Tag Results: nervous circuits
Tucson Weekly names The VSS Re-Issue among one of 2012’s Best
Like many great bands, the VSS existed during a small, finite window of time—about 36 months in the mid-1990s. The Colorado-by-way-of-San Francisco band eschewed trends of the day by combining abrasive post-punk with synthesizers, simultaneously harking back to early punk rock of the late 1970s (when no rule went unbroken) and foreseeing a terrifying future. The confrontational hurricane that was the VSS’ music included nightmarish soundtrack music, angular guitar, bellowed vocals in the manner of Big Black, rubbery Fugazi-style bass and swatches of pure intoxicating noise.
This new double-LP collection (also available as a digital download) was released at the end of November. It combines the band’s only full-length recording, Nervous Circuits from 1997, with an expanded version of the 2001 singles collection originally titled 21:51.
Cuts such as “Effigy,” “Lunar Weight” and “Death Scene” (from Nervous Circuits) will cause fire to explode behind your eyes. When those flames ebb, tracks from 25:37 such as “The Fist and Fingers,” “Cosmic Retribution” and “Crawling in Place” will pour accelerant on the warm embers. And when you hear the amazing title track on Nervous Circuits, you’ll know what a union of Glenn Branca, At the Drive-In and Suicide might’ve sounded like.
The members of this band have all gone on to other projects, including Pleasure Forever and Red Sparowes, and vocalist Sonny Kay founded the now-defunct indie label Gold Standard Laboratories. But, fortunately, the VSS’ music has been preserved so that today’s listeners can enjoy it. This is monumental stuff, truly exhilarating and among the best reissues of 2012.
Pitchfork Features The VSS’ Classic “Lunar Weight” to Celebrate Re-Issue
The VSS’ double LP re-issue on vinyl of Nervous Circuits and the 7” singles collection 21:51 limited to only 1,000 copies will be In stores December 11th or - you can ORDER YOUR COPY HERE mail order is shipping now.
The VSS Pre-Order is up Now 2xLP discography reissue
The VSS reissue Vinyl is a double LP in dual colors with Nervous Circuits on Green Vinyl and 25:37 on Black Vinyl - comes with a free download card for both albums and a limited edition band poster. We also have a great bundle package with your choice of shirt and while supplies last includes a LIVE DVD & CD Bonus discs. Shirts are also sold separately. Vinyl pressing is limited to just 1,000 - orders will ship on or around November 27, 2012.
GO GET IT
Influential synth-punk band The VSS announce deluxe 2xLP discography reissue on Sargent House
“The VSS invented a fierce, highly unconventional sound unlike that of any other contemporary band. Theirs was a maelstrom of hard punk energy comprised of dissonant guitar, bass, drums, as well as keyboards. The result was something organic and angry and intensely human, but it was laced with a sharp, robotic edge. On all of their releases The VSS effortlessly overstep the boundaries of all traditional rock formats (and that includes punk rock), producing one explosive sonic exorcism after another.” — Epitonic.com
Fabled San Francisco art-punks The VSS announce the deluxe reissue of the band’s studio discography via Sargent House. Back in print on vinyl for the first time since its original release in 1997, Nervous Circuits is the highly influential sole full length album by The VSS. This double LP reissue is paired with 25:37, an expanded edition of the band’s singles collection 21:51, which was previously only available on CD.
To this day, The VSS is commonly known for two things, 1) its inventive use of horror-film keyboards, angular guitar, unusual rhythmic shifts and jarring vocal effects in creating a dark sound that merged punk, goth, psychedelia and experimental rock, and 2) its “crazy” light show, an unprecedented notion for the underground basement show set. These two components are said to be influential on the aesthetics of myriad bands to follow in the 15 years since the band’s demise. Of course, the synthesizer was nothing new in punk rock. It was a key component in 60s garage rock, as well as late 70s post-punk/new wave. However, by the mid-90s, the synthesizer was such anathema to musicians still reveling in the faux-grit of grunge, that to the members of The VSS, adding keyboards to underground noise-punk seemed the perfect prescription for what had become a staggeringly dull scene.
The members of The VSS went on to a number of projects. Vocalist Sonny Kay maintained his influential record label GSL, a successful visual arts career and led the bands Year Future and Subpoena The Past. Guitarist Josh Hughes, keyboardist/bassist/vocalist Andrew Rothbard and drummer David Clifford formed SLAVES in 1997, later changing their name to Pleasure Forever and signing to Sub Pop in 2000. Following Pleasure Forever’s demise in 2003, Hughes went on to form Rabbits (Relapse Records), Rothbard has released a series of solo albums under his full name Andrew Douglas Rothbard and Clifford went on to play drums in L.A. instrumental post-rock band Red Sparowes.
Nervous Circuits + 25:37 will be available on double LP and download via Sargent House on November 27, 2012.
(Source: campaign.r20.constantcontact.com)
The VSS: Announce Re-Issue on Sargent House and Possible Shows In The Future
The VSS reunite, planning dates and reissues
“The VSS began in Boulder, Colorado in January 1995 and ended unceremoniously in July 1997. In that time the band relocated to San Francisco, toured the U.S. twice and Europe/UK once, released a series of 7-inch EPs and issued Nervous Circuits, its only full length album. It was recorded and mixed over the course of one week of sessions (usually lasting upwards of 16-hours per day) in October 1996 at the same Denver studio in which The VSS recorded its debut EP… To this day, The VSS is commonly known for two things, 1) its inventive use of horror-film keyboards, angular guitar, unusual rhythmic shifts and vocal effects in creating a dark, jarring sound that merged punk, goth, psychedelia and experimental rock, and 2) its “crazy” light show, an unprecedented notion for the underground basement show set.”
The VSS have announced their intention to play a batch of reunion shows in celebration of the release of Nervous Circuitson vinyl and a forthcoming compilation LP that collects their previous 7” material. So far no word on dates, cities, etc, but we’ll keep you informed. It will be re-issued by Sargent House.
Nervous Circuits was originally released on Honey Bear Records in 1997 and subsequently reissued via Hydra Head in 2008. Members of The VSS went on to join bands like Pleasure Forever, Red Sparowes, and Rabbits.
