Matthew Bower
Encyclopedia
Matthew Bower is a British
musician, active since the early 1980s, with a vast collection of collaborative and solo work behind him.
, Coil
and Ramleh contributing. The group are often cited as having been a strong influence on Justin Broadrick
of Godflesh
and, indeed, Broadrick later released two Skullflower albums on his HeadDirt label. Jaworzyn left the band with bassist Anthony DiFranco and guitarist Russell Smith (formerly of Terminal Cheesecake) joining. The unit moved further and further away from any recognisable rock genre with albums such as Obsidian Shaking Codex and Transformer showcasing a free-flowing, rootless brand of drone music, often adding reeds and strings, mostly played by John Godbert. The line-up also became less fixed again, with DiFranco leaving. Skullflower was put on hold around 1997 with Bower pursuing other activities.
, American Tapes (run by John Olson of Wolf Eyes
), Self Abuse and Freek as well as appearing on Virgin
‘s archetypal Isolationism
compilation. Initially a less rock-based and often musically calmer counterpart to Skullflower’s harsher work, the roles slowly reversed, reaching a peak with the noisy Merzbow
Mixed Total cassette being released around the same time as the mostly gentle, fluid "This Is Skullflower" CD. Bower dropped the name around the same time as US R&B group of the same name appeared, although Bower has never confirmed a connection between these events.
, Neil Campbell
, John Godbert, Phil Todd and other friends. More melodic and keyboard based than his previous work, albums were issued on VHF
, Giardia
and his own Rural Electrification Project label. In addition, he also guested with Vibracathedral Orchestra
on a number of occasions and has issued 2 albums with Richard Youngs
. More recently he has been found in Hototogisu, initially a fresh solo project, later expanded to a permanent duo of himself and Marcia Bassett of Double Leopards, touring and releasing as extensively as ever. Skullflower was also resurrected, with Bower enlisting people like Mark Burns, Neil Campbell
, Michael Flower and Colin Potter (of Nurse With Wound
) for new material. Although he recorded some of these albums (including Tribulation) alone, many of the group's live commitments were fulfilled by a duo of Bower and Lee Stokoe (who records solo as Culver). A show at the Colour Out Of Space festival saw Bower and Stokoe being joined by Alex Binnie and Stuart Dennison. As at April 2009, the full line-up of Skullflower is Bower, Stokoe, Dennison and Samantha Davies. He and Samantha Davies also record together as Voltigeurs.
Bower also has a project named Mirag, with an EP issued on Campbell Kneale's Battlecruiser label and a full-length release on Rural Electrification Project.
Bower’s discography of visceral, free drone-rock is one of the most formidable of its kind and he was considered in 2005 by The Wire
to be one of the "map co-ordinates for much of what passed for a post-punk UK underground during most of the 80s and 90s" (issue 259).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
musician, active since the early 1980s, with a vast collection of collaborative and solo work behind him.
Skullflower
Skullflower was formed when Bower joined up with Stefan Jaworzyn and Stuart Dennison in 1987 having previously worked under the name Pure with Alex Binnie and Alex Windsor. Unlike most of their immediate contemporaries in the London-based industrial underground, they used traditional rock instruments such as guitars and drums rather than tapes, synths etc. The line-up could be fluid, with members of contemporaries such as WhitehouseWhitehouse (band)
Whitehouse are a pioneering English power electronics band formed in 1980, largely credited for the founding of the power electronics subgenre.-History and personnel:...
, Coil
Coil (band)
Coil were an English cross-genre, experimental music group formed in 1982 by John Balance—later credited as "Jhonn Balance"—and his partner Peter Christopherson, aka "Sleazy". The duo worked together on a series of releases before Balance chose the name Coil, which he claimed to be...
and Ramleh contributing. The group are often cited as having been a strong influence on Justin Broadrick
Justin Broadrick
Justin Karl Michael Broadrick is a British singer, songwriter, guitarist and drummer. He is best known as a founding member of the band Godflesh, one of the first bands to combine elements of extreme metal and industrial music.-Biography:Broadrick was born in the council estates of inner...
of Godflesh
Godflesh
Godflesh are an English industrial metal band from Birmingham, England. Originally known as Fall of Because, they formed in 1988 by Justin K. Broadrick and G.C. Green and disbanded in 2002. Godflesh's innovative music is widely regarded as a foundational influence on industrial metal and post-metal...
and, indeed, Broadrick later released two Skullflower albums on his HeadDirt label. Jaworzyn left the band with bassist Anthony DiFranco and guitarist Russell Smith (formerly of Terminal Cheesecake) joining. The unit moved further and further away from any recognisable rock genre with albums such as Obsidian Shaking Codex and Transformer showcasing a free-flowing, rootless brand of drone music, often adding reeds and strings, mostly played by John Godbert. The line-up also became less fixed again, with DiFranco leaving. Skullflower was put on hold around 1997 with Bower pursuing other activities.
Total
Bower released around a dozen full-length titles under the name Total, mostly between 1993 and 2000, on labels such as Majora, VHFVHF Records
VHF Records is an American record label, known for their extensive work with several major experimental artists. The label is based in the Washington, DC suburb of Fairfax, Va., and it initially focused on indie and experimental bands from that region...
