A.R. Kane C/D and S/D

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I downloaded a couple of tracks and I really like them. One sounds like New Order and the other sounds like Jesus and Mary Chain. Definitely must have been cutting-edge at the time, but have since been written out of history. Please, tell me more!!!!!

fields of salmon (fieldsofsalmon), Thursday, 23 January 2003 15:41 (twenty-one years ago) link

... went on to form half of M/A/R/R/S and make the most influential sample / scratching based club track in UK history.

Also, much beautiful ambientish stuff. Like whisked, frothier Cocteau Twins minus Liz Frazer.

phil jones (interstar), Thursday, 23 January 2003 15:44 (twenty-one years ago) link

we have done this. see archives.

Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 23 January 2003 15:46 (twenty-one years ago) link

3 albums -

69 - lots of dubby noise-pop, faint Mary Chain influence (there was more on their first few EPs, which I actually prefer, especially Up!)

"i" - sequenced space-pop, still with lots of odd guitar textures but much catchier, my favourite of their records.

Sea To A Child - 'reformation' LP from 1994, I actually think it's very pretty in a new-agey way but most people seemed to slate it

Tom (Groke), Thursday, 23 January 2003 15:46 (twenty-one years ago) link

What Julio said. If you go here I go into further detail about just about everything except i, which was reviewed by someone else.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 23 January 2003 15:49 (twenty-one years ago) link

One of my fave bands EVER.

They were doing the masses of swirled guitar and feedback some years before MBV and their ilk. I remember their insistence in interviews that they never listened to the Mary Chain or *any* pop music -- only jazz and reggae. I think Alex (1/2 of the duo) later fessed up that this was a fib - they actually loved listening to pop!

Check all their stuff (including the "Listen Up!" EP under an alias I've just forgotten), even their last one: "New Clear Child" . And Alex's solo stuff is ok, too. Available on www.idealize.com -I think that's the correct URL. At work so can't check at the moment.

Jay Vee (Manon_70), Thursday, 23 January 2003 17:43 (twenty-one years ago) link

Aha. Found it.
It's actually www.dreampop.com


And Alex's solo stuff is ok, too. Available on www.idealize.com -I think that's the correct URL.

Jay Vee (Manon_70), Thursday, 23 January 2003 17:47 (twenty-one years ago) link

The compilation on Lauka Bop is a pretty nice introduction and it is easily found on the cheap. (got mine for $1 or so)

original bgm, Thursday, 23 January 2003 18:18 (twenty-one years ago) link


Classic of course.

S: The "Up Home!" EP, "69" and "i" (esp "Catch My Drift").
D: The "Love Sick" EP.

This thread reminds me that 1988 is now FIFTEEN years ago and that I am no longer a youth. Gah.

Venga, Thursday, 23 January 2003 20:03 (twenty-one years ago) link

'69' - I quite like, but nowhere near as much as 'i', which i heard first, and seems to have a far more defined, cavernous sound to it. A lot more tuneful as well, but retaining some fantastic jagged edges on the guitars that are notable from '69'.
'i' is a beautiful record, a must to acquire for anyone; one of the greatest ends to an album I've heard... a phenomenal dub track that scales its way up to the transcendental; 'Catch My Drift' i think it's called...
Not heard the 1994 'comeback' album... I've not heard that single they did with the M/A/R/R/S; is it on any album/compilation?

Tom May, Thursday, 23 January 2003 20:07 (twenty-one years ago) link

Have a look here, Tom M.

Venga, Thursday, 23 January 2003 20:15 (twenty-one years ago) link

I've said this before, but AR Kane fans should hear Schneider TM - "Frogtoise".

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 23 January 2003 20:27 (twenty-one years ago) link

the remix of "catch my drift" is even better.

jess (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 23 January 2003 21:07 (twenty-one years ago) link

sounds good. is it even more AR Kane-ish?

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 23 January 2003 21:49 (twenty-one years ago) link

I've never really listened to the duo before, but I recently picked up a copy of Americana from a bargain bin at the local record store. I've been on a bit of a spree lately, so it hasn't made it into my CD player, but how does it stand up as a compilation? Is it worthy?

Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Thursday, 23 January 2003 21:53 (twenty-one years ago) link

it's worthy, but missing some really essential tracks from 69 and I (not to mention the EPs which are very poorly represented). but it's a decent start.

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 23 January 2003 22:18 (twenty-one years ago) link

i've never heard them, is long fin killie really that similar? cause i love long fin killie.

keith (keithmcl), Friday, 24 January 2003 06:01 (twenty-one years ago) link

nine months pass...
more!

