Loop - RFD

they were great, sounded really tight and played all the tracks i wanted to hear. encored with mother sky.

After experiencing all that right in the front row, gf & I were struck by just much they reminded us of Wire. "Arc-Lite" could fit right in to Pink Flag only it's just at, well, Loop power levels. New drummer way more than capable.

Hey, there's a reason Main covered "Used To" on the Whore tribute album! (I do think it's VERY telling just how much a slew of performers of a certain age/generation who are all about sonic extremity admit to a major Wire obsession and who appeared on that album -- Hampson, Justin Broadrick, Kevin Shields...)

And the comparison actually came to my mind as well a couple of times at the LA show, which was great beyond words.

Great interview with Dave Segal:

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/sunburst-finish/Content?oid=19461266

found the LA show boring, so polite and tame. i imagined them to be a bit more worship the drone/shamanistic or rock n roll or *something* other than perfectly plodding through their songs all prim and propper. y'know it's all well and good playing the same thing over and over at high volumes but for me the beauty in doing that is (cliche i know) transcending the simplicity of the idea and reaching some other place. kept thinking of the last few times i've seen the telescopes who still completely destroy when they play live, stephen seems like he's possessed by the sound, the one unique signal guys too, something magical seems to happen when they play.

i'd skimmed this thread earlier that day and the pop group guy thing, kinda, err made sense. right, anyway, i'll run away now, ha :)

I thought SF show was very good, but I can get the complaint that it seemed very... well professional. That kind of live experience not a bad thing at all imo (heck a lot of great bands build their live career off of just that without even trying for an "IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE SPECTACLE OF" type of thing) but I can see how if you were looking for or had built up Loop live as something more transcendental it could seem a bit ho hum.

Actually, their LA show was stupendous and transcendental. They played the exact same way 25 years ago, but they had way more hair (maybe that would have helped xpost). The best bands back then didn't move at all - that was actually really important (and should still be).

Yeah LA was one of those experiences where what happened on stage itself was fairly simple but the net effect = holy god. Those guitar tones from Hampson!

Robert just posted on FB confirming that the reunion is now wrapped up. So glad to catch it.

Huh, weird. Aren't they playing ATP Iceland?

Not anymore. Crossposted a little earlier to the official FB Loop page:

Once again, Loop has just fuzzed to a stop.
But it was fucking huge and burned the brightest ever.
It could have got even brighter, but it wasn’t to be.
Thank you to all the fans old and new, far and wide for some amazingly wonderful nights of noise.
If you missed it, that’s a damn shame, as it’ll never happen again.
Twice bitten, thrice shy.
No thank you to the people that systematically erode with bitterness, poisonous cynicism and lack of respect - you know who you are.
Never shall we meet again and for that I am thankful for small mercies.
As Always…
Always Forward.
With Love
RH (June 2014)

So some internal drama halted it I figure? I'm also glad to have caught them!

Well Scott Dowson's apparently also posted this:

And a special fuck you to the lack of respect shown by certain people employed by Loop, who took advantage of us to further their own career. For the love of money is the root of all evil. You know who you are.

Such a shame.

Loop seems an unlikely vehicle to choose for those things.

it seems unlikely there would be much money there to rip off too. glad i got to see them. i preferred them this time around to the first time around although last time i saw them (87/88?) they played unplugged as their PA never showed up.

ha, was that at the QMU? i went to that, seem to remember it was snowing and the PA van broke down in the borders somewhere.

it was and yes, i think you are right about the snow. hazy memories!

Haha, I was at that too. Godflesh were supposed to play as well?

maybe! all i can remember really was that it was bloody cold.
saw Loop later on at the Tech with World Dom supporting. Loop were astoundingly loud, World Dom by that point had guitar tuners which seemed to defeat the purpose of them really.

Ha-Ha. Role call. I was at that gig too. Probably the best show of theirs that I saw.

Got some photos of that show somewhere actually. I should dig those out.

I figured World Dom would only be defeated when THAT guitar fell apart (I'm assuming it did, eventually). Who knew a lowly guitar tuner would be their undoing?

It appears the FB post announcing the end of the reunion has been removed from the Loop page. Perhaps it's not over after all? I hope not; I'd love to catch them.

Loop is back on

Yeah, I'm now seeing cryptic hints about a wholly new lineup coming together.

And Robert's posted to FB earlier, it turns out. Immediately upcoming shows are off but there will be a new lineup. Hm!

why do dowson n hampson hate each other

Here's the formal FB post on the Loop page:

"A change of heart, a change of plans...

Tho' I am very saddened that the last line-up of LOOP cannot continue in it's current form, after much soul searching and with incredible support of people who are very close and dear to me, I have decided to continue LOOP in another form.

Too much time and great effort on behalf of many got it back on it's legs after such a long time away. The response to the recent reactivation has been more than incredible. So much goodwill and heartfelt love has been thrown this way and without wishing to spoil the broth, it seems just too damn sad to curl up and die when possibilites are presented to me (ever the one to take on a challenge and challenge back) that deep deep deep in my heart, I have to at least make a play and see what transpires.

Before anyone sneers, let me say this.

Yes, it might be shit. I agree on that.
But let it breathe and see first before casting stones.
I'll be the first to swiftly turn around and walk away if it stinks.

There have be various line-ups before and nobody has seemed to have taken offence.
After all, it has to be said... I'm the founder of this project and the only original member anyhow.
(Hate saying that, but really... it's the simple truth)
My thanks still remain with James Endeacott, Beki Stewart, Ian 'Glen' Glenister, John Wills, Neil Mackay and Scott Dowson for making LOOP happen over the past years.
I so very much wanted Scott to stay, but sadly, life simply gets in the way of things at times and it isn't possible for him to do so.
I love that man and he knows that I would do all I could to make things change, but I'm just not in that position at this time.