, American Tapes (run by John Olson of Wolf Eyes
Wolf Eyes
Wolf Eyes is a post-industrial/noise band from Detroit, Michigan, United States.-History:Wolf Eyes began as a solo project of former Nautical Almanac member Nate Young, with Aaron Dilloway joining in 1998, and John Olson in 2000...
), Self Abuse and Freek as well as appearing on Virgin
Virgin Group
Virgin Group Limited is a British branded venture capital conglomerate organisation founded by business tycoon Richard Branson. The core business areas are travel, entertainment and lifestyle. Virgin Group's date of incorporation is listed as 1989 by Companies House, who class it as a holding...
‘s archetypal Isolationism
Isolationism (album)
Ambient 4: Isolationism is a 1994 compilation album released on the Virgin Records label, part of its Ambient series. The compilation was issued as a double CD, packaged in a slimline case...
compilation. Initially a less rock-based and often musically calmer counterpart to Skullflower’s harsher work, the roles slowly reversed, reaching a peak with the noisy Merzbow
Merzbow
is the main recording name of the Japanese noise musician , born in 1956. Since 1979 he has released in excess of 350 recordings.The name "Merzbow" comes from German artist Kurt Schwitters' artwork, "Merzbau”. This was chosen to reflect Akita's dada influence and junk art aesthetic...
Mixed Total cassette being released around the same time as the mostly gentle, fluid "This Is Skullflower" CD. Bower dropped the name around the same time as US R&B group of the same name appeared, although Bower has never confirmed a connection between these events.
Other projects
With Skullflower officially resting and Total retired, Bower began a more inclusive project called Sunroof! which, on occasion, could feature Richard YoungsRichard Youngs
Richard Youngs is a British musician with a prolific and diverse output, including many collaborations. Based in Glasgow since the early 1990s, his extensive back catalogue of solo and collaborative work formally begins with Advent, first issued in 1990...
, Neil Campbell
Neil Campbell (musician)
Neil Campbell is a British musician, notable for his vast catalogue and his many collaborations. In 2005, The Wire declared that he, Richard Youngs and Matthew Bower had "provided the map co-ordinates for much of what passed for a post-punk UK underground during most of the 80s and 90s".-Early...
, John Godbert, Phil Todd and other friends. More melodic and keyboard based than his previous work, albums were issued on VHF
VHF Records
VHF Records is an American record label, known for their extensive work with several major experimental artists. The label is based in the Washington, DC suburb of Fairfax, Va., and it initially focused on indie and experimental bands from that region...
, Giardia
Giardia
Giardia is a genus of anaerobic flagellated protozoan parasites of the phylum Metamonada in the supergroup "Excavata" that colonise and reproduce in the small intestines of several vertebrates, causing giardiasis, commonly known as Beaver fever...
and his own Rural Electrification Project label. In addition, he also guested with Vibracathedral Orchestra
Vibracathedral Orchestra
Vibracathedral Orchestra is an England-based drone ensemble that has been active since 1998.-Biography:The original group came together when Mick Flower began recording with Neil Campbell and Julian Bradley, who had released a number of homemade cassettes and an LP of their duo work...
on a number of occasions and has issued 2 albums with Richard Youngs
Richard Youngs
Richard Youngs is a British musician with a prolific and diverse output, including many collaborations. Based in Glasgow since the early 1990s, his extensive back catalogue of solo and collaborative work formally begins with Advent, first issued in 1990...
. More recently he has been found in Hototogisu, initially a fresh solo project, later expanded to a permanent duo of himself and Marcia Bassett of Double Leopards, touring and releasing as extensively as ever. Skullflower was also resurrected, with Bower enlisting people like Mark Burns, Neil Campbell
Neil Campbell (musician)
Neil Campbell is a British musician, notable for his vast catalogue and his many collaborations. In 2005, The Wire declared that he, Richard Youngs and Matthew Bower had "provided the map co-ordinates for much of what passed for a post-punk UK underground during most of the 80s and 90s".-Early...
, Michael Flower and Colin Potter (of Nurse With Wound
Nurse with Wound
Nurse with Wound is the main recording name for British musician Steven Stapleton. Nurse with Wound was originally a band, formed in 1978 by Stapleton, John Fothergill and Heman Pathak...
) for new material. Although he recorded some of these albums (including Tribulation) alone, many of the group's live commitments were fulfilled by a duo of Bower and Lee Stokoe (who records solo as Culver). A show at the Colour Out Of Space festival saw Bower and Stokoe being joined by Alex Binnie and Stuart Dennison. As at April 2009, the full line-up of Skullflower is Bower, Stokoe, Dennison and Samantha Davies. He and Samantha Davies also record together as Voltigeurs.
Bower also has a project named Mirag, with an EP issued on Campbell Kneale's Battlecruiser label and a full-length release on Rural Electrification Project.
Bower’s discography of visceral, free drone-rock is one of the most formidable of its kind and he was considered in 2005 by The Wire
The Wire (magazine)
The Wire is a British avant garde music magazine, founded in 1982 by jazz promoter Anthony Wood and journalist Chrissie Murray. The magazine initially concentrated on contemporary jazz and improvised music, but branched out in the early 1990s to various types of experimental music...
to be one of the "map co-ordinates for much of what passed for a post-punk UK underground during most of the 80s and 90s" (issue 259).