coldplay. He is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.-Early life:...
) – 5:34 - "Sweet Iris" – 3:49
- "Bitter Kiss" (featuring Jacob GoldenJacob GoldenJacob Golden is an American songwriter/singer/guitarist. After the dissolution of his former band, Birthday, in 2000 he has worked as a solo artist and collaborated with different electronica musicians and producers....
) – 3:23 - "Waiting for the Green Light" (featuring Cannibal OxCannibal OxCannibal Ox, also known as CanOx, is an abstract hip hop duo from Harlem, New York City. Its members include Vast Aire and Vordul Mega. They are often accompanied by DJ Cip-One...
) – 4:09 - "The Colossal Gray Sunshine" (featuring The Flaming LipsThe Flaming LipsThe Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
) – 2:44 - "Clocks" – 4:18
- "Theme for Half Speed" – 3:13
- "Greenfields" (featuring Michael StipeMichael StipeJohn Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
) – 3:19 - "Lost Broadcast" (featuring Nick McCabeNick McCabeNick McCabe is a musician best known as the lead guitarist of The Verve.-Early life:Nick McCabe was the son of a bus driver and has two older brothers, Alan and Paul...
) – 3:38 - "I Only Know Myself" – 3:52
- "Your Love Means Everything Part 2" (featuring Chris MartinChris MartinChristopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is an English song-writer, who is the lead vocalist, pianist and rhythm guitarist of the band Coldplay. He is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.-Early life:...
) – 4:03
- Your Love Means Everything (re-issue on Capitol/EMICapitol RecordsCapitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
) (May 17, 2004)- "Your Love Means Everything" – 3:41
- "Where is My Boy?" (featuring Chris MartinChris MartinChristopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is an English song-writer, who is the lead vocalist, pianist and rhythm guitarist of the band Coldplay. He is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.-Early life:...
) – 5:34 - "We Came from Lego Blocks" (featuring Vordul Megilah) – 2:45
- "Theme for Half Speed" – 3:13
- "Wild Horses" (featuring Joseph ArthurJoseph ArthurJoseph Arthur is an American singer-songwriter and artist from Akron, Ohio. Combining poetic lyrics with a layered sonic palette, Arthur has built his reputation over the years through critically acclaimed releases and constant touring; his unique solo live performances incorporate the use of a...
) – 5:13 - "Sweet Iris" – 3:49
- "Biting Tongues" (featuring Ras B) – 3:28
- "Clocks" – 4:18
- "The Colossal Gray Sunshine" (featuring The Flaming LipsThe Flaming LipsThe Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
) – 2:44 - "I Only Know Myself" – 3:52
- "Greenfields" (featuring Michael StipeMichael StipeJohn Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
) – 3:19 - "Lost Broadcast" (featuring Nick McCabeNick McCabeNick McCabe is a musician best known as the lead guitarist of The Verve.-Early life:Nick McCabe was the son of a bus driver and has two older brothers, Alan and Paul...
) – 3:38 - "Your Love Means Everything Part 2" (featuring Chris MartinChris MartinChristopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is an English song-writer, who is the lead vocalist, pianist and rhythm guitarist of the band Coldplay. He is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.-Early life:...
) – 4:03 - "Missing" (Japanese bonus track) – 3:25
- "Surfacenothing" (Japanese bonus track) – 5:00
Singles & EPs
- Papercut EP (1998)
- "Papercut" – 4:03
- "Partyline Honey" (Remix) – 4:45
- "Quarantine" – 3:26
- "Not Forgotten" – 7:06
- "Mute" single (1999)
- "Mute" – 8:52
- "Mute" (Third Eye Foundation Remix) – 6:33
- "Dislocate" – 2:37
- Faultline EP (2002)
- "The Colossal Gray Sunshine" (featuring The Flaming LipsThe Flaming LipsThe Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
) – 2:44 - "Missing" – 3:25
- "Surfacenothing" – 5:00
- "The Colossal Gray Sunshine" (featuring The Flaming Lips
- "Biting Tongues" promo single (May 2004)
- "Biting Tongues" (featuring Ras B) – 3:32
- "Biting Tongues" (The Bug Mix) – 4:09
- "Biting Tongues" (Riton Mix) – 6:17
- "Biting Tongues" (Hot ChipHot ChipHot Chip are an English electronic indie band. They have released four studio albums—Coming on Strong, The Warning, Made in the Dark and One Life Stand.-Formation:...
Mix) – 7:07
- "Wild Horses"/"Biting Tongues" double A-side single (May 10, 2004)
- "Wild Horses" (featuring Joseph ArthurJoseph ArthurJoseph Arthur is an American singer-songwriter and artist from Akron, Ohio. Combining poetic lyrics with a layered sonic palette, Arthur has built his reputation over the years through critically acclaimed releases and constant touring; his unique solo live performances incorporate the use of a...
) – 5:13 - "Biting Tongues" (featuring Ras B) – 3:32
- "Biting Tongues" (Riton Mix) – 6:17
- "Wild Horses" (enhanced video)
- "Biting Tongues" (enhanced video)
- "Wild Horses" (featuring Joseph Arthur
- "The Colossal Gray Sunshine" promo single (August 2004)
- "The Colossal Gray Sunshine" (featuring The Flaming LipsThe Flaming LipsThe Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
) (remix) – 2:47
- "The Colossal Gray Sunshine" (featuring The Flaming Lips