CD80 'portable' A.R. Kane go!

When You're Sad
Lolita
Sado-Masochism Is a Must
Baby Milk Snatcher (Up Home! vers.)
One Way Mirror
Up
Green Hazed Daze
Crazy Blue
Suicide Kiss
A Love From Outer Space
What's All This Then?
Snow Joke
Miles Apart
Pop
Spook
Supervixens
Anitina

(77:39)

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 6 November 2003 20:15 (twenty-one years ago) link

Wot? No "Honeysuckleswallow"?

Jay Vee (Manon_70), Thursday, 6 November 2003 20:22 (twenty-one years ago) link

what no dub mix of "catch my drift"?!?!

(their finest moment, you know.)

strongo hulkington's ghost (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 6 November 2003 21:22 (twenty-one years ago) link

my 'portables' are only my guide, substitute per your tastes!

is that dub mix on the purple remix 'i' disc?

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 6 November 2003 21:29 (twenty-one years ago) link

Might have to relisten to that tonight, hm.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 6 November 2003 21:29 (twenty-one years ago) link

yes, the remix disc which is fairly worthless otherwise.

strongo hulkington's ghost (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 6 November 2003 21:30 (twenty-one years ago) link

Hey, Spencer, I used to email back and forth with Alex a lot and he once told me that Adrian Sherwood did that mix of "Baby Milk Snatcher" on Up Home. I think he did the soundmix for a couple of their early live shows, too.

Jay Vee (Manon_70), Thursday, 6 November 2003 22:39 (twenty-one years ago) link

neat! It's not especially different, but it's the version I fell in love with first. I think it's got a bit more "bite"?

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 6 November 2003 22:47 (twenty-one years ago) link

Yeah, it's quite a bit more aggressive, w/these really great ratchety guitar sounds, as you probably remember. That's really cool that Sherwood did it, thanks for posting it Jay.

Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Friday, 7 November 2003 08:23 (twenty-one years ago) link

i really like '69' but i didn't care for 'i' at all. it had too much of a club/dance feel to it, while '69' succeeded because it was just these really weird pop songs that feel sort of stuck between two moments in musical culture....

j fail (cenotaph), Friday, 7 November 2003 16:15 (twenty-one years ago) link

Here's Alex's site. Doesn't look like he's updated in a while, though.

Jay Vee (Manon_70), Friday, 7 November 2003 18:50 (twenty-one years ago) link

ten months pass...
From another thread:

am i the ONLY one who likes new clear child?

-- strongo hulkington (dubplatestyl...), April 8th, 2004.

I don't *mind* it but...

-- Ned Raggett (ne...), April 8th, 2004.

i think i listen to it the most these days

-- strongo hulkington (dubplatestyl...), April 8th, 2004.

I am listening to New Clear Child for the first time in a long while and I have to say it's the first time I've ever heard it and really flat out enjoyed it. Very interesting. Also interesting is the fact that I'm convinced that Gus Gus's sample of Kool and the Gang for "Believe" was either inspired by its use on this album for "Cool as Moons" or is in fact just a sample of "Cool as Moons" directly!

Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 4 October 2004 21:45 (twenty years ago) link

(This is also helping me get in the mood for the Junior Boys, in its own way.)

Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 4 October 2004 21:45 (twenty years ago) link

Yeah but the use of the sample on "Cool As Moons" isn't anywhere near as great as on "Believe".

Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 4 October 2004 21:49 (twenty years ago) link

I'd have to agree! It's all about the way Gus Gus make it sound murky and threatening with that bassline.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 4 October 2004 21:53 (twenty years ago) link

Ned did you ever hear Layo & Bushwacka's "Deep South"? (I've only been raving about it for five years now) - it uses the jungle jazz sample too, very subtly but very effectively.

Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 4 October 2004 21:56 (twenty years ago) link

They were always one of those folks I've heard about but never to my knowledge heard, though doubtless I've got some mp3s buried somewhere. Have to keep that one in mind.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 4 October 2004 22:56 (twenty years ago) link

Did anyone ever hear "Frogtoise"?! It's excellent A.R. Kane identikit!

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 4 October 2004 22:58 (twenty years ago) link

eleven months pass...
Rudi Tamabala interviewed in the Metro this morning extolling the virtues of paying for music download in his role as head of Virgin's digital music service.

Venga (Venga), Monday, 12 September 2005 07:27 (nineteen years ago) link

TAMBALA, I mean.

Venga (Venga), Monday, 12 September 2005 07:27 (nineteen years ago) link

i bought 'i' recently, and was very disappointed.

