KURSK: Eclipse final mixing completed in Los Angeles, California. "Eclipse" is an epic production, including: "Blue Film", "LOVEHATESEX" and "Valley of the Blue Moon". Mastering is currently being done in London, UK and Release is scheduled for 1st QTR 2012 in Europe and USA on LP, DIGITAL and CD formats.
KURSK is scheduled to enter the famous Abbey Road studios in London, UK to record a long planned Double Vinyl ALT Space Rock / Country Album featuring an amazing and dynamic European and American musician lineup. Destined to be one of the finest recordings in the KURSK canon, "The Devil's Country" is a haunting exploration of the beautiful evil Americana. The 2nd half of the CD will be recorded at The Church studios in Kentucky, USA and will feature classic country studio musicians on lap steel, pedal steel, and organ. 2012 release.
KURSK records EP in London, UK Ascape Studios, July 10, 2008. Showcasing a "live" version of KURSK featuring members of Gary Numan's band , the songs evoke 1980 style industrial pioneers Killing Joke. Currently in Post Production in Los Angeles and soon to be released in 2011.
KURSK: Spectrum released August 12, 2007!! The long awaited return of KURSK finds the band in excellent form with 11 amazing new songs, including: "Bandit & Heartbreaker", "Whiskey Insane", "Night of the Hunter", and "Gnossienne". Recorded in Los Angeles, California in January 2007, it showcases the increasing songwriting and performance talents of MAY/CHAMBERS/MANSY and is destined to be a fan favorite. Built around cinematic lyrics, searing guitars, pulsating rhythms, and macabre live performance; Spectrum pays homage to the Coldwave 1979 era of the band while completely updating it for a new group of fans to enjoy. Admirers of Interpol, The Doors, and Joy Division have found a new favorite.
HISTORY: “KURSK” was formed in 1995 by Wall Street stock broker Daniel May to record tracks for his film, “The Art of the Swindle”. A 19th century former Church in Kentucky (outside Cincinnati) was purchased as a recording studio and worked commenced. Re-Christened “Bilskirnir” after the God of Thunder’s ancestral home, it was soon full of classic musical instruments, vintage recording technology and extensive film gear. The studio was impressively renovated and with 40 foot ceilings, allowed a live band to play at full volume during recording sessions day or night. Most visitors were simply awed by the ambience and more than 1 remarked that it had the intensity of Berlin 1945. The future is now.
KURSK Mark I:
The original, ad-hoc lineup included members of legendary British Psychobilly band, “The Phantom Rockers”; Nelson Slater, former RCA Records recording artist whose 1976 debut album had been produced by Lou Reed; a talented group of heroin addict Kentucky hillbillies; and May’s Armani clad business comrades on the sidelines. It was an exciting, disturbing time filled with sonic experimentation, rampant whoring, and prodigious partying which culminated in the infamous 1995 Halloween Party at the Church. A live/studio CD, “MADGODSLIVE” was recorded and distributed to friends of the band and visitors to the studio. May contributed original acoustic songs and played various instruments on all of the tracks despite having extremely limited technical skills but displayed a flare for songwriting and a much stronger voice than anticipated. A collection of bizarre and strange compositions, it bore little resemblance to anything that had been envisioned in the conference room. It was never formally released but exists as an ultra rare collector’s item.
