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)
Soundmirror 1
Clock DVA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Buried Dreams
Sound Mirror
Can you see
Can you see
Can you see
Can you see
Can you see the echo
Can you hear
Can you hear
Can you hear yourself
Glass embrace
Glass embrace
Glass embrace
Glass embrace
Emit refractions
I can see
I can see
I can see
Phonetized apparitions
Look in to
Look in to
Look in to
Absolute resonance/Sonant Spectre
Can you see
Can you see
Can you see
The imitation of noise
Can you feel
Can you feel
Can you feel
Can you feel image
In your face
In your face
In your face
Emit refractions
I can see
I can see
I can see
In the Sound Mirror
Clock DVA's song "Soundmirror" explores the theme of perception and self-awareness. The repeated question "Can you see/Can you hear" asks the listener to question their ability to truly perceive the world around them. The metaphor of the "Sound Mirror" is used to represent the reflection of oneself that can be found in the world around us. The lyrics express a sense of detachment from reality as the singer speaks of "phonetized apparitions" and the "imitation of noise". The emotionless, robotic delivery of the lyrics also adds to the feeling of detachment and a lack of connection to reality.
The repeated phrase "Glass embrace/Emit refractions" refers to the idea that our perceptions are shaped by the lens through which we view the world, as well as the idea that our actions and emotions can reflect back on us like a mirror. The final line of the song, "In the Sound Mirror," brings the piece full circle, suggesting that the true reflection of oneself can be found within the world around us and that the key to self-awareness is learning to truly see and hear what is present.
Line by Line Meaning
Buried Dreams
The unfulfilled desires and aspirations that have been suppressed or forgotten.
Sound Mirror
A metaphorical representation of reflection, where the echoes of sound waves are captured, and a visual manifestation of audio waves.
Can you see
Do you perceive, understand or truly recognize.
Can you see the echo
Are you able to witness the representation or reflection of sound waves.
Can you hear
Are you able to listen, comprehend or recognize.
Can you hear yourself
Are you able to understand, recognize or listen to oneself.
Glass embrace
The entrapment or confinement within a transparent construct, symbolizing fragility and vulnerability.
Emit refractions
Producing the bending or alteration of light and sound waves when exiting an object through reflection or refraction.
I can see
I am able to perceive, recognize or witness.
Phonetized apparitions
Auditory hallucinations or illusions that have taken physical form, often through the Medium of sound waves.
Look in to
To gaze or search through visual observation for a particular object or phenomenon.
Absolute resonance/Sonant Spectre
The purest or most complete state of sound vibration or energy, personified as a haunting, ghostly apparition or presence.
The imitation of noise
A recreation or representation of the sound of chaotic or discordant vibrations.
Can you feel
Are you able to sense, perceive or recognize physically or emotionally.
Can you feel image
Are you able to perceive visuals through touch sensation or through the emotional essence of imagery.
In your face
In close proximity or direct confrontation with someone or something.
In the Sound Mirror
Within a manifestation of audio waves, where the reflection and visualization of sound is evident.
Contributed by Cameron W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.