N_RQ, Monday, 12 September 2005 07:51 (nineteen years ago) link

What disappointed you, N_RQ?

Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 12 September 2005 12:44 (nineteen years ago) link

it wasn't as punishingly noisy as i expected, and the guy's voice is ah, an acquired taste. i tht it would be more spacemen 3/mbv-ish (haha great vocalists there). is '69' more noize?

N_RQ, Monday, 12 September 2005 12:48 (nineteen years ago) link

...not in the way you're expecting, no.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 September 2005 13:03 (nineteen years ago) link

Though the squalls of noise during Supervixens is a slight indicator.

Andy_K (Andy_K), Monday, 12 September 2005 13:06 (nineteen years ago) link

Not really! Nothing on 69 is as noisy as, say, "Supervixens". But it's more, er, consistently spacey I guess (the closest references on i would probably be "Honeysuckleswallow" and "Down"). And no dance pop.

A.R. Kane don't really belong to that continuum of noisy stuff - they're much more post-Cocteau Twins, contemporaries of Kitchens of Distinctions, precursors to Disco Inferno and Bark Psychosis... the idea is "noise" as in not typical sounds frequently used in music, rather than "noise" as in loud, enveloping, annihilating.

x-post X 2!
I remember being confused by i as well, expecting something much heavier and more abstract. But it grew on me inordinately quickly - it's not just a case of the outwardly superficial pop songs concealing hidden depths, everything within the songs is simultaneously light and deep, accomodating and disconcerting... but the deep/disconcerting qualities can perhaps only be perceived as such once you've internalised the songs. I think I initially thought, "only the last quarter is any good"; then it became "only the last third...", then "only the second half...", then etc. etc.

Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 12 September 2005 13:08 (nineteen years ago) link

i really like the opening track, but i was all 'huh' because it's kind of balearic, which totes wasn't what i expected.

N_RQ, Monday, 12 September 2005 13:12 (nineteen years ago) link

I didn't really know what to expect when I got "i" but I liked it right away. "69" is the one that hasn't grown on me. "i" to me is just melodic dance-pop with indie guitars.

o. nate (onate), Monday, 12 September 2005 13:54 (nineteen years ago) link

what's the one with the reverbed out piano and even more reverbed out feedback behind it (ha! "which one") and he goes "before we sleep child." well, listening again just the other day i decided that one's my new fave.

andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Monday, 12 September 2005 15:09 (nineteen years ago) link

which one has the reverbed out piano and even more reverbed out feedback behind it (ha! "which one") and he goes "before we sleep child." well, listening again just the other day i decided that one's my new fave.

andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Monday, 12 September 2005 15:10 (nineteen years ago) link

(thought i avoided that. shit.)

andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Monday, 12 September 2005 15:11 (nineteen years ago) link

n_rq, don't write off '69' if you didnt like 'i' so much... 69 is my favorite, overall .... not exactly more noizy as much as less polished maybe? nice and murky and kinda dissonant at points....i think 69 grabs you much more immediately, from the first few seconds of the album, than 'i'... everythings gone craaaazzzy nowwww....

capnkickass (gloriagaynor), Monday, 12 September 2005 15:29 (nineteen years ago) link

A.R. Kane don't really belong to that continuum of noisy stuff - they're much more post-Cocteau Twins, contemporaries of Kitchens of Distinctions, precursors to Disco Inferno and Bark Psychosis... the idea is "noise" as in not typical sounds frequently used in music, rather than "noise" as in loud, enveloping, annihilating.

Assuming you're talking about The Jesus and Mary Chain, MBV, Sonic Youth etc (as opposed to all-caps noise), I have to disagree on two points. First, their early work (see the first half of my 'portable' mix above) is very clearly a part of that same continuum, drawing very directly from their immediate precursors. I agree that they went somewhere else, but many of those same groups did likewise (the Mary Chain first perhaps with Automatic). Your last sentence I think perhaps overly simplifies the post-rock landscape into 'those who would use sampling to make new random noise bursts' etc. Even a ostensibly throwback group like Loop (although they were maybe thinking of Pink Floyd) used that same approach on things like "Shot With a Diamond" or the earlier "Thief (Motherf*cker)", and of course Kevin Shields was forever sampling and rearranging his own sounds.

All that said, I'm probably just misunderstanding you!