Following the disintegration of the film project, May and his gang of lawyers had tasted blood and committed to carry forward with the high tech sound and vision equipment that had been acquired for the film. The internet was just getting started and it was decided that a record label, “Quality Fur Records”, would be established and a band created around the moniker “KURSK” with a revolving musical lineup such as King Crimson had successfully done in the 60s & 70s. After numerous attempts to recruit a magnetic lead singer, including Larry Grimenstein of infamous satanic jug band, “Hogscraper” (www.hogscraper.com), it was decided May would lead the group and recruit professional studio musicians, or so was the plan…
Dave Miller, graphic artist extraordinaire, friend of Patrick Keeler (drummer for the Raconteurs), and May’s good friend and favorite designer, had a reputation for throwing wild parties. At one such event in late 1996, May was introduced to a well known Cincinnati based musician and was soon to discover that his new drinking friend was the guitar virtuoso, J. Chambers. A veteran of various influential 80s rock, pop, new wave, funk and electronic bands, Chambers was just the character May had been seeking as band leader for KURSK. After an abusive raid on the Dave Miller party stage and a few commandeered instruments, the guys launched into an improvisational version of “Cold lips and Red Wine”, a May original. Following this auspicious moment, a meeting was set at the Bilskirnir Studios and the recruitment of began…. Chambers was not interested. He had only recently emerged from months in his studio, recording beautiful soundscape film music and was in no way inclined in leading the type of band May was pitching. His previous groups had mostly ended poorly both financially and creatively and the last thing he was thinking about was joining a renegade stock broker in some insane reworking of a 1970s rock band. After months of negotiations, Chambers relented and joined the group under 2 conditions: “he was the band leader” & “the only rule was there were no rules”.
May unceremoniously fired the remnants of KURSK Mark I.
KURSK Mark II:
As strange as it may sound, having a Wall Street broker as your lead singer makes a lot of sense. He can drink with the hard core, no conscience, and money to pay for the groupies. Entrenched in the now infamous Bilskirnir Studios, Chambers began his assault on the KURSK sound. Previous stream of conscious rants with Low-FI guitars were replaced by riff/lead heavy vintage Fender Telecasters and Marshall Amps. Acoustic blues compositions about satanic rituals, dying on the eastern front and screwing hookers would be reworked as MC5 and Stooge style blitzkrieg. Enter, the Band: Greg Day, a Ludwig drum playing former drug baron recently released from prison on an attempted Murder conviction, he was the closest thing to Bonham money couldn’t buy; Randy Fugate, ex-Prophets bass player and extreme IT designer, he and Greg supplied the 32 horsepower engine of KURSK Mark II; Jeff Powell, rhythm guitar, folk rock party animal with ties to the Iron Horsemen, combined love of pussy seducing songs with cocaine fueled excess; Chambers, lead guitar, band leader, instigator of the new juggernaut sound; and finally, Daniel May, lead vocalist/lyricist and Jim Morrison sound-alike with a vengeance, this would be the group that started the show rolling. From the initial rehearsal, it was obvious this band was out to intimidate and destroy. “Cali Cartel”, “MC5”, “Las Vegas”, and “The Pact” stormed out of the sessions with barely a word spoken between the band. Everybody knew their parts and delivered. Immediate comparisons were made to Chris Goss’ outfit, Masters of Reality. The band started hosting live concerts at the Church and the crowds started to gather both inside and out. 3 am rehearsal sessions were often interrupted by Kentucky’s Finest only to be told the cops were fans and wouldn’t be making their rounds again for a few hours so….Keep Rolling!!! Soon after, the band was invited to play on the Cincinnati Riverfront for the WEBN fireworks, a huge event with over 500,000 people in attendance. The mixed crowd of children, drunken rednecks, suburbanites and older folks didn’t have any clue as to what or who these guys were, but the show was a great success. 15 amazing tracks were recorded for the CD. It was never released….
After the KURSK Mark II recording sessions, the MAY+CHAMBERS writing & production partnership metamorphosed into a very different, exotic direction. Creatively energized after the exhausting and musically challenging sessions of KURSK Mark II, the band started engaging the new high quality digital recording technology that was being introduced in 1997. Banks of modern Fostex, E-MU, and Roland machines were supplemented with vintage synthesizers, pedal steels and even an old Korg drum machine once owned by Bootsy Collins, his name hand written on the back! It was here they discovered, “The one beat theory”. There are no new ideas...
