Electronic? Ambient? Industrial? Yes. You can also throw in adventurous and experimental. "An excellent collection of audio landscapes... lively, energetic music that glows with feeling."
-Nightwaves
Who is Art Damage? He's a mysterious musician who's been called "Atlantic Canada's electronic guru." He rarely performs his strange brand of electronic ambient sounds live. He prefers instead to experiment like an audio-centric mad scientist in his secret underground sound lab.
What else would you expect from a man widely known for his infamous "blood performance"?
But this is about the music as much as the man. Yes, it is eclectronica. But it's also sometimes hard like industrial, sometimes soft like ambient, and sometimes ... in a mysterious sonic realm of its own.
Nightwaves magazine described "disabled controls" as
"a fine collection of lively, energetic music that glows with feeling."
From the review:
"Much like Art Damage's past efforts, this one proves that the man has a true knack for coming up with a great sonic mix. 'Controlled Entry' is a lush, sensual opener, while 'Modicum' is an expressive and unusual song that brings to mind early Human League.
"'Hit on the Head' sounds like some of the stuff that Flood was doing with Depeche Mode in the '90s (which is definitely a compliment), while 'Apatheory' is a delightfully minimal track.
'Tweaking Fusion' is gloriously glitchy and robotic.
"Overall, this disc is very intelligently produced, and proves to be an excellent collection of audio landscapes. Sometimes it's quiet, other times gritty, which makes 'Disabled Controls' all the more varied and interesting. A great work."
Art Damage has been quietly creating music in Sydney, Nova Scotia, since 1984. Known for collaborations with Phycus and Monty Cantsin, he has released a total of seven category-defying CDs. Art has also appeared on skate videos and compilation albums in Canada, England and Germany.
If you like Pink Floyd, John Zorn, Phillip Glass, New Order, Laurie Anderson, Depeche Mode, Cabaret Voltaire, Skinny Puppy, Nina Hagen, Ministry, Devo, Erik Satie, Plaid, Orb, Neoism, the Residents, Dead Can Dance, D-Mob, Meat Beat Manifesto, Phase 3, Men Without Hats, or Soft Cell... you'll love Art Damage!
“art damage always gets crappy turnouts unless the kids think he's gonna draw blood or some sh*t. art is a super nice guy, and he's got a zillion electronic albums. you can buy some of his albums at mary jane's: give this guy a chance, some of his beats are super good and not that thrown-together-in-2-minutes frooty loops sh*at.
“....Ok he's a legend- and were
anticipating such a huge crowd were thinking of making tickets the Leaf holds only about 70 safely...tee heee; but listen it
would be nice for many to go see Art- it might be one of his last shows in Sydney for awhile.”
art damage's new cd is out and i checked out the release show at the leaf. art is a right on guy and i was stoked to listen to some klaxplanet and watch the video effects. he usually goes to shows with an old school tv and plays weird looking sh*t
through it. anyway he spent about a year working on the new cd and you can grab a few tracks from it on mp3.com.
“This might sound strange but when i listen to this CD i think of small robotic bugs crawling all over my skin.”
DARRYL MACKINNON – concert promoter
“…woah. lol. Crazy techno / dance music with a very odd and colorful monitor display going at the same time. Very different indeed.”
“…weirdoes, and the ever-mysterious Art Damage, who is one of Sydney’s only performing electronic
musicians, and certainly the most experienced. Maybe he’ll do that thing with the blood again.”
“Ummmm...rumours have it that the Art Damage show isn't happening this Saturday; because of Arts' Health...Well; I've just talked to the man himself and he's going to be able to do the show on Saturday.
I think it would be really great if a lot of people would show up.
“Why you ask? Well I'm not going to guilt you into it; but the guys been involved in the indie/ underground scene for longer than I can remember.....he was in Phycus for god sake. But moreover; I think his music should be heard- I think it adds to the local scene and just shows the diversity of music that comes from this place; and come on it's only three bucks you all can fish that out of your pockets to see a truly original Cape Breton artist.”
I finally got around to listening to the Art Damage tape I bought at the ECMA Unauthorized nocase, and I was quite impressed. It was recorded a few years ago, so the music is a little dated, but still really good, if you're into techno. Art…went to school to
learn studio recording, so the quality is excellent; very crisp.
The beats are really strong, and there's a pile of songs on the tape, too. It's called "Murdering Your Inner Child", by the way. If you can find Matt (try the next Electric CB rave, if you're over the age of 14, pick up a copy of the tape. Se@n out.”
Art Damage: you never know what to expect from Mr Damage. Every show is completely different, with a long period of preparation before he even gets on stage. Unpredictable and thought provoking are the best words to describe Art Damage.
Sep 24, 1998
Commisioned for the opening of Silicon Island this Art Damage Video was somewhat of a prank in retrospect... consisting entirely of very special extreme-low-tech video techniques, the video managed to confuse all the computer experts who thought the bank of televisions rising out of coal were malfunctioning. A cardboard plaque stated my intentions to illustrate something like taking things out of context with a video-camera, at the bottom a clerical error made me look smarter than i was by quoting a nukular szintist. portions of this same video were mercenerily re-used as eye candy at the Sentenced to Sentience gig.
“he seems like a pretty cool guy, and he does some crazy original techno stuff, so the rave will assuredly be killer.”
Read more...