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An electro-grind dance assault, agape combines the best elements of noise rock and dance music into one analog infused dance party.
Genre:
Electronic: Experimental
Release Date:
2005
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agape
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Record Label: agape
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The energy level at any Agape show is usually beyond the range of human senses, tapping deep into the carnal excitement caused usually only by a natural disaster or near death experience. It could be the near 3000 watts of overdriven sound devastating the air around the listener - or perhaps Ryans inhuman passion and enthusiasm for swells and apoplectic thrusts of sonic waves - at any rate, bring industrial strength hearing protection and dont forget your dancing shoes.
Agape Timeline:
Agape began in January 2001 with two members. Their very first show was with Vaz and Le force. At the time, Agape had no percussion whatsoever, only keyboards, bass guitar, and lots of unecessary feedback. These early shows were probably the most abrasive and unlistenable. In March of this year, a five-song demo was recorded with live drums from Jud Powell (Le Force). These disappeared quickly as only 50-75? were ever made.
2002: Shortly thereafter, after trying a slew of other live drummers, electronic drums were thrown into the mix. The first album was recorded and agape toured the west coast extensively, sharing the stage with such bands as Business Lady, Wives, Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower, The End, and Headphone. Subsequent tours followed, playing with everyone from Everytime I Die and Taken, to Form of Rocket, Curse of the Birthmark, and Instrumentia. Agape then struck a deal with Youth Attack Records (Charles Bronson, Holy Molar, Virgin Mega Whore) to release their first album.
2003: Due to an overwhelming amount of material to release, the label backed out. Shortly after,Mike Wright (Bass Guitar) moved to California, and agape became a one-piece. Mike Wright now plays in the post-hardcore outfit Michigan.
2004: The second agape album was recorded, but never released. A tour edition (before mastering) was released in a few cities...
2005: Finally mastered by Dan Maier (PTBUTET, Gasoline Please) the album was released with artwork by Kate Wentz (Kill Me Tomorrow, Tender Buttons) in August 2005.
Potential Future Albums
A split 12" with Jeweled Cats (Members of the Holy Kiss) from San Francisco is tentatively due by Fall 2006.
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Agape's EP is lo-fi DIY punk electronica that is subversive in the way it hooks
author: Mark Teppo - IGLOO Magazine
Agape is the project of Ryan Powers and his first EP release is a bombastic buzz of overdriven synths, howling monkey voices and drum machines gone native. Attempting to marry volume with angst, Agape churns and bangs through six tracks in just over fifteen minutes. A length that is, after listening to the record a few times now, a good length for him. I can't imagine a full hour of Powers' whistle-stomp fury, but a short burst like this EP is the right sort of head whack to start an otherwise sluggish day.
In a recent interview, Powers admits that practicing this music makes him feel ill (reverberating blowback from the home PA and all) and he states that he would play the loudest show you would ever hear in your living room should he be invited to stop by your next house party. Neither of the these statements is hyperbole. Powers stomps on a piano like a meth-crazed Liberace during "Autocathe," shatters the china in the room when he blows out speakers with "Keep This Dance A Secret" and neuters dogs with sound alone with the beat-blast of "Motdomnitron" (complete with cowbell even).
Agape's EP is lo-fi DIY punk electronica that is subversive in the way it hooks into the part of your brain that enjoys kicking over the Lego building erected by small children. It is like being threatened at knifepoint to "get out and dance, motherfucker!" God help me, I actually started humming along to it in the end. If you can call silent screams in the back of your throat "humming." I think I hurt myself.
The Agape EP is out now on Agape Technology.
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"...a high-energy concoction of explosive industrial beats, piano, synth-saw act
author: Robert Voyer - Splendid Magazine
Agape is one-man industrial-strength noise machine Ryan Powers. His self-titled debut is a high-energy concoction of explosive industrial beats, piano, synth-saw action and incoherent, distorted-as-fuck screams that are enough to frighten the pants off anyone -- especially if you imagine them coming from the demon depicted on the album cover. The 17-minute EP provides just enough danceable tumult and unstructured noise to take your inertia by the throat and transform it into mosh-city.
Opener "Autocathe" wastes no time kicking your ass. It's most successful early on, before the overtly synthetic kick and hi-hat-heavy beat come in. The initial cacophony of chaotic synths and gut-wrenching screams is highly rhythmic, even without any beats behind it; once the drums start kicking, the chaos takes a back-seat to danceable but less compelling riffs. Later in the song, most of the elements drop away, leaving only discordant piano clamor and more terrifying, incoherent rasping. You might not want to be alone when that bit comes on.
"Keep This Dance A Secret" sets out in similar fashion, with seemingly unstructured synth noise that creates an energizing rhythm, even without programmed industrial beats. It briefly turns to a hockey game half-time-styled synth riff, which narrowly eludes cheesiness with an unexpected tempo-shift.
The record's remaining tunes juxtapose chaotic, compellingly beat-free (but rhythmic) noise and more traditional-sounding industrial beats. Agape's tendency to favor slightly tired-sounding beats, while conducive to busting a move, serves them poorly; their relentless noise is already extremely danceable.
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