KURSK Mark III:
VORTEX, recorded and released in 1998, was a mesmerizing collection of post 60s Doors of perception and evil carnival music as far removed from the KURSK Mark II Live band as possible: “Golden Barge”, “Secret Agent”, “Forbidden Carnevale” and “Teenage Angst” bled out of the monitor speakers with a weird ambience. There weren’t many comparisons. Most branded it Coldwave, after the sound of 1980 era Killing Joke, Peter Gabriel and Joy Division. The lawyers were confused, “Where is the heavy commercial stuff???” The fans were perplexed, “It doesn’t sound like your voice”, and the labels asked, “Will it sell? MAY+CHAMBERS had agreed on 1 mantra, “There are no rules” and now that was being put to the test. It is interesting where studio experimentation ends and a new sound begins, but the guys felt that they were onto something. After recording and releasing VORTEX; MAY+CHAMBERS found themselves the sole remaining members of KURSK and set about rebuilding the band. Enter Nico Mansy. Recently relocated from Berlin to the USA after marrying American photographer Lisa Sharkey, Belgian born Mansy was the ideal musician to join the group. Classically trained on piano, Mansy was an outstanding multi-instrumentalist and songwriter/arranger whose credits included work with: Brian James, Hugo Race + The True Spirit, Jimmy Miller and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Mansy was eager to combine evil carnival music with the new advanced computers and recording systems like Pro Tools. He understood exactly where KURSK was headed and with Mansy operating the machines; it was possible to perform live what had been considered only studio recordings. Auditions and Rehearsals began immediately and the debut gig for KURSK Mark III was scheduled for Halloween Night, 1998. Despite the listed credits on VORTEX, most of the rhythms are actually live drums played, sampled and layered by MAY+CHAMBERS and a young studio drummer named Ryan Stephenson. It was decided that Stephenson would play a Roland electronic drum kit live and use advanced triggers to control the various loops and soundscapes. John Van Eaton, electronic tech for Trent Reznor’s NIN and in between recordings with newly infamous Marilyn Manson, provided technology consultation and additional programming. As the show date neared, it was decided to add a live Bass guitar player. John Proffitt was the prototype for hard drinking, brilliant hillbilly musicians the world over and was predictably asked to join the band although his intoxication made for hilarious rehearsal sessions! As Proffitt was a guitar player and sonic experimentalist, Chambers embarked on a marathon session of instruction on the bass guitar. The Halloween 1998 show is hailed by most guests as one of the greatest KURSK shows ever performed and perfectly introduced old and new fans to the Coldwave sound the band had developed in the studio. The original pressing of 5000 CDs was sold out and the band felt confident they had found the KURSK “sound”. Life is never as dangerous as on the ascendancy. VORTEX is currently being re-mixed and re-mastered for a 2007 release on CD and Vinyl.
KURSK Mark IV – Evilsuperstars:
Following the critical and commercial success of VORTEX and the Halloween 1998 show, the band decided to begin work on various studio projects simultaneously with the ultimate aim of launching an American tour. VORTEX continued to sell in respectable numbers for a band that played live sparingly and would provide a steady revenue stream due to licensing rights in film and television, especially overseas markets, far in excess of copies sold. Stemming from a combination of over ambition and access to unlimited studio time, this was to be one of the most prolific yet disturbing periods for KURSK and its members. Not everyone would survive with their lives and freedom. Over the next 5 years, the band would record 2 full length CDs; release 1 ambitious but ultimately flawed Hip Hop/Funk collaboration with “Top of Da South”; produce a stunning CD for Berlin based cowboys, “The Fatal Shore – Free Fall” (4 Star MOJO); record 100s of Demos and ultimately revert back to the core of MAY+CHAMBERS+MANSY when everything was at its darkest point.
