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The Data Strangler

by B.M

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about

In 1983, I bought my first keyboard: a Radio Shack MG-1, also known as the Radio Shack Moog (I still have it and it is still my number one axe). At the time, I was working on a suite of piano based music. So, once I had the Moog, I recorded the final version of the piano suite – this will be released eventually – and started creating electronic music. One of the earliest efforts, ‘Our Future’, is included as a bonus track here.

In 1985, I got a Casio CZ-101 and added that to my arsenal as well. A friend of mine, Todd Hunde (who later became a member of Phÿcus) showed me a primitive multitracking technique involving 2 boom boxes. So, armed with a drum kit, 2 boom boxes and two synths, I recorded my first tape. This tape was never officially released. Only a few copies were made and given to friends. The song order is based on what it probably would have been if it had ever come out on cassette back in the day.

I was listening to a lot of synth pop and heavy metal at the time, and my goal was to find a way to combine the two. Basically Men Without Hats meets Judas Priest. When I started recording this material, I had no idea that industrial music already existed, so I called this style of music ‘Power Circuits’.

Side One:
01 Refrigerators
I recorded the drums on the boom box, with the MG set up near the kit so I could trigger a synth percussion sound at the same time. Then I overdubbed MG bass, Casio guitar sound and Casio lead using the overdubbing technique. Basically, you took the output from one boom box and the output from the synth and recorded them simultaneously on the second boom box. Then you take an output from the mix you just recorded and record that with another synth. Finally, to record the vocals, I put the two boom boxes near each other on the floor, played the final instrumental mix from one, sang along (while lying on the floor), and recorded the results on the second boom box. Considering how primitive the setup was, it’s amazing that the sound quality is as good as it is.

02 Santa Bites
For this one, I recorded the drums onto a boom box, with the MG providing a hi-hat sound. It gives the drums a clunky quality. Then I played the recording of the drum track while playing the MG bassline and singing along. This is one of the older tracks on the tape, since it is pre-Casio and pre-overdubbing, recorded in 1984.

03 The Ballad of George The Knight
The intro was recorded live using the Casio, and the rocking part was done using the overdub technique.

04 Rimur
This one had more overdubs than usual, hence the rather atrocious sound quality. And yeah, I used to play D&D and listen to Jethro Tull.

Side Two:
05 Calculus
Again done using overdub technique, about my favorite subject in school.

06 Big Man On Campus
Chester was a real person, the TA for one of my classes. I have no idea why he became the subject of such juvenilia, as he was actually a good TA and did mark the assignments fair. Anyway, he gets immortalized in song, so it’s all good, really.

07 Wish
This one is probably also from 84, judging from the lack of Casio or overdubbing.

08 Data Strangler Theme
This was recorded live to tape using the Casio played through an amp with tremolo.

Bonus Tracks:
09 Santa Bites – Original Version
Similar to the version on the tape, minus the drums.

10 This Place – Original Version
This one was re-recorded on the 1987 cassette ‘The Attic’. The demo fits nicely here with the other material from 1984 and 1985.

11 Our Future
This one probably goes back to about 1983. Not a great track, but the earliest electronic track I made that survived.

12 Calculus – Acoustic
If I had a friend who betrayed me, and they didn’t know that I was aware of their betrayal, as a passive-aggressive punishment, I would take them to see a folk-punk show. Folk punk is only marginally acceptable if you don’t have any other instruments, which was the case here.

Side One:
01 Refrigerators
02 Santa Bites
03 The Ballad of George The Knight
04 Rimur

Side Two:
05 Calculus
06 Big Man On Campus
07 Wish
08 Data Strangler Theme

Bonus Tracks:
09 Santa Bites – Original Version
10 This Place – Original Version
11 Our Future
12 Calculus – Acoustic

credits

released December 12, 1985

All sounds by B.M, using Moog MG-1, Casio CZ-101, Westbury drum kit, guitar amp, two boom boxes and voice.

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Phÿcus Montreal, Québec

Phÿcus was a Canadian industrial / experimental band that existed from 1988 to 2000. Phÿcus transformed from the traditional band format into a network that included over 50 contributors in a dozen locales, with Montreal as its centre of operations. Phÿcus' success was minimal, but their output was prodigious. Now in 2020, Phÿcus is back with a new release, "CrowleyWood". ... more

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