Clock DVA is an electronic music group from Sheffield, England. Originally … Read Full Bio ↴Clock DVA is an electronic music group from Sheffield, England. Originally founded, in late-1977, by Adi Newton and Steven Turner. They were first known for experimental electronic music.

They became associated with industrial music with the 1980 release of their album White Souls in Black Suits on Industrial Records, although in reality the early material that predates this release is a blend of extreme electronics and frequencies that was heard only by a spartan few, including Jhon Balance and other notaries. (This early archive material, which includes the Sex Works Beyond Entanglement 12" EP (1979) originally planned for release by Cherry Red with the tracks Throbbing Sweeping Obscene/Coil/The Pop Hell, is due for release with a number of other extreme pure-electronic compositions and will readdress the morphology of DVA history.) The album Thirst followed in 1981, by which time Adi Newton and Steven Judd Turner had combined musique concrète techniques with guitar, bass, and drum instrumentation, fused with Newton's unique art direction and existential lyrics and writing.

After the tragic death of Steven Judd Turner, Adi Newton formed a new version of the band in 1983. First releasing the singles Passions Still Aflame and High Holy Disco Mass on the major label Polydor under the name DVA, the group then released the album Advantage (along with several singles). During a European tour a dispute amongst the musicians occurred resulting in Adi Newton disbanding the group. However the remaining musicians attempted an abortive continuation of the tour without him, which resulted in negative reaction from DVA fans appalled by Newton's absence.

After the 1983 breakup of Clock DVA, Adi Newton put in process his original concept of the multimedia arts project The Anti-Group aka T.A.G.C., which staged a number of performances directed and choreographed solely by Adi Newton. T.A.G.C. released a series of films and recordings, namely The Disscussion Anti-Theatre piece/Dual 16mm Film and Soundtrack, Ha/Zulu, ShT, Big Sex, The Ambisonic Album Digitaria, Meontological Recording Record 1, Meontological Recording Record 2 (Teste Tones), Burning Water Film/ Soundtrack, and Iso-Erotic Calibrations.

In 1987 Adi Newton, while still working within TAGC, allowed a reformation of DVA. He was at the time experimenting with computer sound sampling techniques and sequencing and had already created a blueprint for a track originally titled "Diamond Bullet," which later became "The Hacker." This reformed line-up consisted of creative director Adi Newton; vocalist, sound designer, Dean Dennis; and Paul Browse. From this line-up came the album Buried Dreams.

After the release of Buried Dreams and a series of singles taken from the album, a number of problems occurred. Paul Browse left to try to resolve issues with the record label in Berlin but remained in Germany and never returned. As a result, Robert Baker joined the line up, which then released the albums Man-Amplified and Digital Soundtracks. Dean Dennis left to start work on a new project. The album Sign followed during a transitional period in which Adi Newton relocated to Italy, taking Clock DVA/TAGC with him as sole director and reactivating the project in a new direction.

Adi Newton and creative partner Jane Radion Newton are currently working on the remastered release of their whole back catalog, which was set to be released in the autumn of 2008 by Mute records as a box set including a 120-page book. They are also working with invited guest artists on new Clock DVA/TAGC studio albums, which are scheduled for a 2009 release to coincide with a number of key European performances and installations.

Sites: YouTube and http://MySpace.com/ClockDVAauthorized (official)

Non
Clock DVA Lyrics

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Last textural reports
A plan of locations
Cross points of agencies
A program of density
Of a force that cannot be determined
Science at this point must become alembic
Magnetic field disturbances
Have irradiated our equipment

We have lost all contact
We are alone
In the shadow of shadows
In the dream of dreams
In the sleep of sleep
I see it's form
We have no more time now
We are alone
Final entry report
I have removed all obstacles
That impedes it's progress
My duty is to serve the power
That holds me captive
There are no more choices

We have opened a new door
To a new horror that will finally destroy us

Overall Meaning

Clock DVA's song Non is a hauntingly beautiful piece, with lyrics that tell a story about a group of individuals who have embarked upon a scientific mission. The song starts with "Last textural reports, a plan of locations, cross points of agencies, a program of density." This line sets the scene for us - there is a mission being carried out, and there is a lot of technical detail involved. This is followed by "Of a force that cannot be determined, science at this point must become alembic." This line perhaps suggests that there is something unknown or unexplainable that they are dealing with - something that science cannot quite comprehend.

" Magnetic field disturbances have irradiated our equipment, we have lost all contact, we are alone" - the group experiences some kind of environmental disturbance, which disrupts their communication and leaves them isolated in the field.

The second half of the song is darker and more ominous. " Final entry report, I have removed all obstacles that impedes its progress, my duty is to serve the power that holds me captive" - it seems that someone is actively working against the others, removing obstacles which may be a crucial part of their mission. The line "There are no more choices, we have opened a new door to a new horror that will finally destroy us" is particularly chilling - it paints a picture of a group of people who are doomed, with no hope left.

In summary, the song appears to be about a failed scientific mission, and the consequences that come with it. The lyrics are powerful, and the delivery by Clock DVA is both intense and emotional.

Line by Line Meaning

Last textural reports
The most recent forms of documentation

A plan of locations
A map consisting of specific areas

Cross points of agencies
Intersections where different organizations meet

A program of density
An initiative that involves a high level of concentration

Of a force that cannot be determined
Referring to an unknown entity

Science at this point must become alembic
The field of science needs to distill and purify information

Magnetic field disturbances
Interference affecting magnetic zones

Have irradiated our equipment
Our devices have been exposed to radiation

We have lost all contact
Our communications are no longer functioning

We are alone
Isolation from any external support

In the shadow of shadows
Within the deepest darkness