Circa 2000, the band was engaged on 4 projects:
KURSK – Eclipse: Conceptualized as an updating of the Chris Goss / Masters of Reality style sound played by KURSK Mark II, it proved a massive project which stretched the band to the limits. A Testament to hatred, ultra-violence and technology, it was ultimately abandoned at the final mix stage due to the exhaustion of the band. It contains some of the most ruthless music and lyrics ever recorded and is described by many as a “thinking man’s descent into hell”. Performed live over a dozen times, it featured some of the strongest lineups including single and double drummer performances featuring Greg Day, Deron Reed, Ryan Stephenson and John Chambers. Scheduled for a 2008 release, it is currently being ported over into state of the art recording systems and will be completely re-mixed and re-mastered for both CD and Vinyl release. Containing some of Kursk’s finest and innovative songs, including “The Blue Film”, “Bought Your Love”, “Quality Fur” and “Royal Hunt for the Sun”, it will thrill and horrify all fans of the band. Not for the faint of heart. Dave Miller was tapped for the graphics and his terrifying images perfectly match the sound and concept of the recordings.
KURSK – The Island Girl: Envisioned as the spiritual, “Part II” of VORTEX, it contains the band’s most beautiful and haunted recordings. Based around the concept of “Lost Souls”, the music and words evoke cinematic landscapes of deserts, raging storms, forgotten civilizations, and forbidden knowledge. Recorded both during and long after the VORTEX sessions, “The Island Girl” was ultimately determined to be unavailable for release in 2002 due to the varied recording standards employed. Slated for a complete re-recording in London 2007 with top UK studio musicians, including Nick Shankland and Kitty La Roar from ENEMY OF LOVE BAND joining MAY+CHAMBERS+MANSY, this CD is destined to be ranked alongside Portishead and Massive Attack for its intensity and breathtakingly unique qualities.
FATAL SHORE - Free Fall: After spending a good deal of time in Europe in the 90s, May had become increasingly interested in relocating full time to the newly united capital of Germany. Hooking up with Mansy’s old friends in Berlin, May decided that it was time to stretch the KURSK gang into full scale Producer duties and gauge the results. In 2000, the recording sessions were going well and it was felt this added project would help the band as it experimented with the new recording machines. After flying the 2 Australians (Adams, Chris) and Englishman (Shoenfelt) over to the Church, it became apparent how far the members of KURSK had fallen into their own demonic vision during the Eclipse sessions. Removed from the outside world and with a steady stream of money and intoxicants, the atmosphere was tense and threatening. All day recording sessions would culminate in visits to real white power biker gang bars and all black gang nightclubs. The boys from Berlin thought it a little over the edge, which was a real indictment! Despite the fractious environment and protracted 18 month final mixing session, “Free Fall” was an outstanding CD and received a 4 STAR rating with influential UK Magazine MOJO. It is considered by many to be the band’s best. FATAL SHORE’s website describes the scene in eerie details, www.fatal-shore.de
EVILSUPERSTARS – KURSK + Top of Da South: Formed following the initial recording sessions were completed for the Eclipse CD, this marked a dramatic shift in strategy for the members of the band but contains some outstanding compositions, including: “Freedom in Every Verse”, “The Gore Gore Girls”, “Birth of a Nation” and “Sammy’s Dead”. Primarily comprised of music rejected for the Eclipse CD (based on style), it was decided that a group of outside vocalists would be recruited to sing the pre-existing lyrics and assist in giving the CD a more Trip Hop feel. Enter, Top of Da South. Bilskirnir Studio is located in a rough urban area near downtown Cincinnati with regular FBI gang task force raids and high racial tensions and riots. During this time, May became friends with local Rap impresario Andre Ingguls and suggested a partnership; May and his team would write, produce, and record and Ingguls would provide black singers and rappers from the street. Surprisingly, the sessions went extremely well and were considered great fun and a break from the intensity of the Eclipse sessions. It is important to point out that Post 9/11 most of the racial tensions that would normally exist between these 2 disparate groups joining forces were muted and the project was considered a positive experience. Lead singer, black guy, lent an authentic urban edge to the recordings and quickly became close with May and the rest of the KURSK gang. Dave Miller was again tapped to do the graphics and his outstanding work really captured the mood. EVILSUPERSTARS was released in 2002 to moderate commercial success due to the inability to promote and perform the CD (see back story) but a new mini-EP is in the works for a 2008 release featuring new single, “Chicago ‘75”. atal Shore is filled with bizarre events and of the strangest was the invitation, in April 2000, to fly to a studio in
The tale of KURSK Mark IV began with a Ludwig drum kit and a random phone call… Deron Reed, aka Jamie Fox, was a jaded veteran of the Los Angeles 80s metal scene and one of the most exciting drummers in the business. He had traded in his spandex and hairspray for 90s hipster style but at heart was still a mid-western boy who wanted to dress up, get stoned and fuck as many Hustler babes as he could get his hands on. He was a classic rock drummer but with a real flare for new music and the best vintage equipment. A friend of drummer Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick and a regular session player, he had worked with The Cult, Alice in Chains and various Goth Metal bands of the 90s. As his fortunes and chances of being a famous rock drummer diminished with age, Reed decided to sell a portion of his extensive Ludwig drum collection which included original and rare Doors, Beatles and Bonham kits. May contacted him from an ad in the newspaper and once introduced, they became fast friends. Within no time, Reed was sitting in with the band and was soon asked to join due to his great talent and incredible collection of gear. His arrival would both galvanize and destroy KURSK Mark IV.
