Events
Loop w/ Kinski
- 8:00pm Friday, May 16, 2014
LOOP was formed in Croydon, London, 1986 by Robert Hampson (vocals/
guitar) and partner Beki Stewart (Bex) on drums. After finding Glen Ray
on bass, through an advert in Melody Maker, they began to perform live
and were quickly signed to HEAD Records run by Jeff Barrett (Heavenly)
who released their feedback-drenched debut 12” 16 Dreams.
Following line-up changes – the arrival of new drummer John Wills, new
bassist Neil MacKay and James Endeacott on second guitar the band were
to take a more primal rhythmic foundation captured on their impressive
debut full-length Heavens End (1987).
The band managed to hypnotise all with their discordant trance-like
spell which served as an antidote to the prevailing trend in British pop
at the time – they resurrected the concept of loud out there-rock for a
new era, creating droning soundscapes of bleak beauty and harsh
dissonance, loosely influenced by bands such as The Velvet Underground,
The Stooges, The MC5, but retaining an avant-garde and experimental edge
from Can, Faust, Neu!, Rhys Chatham, Glenn Branca and minimalist
systems music, to name but a few. Live shows were revelatory, Loop,
allowing LOUD as a constant descriptive term, they pushed PAs to the
very edge of their existence, creating a sonic pummel not really
experienced since.
A collection of singles and B-sides, The World in Your Eyes, appeared on
HEAD in 1987 and after the departure of Endeacott the band signed to
the Chapter 22 label, releasing the Collision 12” as well their more
sparse and discordant second full-length, Fade Out.