A while after collaborating with Johan Van Roy of SUICIDE COMMANDO on a few songs in the Stored Images period (Johan also played live keys in IC 434 in the late 90's), Geert started with a side project, called PANGEA (now PANGEAN DREAMS), around the millenium change. Some people describe it as a mix of EBM and Goa/Psy Trance. Geert also joined VOMITO NEGRO when Guy Van Mieghem remixed the PANGEA song Permafrost a while after he broke up the collaboration with Gin Devo in 2002.
Six years later, IC 434 finally released its latest album BACTERIATE on the German record label INFACTED RECORDINGS, resulting in a n° 42 position in the Deutsche Alternative Charts for the total of 2008 - only FRONT 242 did a little bit better as Belgian band.
BACKGROUND
As you can expect from the name of the project, the lyrics mainly contain astronomical descriptions, linked with very personal experiences Geert had with death and mental pain - all lyrics are autobiographic and may be taken litteraly. The mysteries on our planet and in the universe also have an important place in the lyrics, just as animal rights, nature in general and the sickness of our society.
The IC 434 sound is still completely based on the 80's Korg M1, with only a couple of additional samples. This doesn't mean that the band tends to create a typical old school sound, but just a kind of timeless dark electronic and 'danceable' music, combining elements from now and earlier days. Well known for the strong live act, IC 434 is currently supported on stage by Nicolas Van Meirhaeghe aka. Sal-Ocin from EMPUSAE, THIS MORN' OMINA and TZOLK'IN.
Just a little remark left. Geert de Wilde changed the name of IC 434 temporarily into OBEDIENCE the summer of 2003. Nicolas Van Meirhaeghe joined Geert de Wilde at that moment, and together they would work out the new OBEDIENCE songs. Nevertheless, a year after the name change, the interest in the old IC 434 was still big and seemed to grow, even. This, and a lot of practical problems, led to the decision to restart IC 434 and to consider OBEDIENCE as an other, independent, project. The only OBEDIENCE song that was released so far is the remix of Ladykiller Geert made for HOCICO that was released on their album Hate Never Dies.
REMIXES
Brainleisure - Crawl In Vain (IC 434 remix)
Experiment Haywire - Mean Enough Hot Enough (IC 434 remix) - tbr.
Grandchaos - God Is Dead (IC 434 remix)
Hocico - Ladykiller (Obedience - aka. IC 434 - remix)
Implant - The Age Of Experiment (Space Lab remix by Pangea) - tbr.
Neikka RPM - Find A Way (IC 434 remix)
Psy'Aviah - Anger Management (IC 434 retake)
Psy'Aviah - Broken Child (IC 434 remix)
COLLABORATIONS
Nebula-H featuring Pangea - Andalusiòn
Suicide Commando - Mortal Combat
Back to Back
IC 434 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My parents were forty or even more
Daddy wanted no children because he was so afraid
His father would turn into the brand new born
Where is my childhood
I hear its voice inside
But I am back now
All went well as long as a boy
I grew up and Daddy got scared
He took his chains and forced me down
But meant so well as protecting God
The lyrics of IC 434's Back To Back express the experiences of a person who was born as an only child to parents who were relatively old. The singer's father did not want to have children because he feared that his own father would be reincarnated in his child. The singer seems to be reflecting on the fact that he did not have a normal childhood, and he hears its voice inside, but he is back now and will survive. The second verse delves more into the singer's experiences as he grows up. As a boy, everything went well, but as he got older, his father became more fearful and began to chain him down to protect him from God.
Overall, the lyrics seem to explore themes of fear, protection, and survival. The singer's father's fear of reincarnation seems to have shaped much of his childhood and adolescent experiences, and his attempts to protect him from God only ended up harming him more. However, the singer is now back and determined to survive, despite the difficulties he has faced in the past.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was born as an only child
I came into this world as the sole offspring of my parents.
My parents were forty or even more
My parents were relatively old when they had me, perhaps in their forties.
Daddy wanted no children because he was so afraid
My father had reservations about having children due to his own fears.
His father would turn into the brand new born
My father was possibly worried about inheriting undesirable traits passed down from his own father.
Where is my childhood
My childhood seems like a distant memory and I wonder where it went.
I hear its voice inside
Although it is in the past, I still feel connected to my childhood memories.
But I am back now
I am in the present and here to stay.
I will survive instead
Despite the challenges I have faced, I will persist and overcome.
All went well as long as a boy
My childhood seemed to be problem-free when I was younger.
I grew up and Daddy got scared
As I got older, my father became increasingly worried for my safety and well-being.
He took his chains and forced me down
My father may have resorted to controlling tactics, hoping to keep me out of harm's way.
But meant so well as protecting God
My father's actions were done with the pure, good intention of watching over me.
Contributed by Kaelyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
George Kambanis
excellent track
ImpalerVladTepes
This rules.