I have written two new songs that I had planned for LOOP before we finished last week, and I was hoping to move forward into the studio at some point and at least, try something new.

I have no idea what this all may bring.

Give it a chance at least.

There are plans for more concerts around the world and sadly, some have had to be cancelled due to the latest developments.

The shows in Iceland (ATP Takeover) and Poland (OFF Festival) are now, with deep regret, not within reach.

But other offers are coming in thick and fast and there is much ground to be covered.

Yesterday, I was the saddest I had ever been for a very long time. But people rallied around and got me to at least admit that it doesn't have to be over until I say it's over.
So... with that in mind and actually taking it in, I'm going to give it a shot.

For fuck's sake, be patient with me.
You waited 24 fucking years so another few months won't hurt.

Let's see what happens, eh?

Let it breathe.

If it stinks, then do not doubt me, I'll be the first to say so and will sink that boat immediately.

Always Forward!

With love and total respect to you all who have stuck by thru thick and thin"
RH

I don't know- Scott's guitar parts are pretty damn easy to play. It can't be that hard to have a fill-in?

"OK see this chord? Here's how you play one bar of the song it goes with. OK now repeat that until we're done with the song. On to the next song. OK see this chord?..."

I am callowly nominating myself as a fill-in guitarist.

I had the pleasure of photographing Loop & Godflesh at the Glasgow gig last week. A few shots here, for interested parties... http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/gig-reviews/loop-godflesh-swg3-glasgow-02-06-2014/

still lolling at the idea of loop & godflesh unplugged

their san diego show was so freakin loud

my ears are still ringing - last time i go to a show without earplugs i think

xpost - it wasn't "unplugged". Just no p.a system. It was instrumental. No mics or mic stands - just them jamming their tunes as loud as ever but without vocals. That is why it was so good. The stage was nice and clear so a good band/audience connection, and the words get lost live anyway.

Also, Godflesh were not the opening band. Don't think there was one.

I think they were supposed to be though, but didn't play because of the lack of PA.

Loop can now confirm their appearance at Levitation Festival, Angers in France 20th September.

The band now will consist of members Robert Hampson (Gtr./Voc), Wayne Maskell (Drums), Hugo Morgan (Bass) and a new second guitarist to be finalised in the coming weeks.

Sadly, due to circumstances of logistics and personal lives outside of the band, it is with regret that Neil McKay and Scott Dowson can no longer be involved in the Loop project. Our best wishes go with them both.

Future festival and concert appearances are now being organised for later of this year 2014 and well into next year 2015.

New recordings in the shape of a 3 track EP called ‘Array’ will be released later this year.

Oh hey...

New song.

http://www.stereogum.com/1796516/loop-precession-stereogum-premiere/mp3s/

!!!

Is it good? I haven't had a chance to listen yet.

Never sure what to expect with all these reunited acts.

GBV was mixed. Swervedriver was incredible. Medicine was ok. Polvo was fantastic.

The song, sound and arrangement are perfect, the vocals are very different - less intense, less processed.

Yeah the vocal difference is the part that intrigues me the most, and makes it not simply Loop redux.

Further word from the band:

"Array 1" will be released on ATP Recordings on 22nd June 2105 (June 24th in the US)

It's more "Brittle Head Girl" than "Thief of Fire". That said, I hope the other tracks feature at least some of the more traditional Loop vocals.

Reminds me of Main's Hydra-Calm stuff, actually.

Yeah, definitely connection there.

Just now experienced Array 1. My first Loop, so will do comparative study later, but although,like a a lot of new stuff involving drones, this immediately began to wrap me up for cosmic naptime, it was also rock & roll enough that I grabbed a coffee and got back on the sphere patrol. Round and round, better and better, especially when we got to "Coma, " where all the patients are in black leather, and prepped for "Radial," where bone saws and B-47s (mostly) turn to fuzz guitars, welder's torches, a few diaphanous elements, discreetly hovering, as in the first two tracks---everybody's here now. "Embrace your/New home." So far so good.
1. Precession 4:57
2. Aphelion 5:14
3. Coma 7:14
4. Radial 17:03

Press sheet info:
Towards the end of 2013 saw the reformation of one of the most revered and respected late 80’s UK alternative bands, LOOP. The group, founded by Robert Hampson, hadn’t played together since the early 90’s but got together to curate a night at the legendary All Tomorrow’s Parties at Camber Sands. US dates followed in 2014 and they then got back in the studio to start recording. The result is three brand new releases coming over the next year which see the band return to their hugely unique and era defining sound whilst sounding fresh and exciting.

The first release is ‘Array 1’, four tracks and 32 mins of haunting, aggressive, beautiful noise. ‘Precession’, ‘Aphelion’, ‘Coma’ and ‘Radial’ are the first songs to be heard from their recording session done in Sub Station Studios in Rosyth in Scotland with the current line up of Robert Hampson (vocals/guitar), Hugo Morgan (bass), Wayne Maskell (drums) and Dan Boyd (guitar). With only an early version of ‘Precession’ having had any previous outing (at a show at the Garage in London at the end of 2014), this is the very first new music from the band since their third album, 1990’s lost classic ‘A Gilded Eternity’.

The next tracks will be released in the Autumn in keeping with Loop’s previous habit of putting out music in batches, Hampson describes it as “one project, with the same concept, delivered in bulletins”.

With the music out on 22nd June 2015, this ties in with a show at the Roundhouse in London on 28th June where they are part of the line-up of ATP's Season at the Roundhouse. The event, curated by post rock band Mogwai to celebrate their 20th Anniversary, will be spread over six nights and see performances from the likes of Public Enemy, GZA, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and The Jesus and Mary Chain.