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 12 September 2005 17:27 (nineteen years ago) link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=tEtp80EQOgw

see if this works proper like

Stevolende, Saturday, 29 September 2012 13:56 (twelve years ago) link

The things you learn:

http://www.self-titledmag.com/2012/10/01/premiere-mushy-a-r-kane-my-life-so-far/#more-28120

Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 14:16 (twelve years ago) link

cor, indeed & blimey... got myself the wondrous complete singles collection, and waddya kno?! - "deep blue breath", their last alb's gorgeous opening track, isn't even on it! wasn't it a single?? un-kickingmyself-believable :(

t**t, Tuesday, 9 October 2012 18:33 (twelve years ago) link

(yeahyeahyeah, there's the list of songs upthread and everythung, b-b-but ...OH MAAAN!)

t**t, Tuesday, 9 October 2012 18:34 (twelve years ago) link

It wasnt a single but there was a rather good remix of it on one of those Volume compilation cds.

Rob M Revisited, Tuesday, 9 October 2012 18:40 (twelve years ago) link

six months pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9MH-o34TOg

Nilmar Honorato da Silva, Tuesday, 9 April 2013 01:47 (eleven years ago) link

yes

I have many lovely lacy nightgowns (contenderizer), Tuesday, 9 April 2013 03:25 (eleven years ago) link

man I just bought the Complete Singles Collection not too long ago, loving it so much!

que sera sriracha (Drugs A. Money), Tuesday, 9 April 2013 06:32 (eleven years ago) link

Loving i once you get over putting Love from Outer Space on repeat.

xyzzzz__, Saturday, 13 April 2013 11:48 (eleven years ago) link

No campaign to get "Baby milk snatcher" to number one?

Rob M Revisited, Saturday, 13 April 2013 12:09 (eleven years ago) link

AR Kane slips under the radar yet again!

xyzzzz__, Saturday, 13 April 2013 12:10 (eleven years ago) link

I enjoyed 'em live back in the old days when they played the old 930 Club in W. DC.

curmudgeon, Saturday, 13 April 2013 16:38 (eleven years ago) link

Lol is BMS an anti-Thatcher song?

que sera sriracha (Drugs A. Money), Saturday, 13 April 2013 17:36 (eleven years ago) link

one year passes...

And 25 years on, my celebration of <I>'i'</i>:

http://thequietus.com/articles/15633-a-r-kane-i-review

Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 8 July 2014 14:20 (ten years ago) link

nine months pass...

From their FB feed today -

And so ... after a brief hiatus of ... no, no that sounds crap and is a lie ...
So. After many years in life's wilderness of home and work and etc ... I have ... uh oh, that sounds really dumb!
OK.
Here we go.
Putting together some players and playing a gig this summer.
It will be A.R.Kane material.
It will be noisy. Mostly. And a bit quiet. In places.
Details to be confirmed almost soon.
How was that? Was that OK?

MaresNest, Thursday, 16 April 2015 23:02 (nine years ago) link

OMGWTF

Tim F, Thursday, 16 April 2015 23:27 (nine years ago) link

whoa.

Spencer Chow, Thursday, 16 April 2015 23:35 (nine years ago) link

Yes

Acid Hose (Capitaine Jay Vee), Thursday, 16 April 2015 23:37 (nine years ago) link

!!!!

stirmonster, Friday, 17 April 2015 03:05 (nine years ago) link

http://i57.tinypic.com/28jbm02.png

MaresNest, Sunday, 19 April 2015 18:56 (nine years ago) link

At the moment seems like it's a Rudy-only venture. It's not AR Kane if there's no Alex involved.

Acid Hose (Capitaine Jay Vee), Sunday, 19 April 2015 19:16 (nine years ago) link

he made a point to say it wasn't a reunion. . . but then he did say he'd been in contact with former AR Kane members. So sounds like he's doing it whether Alex will or not.

akm, Monday, 20 April 2015 14:01 (nine years ago) link

Meh

Acid Hose (Capitaine Jay Vee), Monday, 20 April 2015 14:30 (nine years ago) link

they prob heard the new young fathers album and thought they need to get in there.

StillAdvance, Monday, 20 April 2015 15:34 (nine years ago) link

I'm glad I got to see them back in the late 90s. It was the NewClear Child tour but they didn't hold back from getting their feedback on. Was glorious.

Acid Hose (Capitaine Jay Vee), Monday, 20 April 2015 15:41 (nine years ago) link

Oh man, I need to see this. Hope I can get a ticket.

