High Pass Filter (band)
Encyclopedia
High Pass Filter were a live electro-dub band formed in Melbourne
, Australia
. The band was active from 1995–2006 and supported many major touring artists such as Beastie Boys
, Blues Explosion, Tortoise
, Fugazi, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, The Boredoms and Mad Professor
.
The group began as a live dub outfit playing local clubs and bars around Melbourne's Fitzroy area. They quickly became known for their experimental sound and mostly instrumental songs. Live concerts regularly involved the use of unconventional instruments such as looped tape machines, conch shells, telephone receivers, air tubes and a variety of toys. During early shows, guitarist Kelly Ryall regularly played one of the infamous Travis Bean
aluminium neck guitars - a TB1000 owned by bassist Anthony Paine. High Pass Filter played the 'What is Music?' stage at the Sydney leg of the Big Day Out
Festival in 2000. Two of their songs were broadcast from the festival on local radio station Triple J
. The band also played several live sessions for the ABC's Radio National public radio service.
Many of the band members have since gone on to form or collaborate with a variety of acts including One Watt Sun, Hired Guns
, Beam Up, Leather Pet, Legends of Motorsport
, The Snuff Puppets, Snout
, and Will Guthrie.
Guitarist Kelly Ryall composes music for theatre, film, dance and performance with, amongst other collaborators, the Melbourne Theatre Company
.
Bass player Anthony Paine can be found building and repairing guitars under the name Harvester Guitars as well as continuing to be involved with bands. Notably, Black Cab who were nominated for the Australian Music Prize in 2009.
Kelly Ryall "Composer Website"
Harvester Guitars (Anthony Paine) "Website"
'Sadness In The Sky Magazine' Interview from 1998 "Website"
The Spill Label "Kraftworks CD" (Features members of High Pass Filter)
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The band was active from 1995–2006 and supported many major touring artists such as Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
, Blues Explosion, Tortoise
Tortoise (band)
Tortoise is an American post-rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1990.-Music:Tortoise's almost entirely instrumental music defies easy categorization, and the group gained significant attention from their early career. The members have roots in Chicago's fertile music scene, playing in...
, Fugazi, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, The Boredoms and Mad Professor
Mad Professor
Mad Professor is a dub music producer and engineer known for his original productions and remix work. He is considered one of the leading producers of dub music’s second generation and was instrumental in transitioning dub into the digital age. He is a prolific producer, contributing to or...
.
The group began as a live dub outfit playing local clubs and bars around Melbourne's Fitzroy area. They quickly became known for their experimental sound and mostly instrumental songs. Live concerts regularly involved the use of unconventional instruments such as looped tape machines, conch shells, telephone receivers, air tubes and a variety of toys. During early shows, guitarist Kelly Ryall regularly played one of the infamous Travis Bean
Travis Bean
Clifford Travis Bean was an American luthier and machinist from California.In 1974, he partnered with Marc McElwee and Gary Kramer to start Travis Bean Guitars, which made high-end electric guitars and basses featuring machined aluminum necks. This was an unusual design, departing from more...
aluminium neck guitars - a TB1000 owned by bassist Anthony Paine. High Pass Filter played the 'What is Music?' stage at the Sydney leg of the Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...
Festival in 2000. Two of their songs were broadcast from the festival on local radio station Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
. The band also played several live sessions for the ABC's Radio National public radio service.
Many of the band members have since gone on to form or collaborate with a variety of acts including One Watt Sun, Hired Guns
Hired Guns
Hired Guns is a role-playing video game produced by DMA Design for the Amiga and the PC in 1993.The game is set in the year 2712, in which the player controls four mercenaries selected from a pool of twelve...
, Beam Up, Leather Pet, Legends of Motorsport
Legends of Motorsport (band)
Legends of Motorsport is a rock band formed in Hobart and based in Melbourne, Australia.Legends of Motorsport have released three albums. The first was Duel Fuel which was a compilation of their Beef With Cheese and Legends Of Motorsport eps. Their second was Remnants From The Big Bang released on...
, The Snuff Puppets, Snout
Snout (band)
Snout were an Australian independent rock band who were formed in Melbourne in 1991 and disbanded in 2002. They released numerous recordings and were twice nominated for an Australian Record Industry Association Award. Ross McLennan, the founder of the band, has since gone on as a solo artist who...
, and Will Guthrie.
Guitarist Kelly Ryall composes music for theatre, film, dance and performance with, amongst other collaborators, the Melbourne Theatre Company
Melbourne Theatre Company
The Melbourne Theatre Company is a theatre company based in Melbourne. Founded in 1953, it is the oldest professional theatre company in Australia, and has its own theatre, The MTC Theatre – which houses the 500-seat Sumner Theatre and the 150-seat Lawler Studio – located in Melbourne's Arts...
.
Bass player Anthony Paine can be found building and repairing guitars under the name Harvester Guitars as well as continuing to be involved with bands. Notably, Black Cab who were nominated for the Australian Music Prize in 2009.
Members
- Ben Green (Turntables, vocals)
- Brian May (Synths, samples, loops, trumpet, percussion)
- Anthony Paine (Bass, toys, tape-loops)
- James Wilkinson (Trombone, toys)
- Kelly Ryall (Guitar)
- Larry de Zoete (Drums)
EPs
- Audio Forensic (1997)
- Talkin' 'bout Yeah (rehearsal tapes and live recordings) (2000)
- What's In The Bag? (remixes) (2001)
External links
High Pass Filter "Myspace"Kelly Ryall "Composer Website"
Harvester Guitars (Anthony Paine) "Website"
'Sadness In The Sky Magazine' Interview from 1998 "Website"
The Spill Label "Kraftworks CD" (Features members of High Pass Filter)