After joining forces with Reed, the studio was in the best shape ever in terms of equipment and talent. Greg Day had reconciled with the band and was eager to work on the new Eclipse sessions which were much more in line with his Bonham live drum swagger. Chamber’s son John, a music student in Santa Cruz and an accomplished drummer routinely sat in on recordings, most notably on The Island Girl sessions. John Proffitt contributed heavily to both KURSK and Evilsuperstars projects and was a regular at the studio, although his drinking had become a fearsome detriment. Rick Lawson, a notorious local criminal in and out of jail for a host of reasons but a fantastic drummer and guitar player also contributed to many of the demo recordings. At this stage, the band was completely detached from outside musical forces and with the implosion in March 2000 of the internet fuelled stock market boom, May was spending increasing amounts of time in the studio and working on film scripts. Money continued to flow in but the sense of urgency to deliver a commercial product was exacerbated by both the events of 9/11 and a desire to get out on the road and play live. DJ Culture was booming but it was felt that a strong sound like KURSK would carve out a good cult following with a concentrated effort.
By 2000, Bilskirnir studio had mushroomed into a sprawling complex covering almost 10,000 square feet and housing 3 separate studios: the former sanctuary had been converted into a Live recording and performance stage with a fully operational pipe organ and whopping 15,000 Watt PA system; the general purpose room was equipped with Pro Tools computers, 24 track Fostex hard disk recorders, 16 track 2 inch analog tape machine, Trident 24 track analog console, 24 track Mackie console, 24 track Roland Digital console, dozens of microphones, 3 vintage Ludwig drum kits, 2 Roland V-drums kits, Johnson Millennium digital modeling amps, Bass Amp, over 30 vintage guitars including Telecasters, Stratocasters, Firebirds, acoustic and all manners of rare and unique items, a Theremin, E-MU samplers, rotary speakers, Nord Lead, Korg Triton, vintage drum machines, obscure home built sound generators and hundreds of other various toys for sonic experimentation; and finally, the basement dungeon had been equipped with guitar amplifiers that provided strange and haunting echo filled recordings that were impossible to create in a digital format. In little over 5 years, Bilskirnir Soundwerks A.G. had graduated to a formidable recording destination and was visited by famous musicians, including: Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick), Crystal Method, FreekBase, Bootsy Collins Band, Mudbone, John Curley (Afghan Whigs), Patrick Keeler (Raconteurs), Phantom Rockers, Johnny Love, and others whose names are sworn to the walls!
KURSK: The Devil's Country
KURSK: Vortex CD & Vinyl Re-Master/Re-Release
KURSK: Eclipse CD & Vinyl Release
KURSK: The Island Girl CD & Vinyl Release
EVILSUPERSTARS: Chicago ’75 EP, CD & 12 inch Release
FATAL SHORE DOCUMENTARY
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