MikoMcha, Monday, 20 April 2015 18:53 (nine years ago) link

imo "haunting" is the single best shoegaze

soyrev, Monday, 20 April 2015 18:58 (nine years ago) link

^I dont agree totally but Iits def way high up there!

let's love Jessica to death (Drugs A. Money), Monday, 20 April 2015 20:07 (nine years ago) link

fighting with my ex- about A.R. Kane kinda ruined them for me, but this news is monumental enough to merit an eyebrow raise from me at the very least

bernard snowy, Monday, 20 April 2015 22:01 (nine years ago) link

three months pass...

they played last weekend at the midi festival in france

here is the setlist...
https://twitter.com/InfoKane/status/625550537547755520

feargal czukay (NickB), Monday, 3 August 2015 14:11 (nine years ago) link

will be seeing them myself this saturday at supernormal. rudy said it might be their very last show, but who knows?

feargal czukay (NickB), Monday, 3 August 2015 14:14 (nine years ago) link

ten months pass...

17 minutes of them live in a current incarnation with Rudy but no Alex, live at the primavera Sound at the start of this month
http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=563752

Stevolende, Saturday, 11 June 2016 10:21 (eight years ago) link

The new album by The Invisible really reminds me of "A Love From Outer Space" in lots of ways.

boxedjoy, Saturday, 11 June 2016 10:37 (eight years ago) link

any way to check that out without getting a Dimeadozen membership?

Acid Hose (Capitaine Jay Vee), Saturday, 11 June 2016 14:10 (eight years ago) link

It wasn't that fantastic from hearing it once. A loud d'n'b-ish track and one more dreampoppy.

Stevolende, Saturday, 11 June 2016 14:43 (eight years ago) link

Ah yeah I'll pass.

Acid Hose (Capitaine Jay Vee), Saturday, 11 June 2016 19:10 (eight years ago) link

btw I hate this band ever since I got in a fight with my ex- about them, shortly before we broke up

every day, be sure you're woke (bernard snowy), Saturday, 11 June 2016 19:21 (eight years ago) link

oh hmm, I see I have already mentioned this extremely interesting tidbit about myself upthread *shimmers and vanishes, like a radiant palace of ice in the desert melting back into the shadows of a mirage*

every day, be sure you're woke (bernard snowy), Saturday, 11 June 2016 19:26 (eight years ago) link

Lol whatever, I had a conversation with Michael B about "Sulliday" when we met up in Lansing, and ever since then I've had a new appreciation for that track, and for 69 as a whole, as a sustained surrealist masterpiece

gate crimes legislation (Drugs A. Money), Sunday, 12 June 2016 05:02 (eight years ago) link

what were the details of this fight

akm, Sunday, 12 June 2016 15:39 (eight years ago) link

three weeks pass...

Was this ever posted? Classic era AR Kane live off a cassette : ))

http://killyourpetpuppy.co.uk/news/flux-annie-anxiety-tackhead-sound-system-dv-ar-kane-u-l-u-281186/

Acid Hose (Capitaine Jay Vee), Friday, 8 July 2016 16:52 (eight years ago) link

Holy crap I need this in my life. Thanks!

mark e smith and brexit (Drugs A. Money), Saturday, 9 July 2016 10:41 (eight years ago) link

one month passes...

So in this song when he says "car-ar-pet" I'm strongly reminded of AR Kane:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvPT2QuCIOA

Spencer Chow, Thursday, 11 August 2016 21:12 (eight years ago) link

six years pass...

Reissue set entitled A. R. Kive has been reviewed in Uncut and The Wire, but it STILL doesn’t have a price or pre-order! It sounds like an eccentric box, too. The first 2 studio LPs and the Up Home! EP, but no Lollita or other material from the era. Weird all-around, which is par for the course with them

beamish13, Monday, 26 June 2023 17:03 (one year ago) link

so the Rough Trade stuff but the early OLI or 4AD singles... rights issue no doubt

the absence of bikes (f. hazel), Monday, 26 June 2023 17:22 (one year ago) link

I’m glad it’s finally being reissued, but I’ll wait for more reviews to see if they’re comparable to the original releases.

beamish13, Monday, 26 June 2023 17:26 (one year ago) link

eleven months pass...

just got a ticket for the London gig in September :D

Colonel Poo, Thursday, 13 June 2024 12:59 (five months ago) link

Nice. So many AR Kane threads

AR Kane - 69 : classic or dud?

curmudgeon, Friday, 14 June 2024 12:29 (five months ago) link

five months pass...

The Wire cover story has sent me through the catalogue. I knew “A Love From Outer Space” from the time, playing it on my college radio show. But the availability of their stuff in the US meant I never was able to truly appreciate their diversity and depth. Thanks to the miracle of streaming, being able to hear the complete catalogue in these is introducing to me just how truly great these guys are.

Booger Swamp Road (Boring, Maryland), Thursday, 21 November 2024 14:59 (two weeks ago) link


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