Mannequin Depressives
Encyclopedia
Mannequin Depressives are a synth-pop group formed in 1998.
Current members are: Rod C. Dornian (lead vocals
, percussion
, keyboards
), Russ Magee (guitar
s, live percusson, vocals
, keyboards
), Scott (Smoth) Johns (lead guitar
, keyboards
, vocals
, custom noise), and Nebulous (keyboards
, vocals
, analogue synthesiser programming).
Inspired by the post-punk scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Mannequin Depressives set out to essentially duplicate the sound of the early 80s New Wave era, while combining modern elements. Their approach to electronic music is rooted in the rock band ethos of the late 70s, with a focus on the use of electronic instruments interchangeably with traditional instruments. This is in contrast to the electronic music industry's recent laptop revolution, in which compositions are exclusively (or for the most part) generated via a software interface.
The most recent release by Mannequin Depressives is their second full-length album, "Girls Are Evil." This 2008 production's arrival was marked by a massive CD release party spanning The Warehouse and Underground nightclubs in Calgary, Canada on March 20, 2008. Mannequin Depressives has performed alongside bands of similar genres, including: Left Spine Down
, The Rabid Whole
, iVardensphere
, Combichrist
, and The Birthday Massacre
.
A darker and more symphonic project, Voltage Control (VCon) has often been described as atmospheric electro-industrial. To date, two full-length Voltage Control studio albums are known to exist, in addition to a series of live recordings.
Current members are: Rod C. Dornian (lead vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, 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...
, keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
), Russ Magee (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, live percusson, vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
), Scott (Smoth) Johns (lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, custom noise), and Nebulous (keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, analogue synthesiser programming).
Name
The band's name is taken from a humorous introduction title on a Saturday Night Live episode (Season 5, Episode 7, 1979) that was shown before David Bowie performed with Klaus Nomi.History
In the late-1980s, Dornian conducted preliminary recordings for what was later to become the project Mannequin Depressives. Having met Smoth in 1997, Nebulous in 1998, and Magee soon after, the line-up was complete. Recordings continued, and tracks were re-worked to form a number of EPs—culminating in their first official full-length album release Trash-Eighty in 2002.Inspired by the post-punk scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Mannequin Depressives set out to essentially duplicate the sound of the early 80s New Wave era, while combining modern elements. Their approach to electronic music is rooted in the rock band ethos of the late 70s, with a focus on the use of electronic instruments interchangeably with traditional instruments. This is in contrast to the electronic music industry's recent laptop revolution, in which compositions are exclusively (or for the most part) generated via a software interface.
The most recent release by Mannequin Depressives is their second full-length album, "Girls Are Evil." This 2008 production's arrival was marked by a massive CD release party spanning The Warehouse and Underground nightclubs in Calgary, Canada on March 20, 2008. Mannequin Depressives has performed alongside bands of similar genres, including: Left Spine Down
Left Spine Down
Based in Vancouver, BC, Canada, Left Spine Down is a band that plays what they call "cyberpunk," a mixture of electronica, metal, punk, and drum & bass....
, The Rabid Whole
The Rabid Whole
Currently based in Toronto, ON, Canada, The Rabid Whole is a band that plays a mixture of rock, industrial, electronica, and alternative music....
, iVardensphere
IVardensphere
Based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, iVardensphere is a band that plays a mixture of tribal-tinged industrial, EBM and power noise music.On June 16, 2009 via Synthetic Sounds the band released their full length album entitled Scatterface across Canada. And in Early 2010, released Scatterface V2 on...
, Combichrist
CombiChrist
Combichrist is a Norwegian Aggrotech band formed in 2003 by Norwegian Andy LaPlegua based in Atlanta.-Formation:The first material LaPlegua wrote was a few powernoise/techno crossover tracks under the moniker DRIVE...
, and The Birthday Massacre
The Birthday Massacre
The Birthday Massacre is a synthrock band, based in Toronto, Canada. The band formed in 1999, known then as Imagica...
.
A darker and more symphonic project, Voltage Control (VCon) has often been described as atmospheric electro-industrial. To date, two full-length Voltage Control studio albums are known to exist, in addition to a series of live recordings.
Discography
- Subtle (1999) (Demo)
- Meaningless is a virtue (1999) (EP)
- Music For Your Tape Recorder (2000) (CD - EP)
- Reach (2002) (Single)
- Trash-Eighty (2002) (CD - LP)
- Sweet Disease (2005) (Single)
- Girls Are Evil (2008) (CD - LP)
- Recycle (2009) (CD - EP)
- Incorrect Mechanical Alignment (2010) (CD - EP)