Over their career, the group has been very influential on American electropop and freestyle artists from both their music and their strident, colorful visuals, being best known for their 1988 self-titled album. The band was formed in Minneapolis in the early 80s, and they performed avant-garde electronic music with flourishes of hip-hop. In 1983, they independently released two albums, 'The InSoc EP' and 'Creatures Of Influence'. Two years later, they released "Running", their first single, which became a hit popular in New York City's Latino nightclubs and "put them on the map". That song, a 7-minute effort that touched on contemporary techno, was written and sung by Murat Konar, who left the band soon after. Their growing success led them from their native Minneapolis to NYC, and the ensuing revenues and contacts, as well as the addition of Amanda Kramer to the lineup, led them to record their proper debut album.
Their first major release album. 1988's 'Information Society', received critical acclaim, giving the group breakout commercial success as the album hiked up to #25 on the Billboard 200. In addition to "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (which hit #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart), the album also had other hits in "Walking Away" (#9 on that chart) and a cover of ABBA's "Lay All Your Love On Me" (#12 on the Hot Dance Music chart). The disc was one of the few to use CD+G, which included digital graphics on the compact disc version in addition to the music. The audio samples from Star Trek were authorized for use on the album partially thanks to the efforts of Adam Nimoy, a fan of the band and son of Star Trek's Leonard Nimoy.
The second release, Hack (1990), wasn't as successful, but had small hits with Think and How Long but still managed to sell quite well in the fall of 1990.
Kurt was also the owner of the heavily-modified The Road Warrior-inspired art car named "Vector" featured on the cover of Hack. The car sported a functioning ranging laser, among other unusual features. Vector was eventually given to a friend at Burning Man in the mid-1990s.
The third release, Peace & Love, Inc. (1992), proved to be more powerful and critically acclaimed, although their label failed to do much to promote them. Their first single Peace & Love, Inc. reached #1 on the 'Billboard Dance Chart'. A music video was produced for the track, but MTV declined to play it. The album is also notable for being perhaps the first album ever produced to contain a track of modem tones, which when played into a telephone connected to a computer resulted in a bonus text message from the band.
The fourth album, Don't Be Afraid (1997), written and performed by Kurt Harland alone and produced by Steven Seibold, was more industrial-driven. Cleopatra Records released the album, but - like Tommy Boy Records - did little to promote it. Harland's love of computer-related materials continued to be evident, as the album included a CD-ROM filled with bonus material, not yet a common occurrence in 1997.
There was also a carefully-orchestrated digital scavenger hunt culminating in the discovery of a bonus track called White Roses. The scavenger hunt began with decoding a modem's signal recorded at the end of the audio CD, resulting in a text message from Kurt which pointed the way to a website where the search began. There is also a cover included of Gary Numan's Are 'Friends' Electric?. Also included is Ozar Midrashim, a track which was later used as the main theme for the videogame Legacy of Kain - Soul Reaver.
During the course of those four albums and about a dozen remix singles from them, Information Society's sound went from more electronic pop music to a darker industrial type, though they will always be remembered for their first hit song and the cardboard guitars they wielded in its music video.
However, in 2006 Paul Robb and James Cassidy announced their intention to re-form Information Society, and began working on a new album. They also performed live at several venues across the US with Christopher Anton as lead vocalist. The Ep "Oscillator" was released in early 2007 followed by the album Synthesizer in late 2007. Christopher Anton provided the vocals on Oscillator, and Synthesizer and was the co-writer on several of the tracks as well.
http://informationsociety.us/
Over the Sea
Information Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But who knows where it would go?
Something sad and hopeless
Tells me what I know.
And if I left you by yourself,
Who knows what you would do?
Something tall and mindless
Lets you walk right through.
Call you over the sea.
When will you come,
Come back to me?
Coming back for one more week
Of what I have to do.
Neverending changes.
Everything is new.
I'd write you a letter,
But who knows where it would go?
Something sad and hopeless
Tells me what I know.
Call you over the sea.
When will you come,
Come back to me?
In Information Society's song "Over the Sea," the lyrics convey a sense of sadness and hopelessness, as the singer ponders the difficulty of communicating with someone far away. The first verse begins with the singer acknowledging the futility of writing a letter, unsure of where it would end up. The lyrics hint at a sense of loss or distance, as "something sad and hopeless" speaks to the singer's uncertainty, and the feeling that something important may be slipping away. The second half of the verse touches on the idea of abandonment, with the singer wondering what someone they care about might do if left alone. The phrase "something tall and mindless" implies a sense of overwhelming force, something that might resolutely push forward despite the emptiness left behind.
The chorus introduces the idea of reaching out over an expanse - "over the sea" - to call out for someone to return. The lyrics express both longing and impatience, with the repeated question "when will you come, come back to me?" suggesting that the separation has been long and difficult. The second half of the song repeats the idea of letter-writing, which comes across as both a futile gesture and a heartfelt desire to connect. The words "neverending changes, everything is new" seem like they could be positive or negative, reflecting either the difficulty of moving on and adapting or the excitement of exploring new opportunities. Either way, they highlight the singer's sense of distance, and the linear passage of time that separates them from the person they are addressing.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd write you a letter,
I wish I could express my thoughts and feelings to you through words.
But who knows where it would go?
However, I have doubts about whether my message would reach you, or if it would remain unnoticed or unread for eternity.
Something sad and hopeless
There is a sense of deep despair, pessimism, and sadness in me.
Tells me what I know.
This emotion is too intense to ignore and indicates that my instincts are correct.
And if I left you by yourself,
If I were to abandon you and go away somewhere, with or without a reason,
Who knows what you would do?
I can't predict how you would react, what you would feel, or what you would do in response to my absence.
Something tall and mindless
At the same time, there is a featureless, senseless obstacle in your path that you can overcome quickly and easily, even if I'm not there to offer help or support.
Lets you walk right through.
This hurdle poses little difficulty for your progress or goals; you can navigate it with ease.
Call you over the sea.
From my side of the ocean, I yearn to communicate and reconnect with you.
When will you come,
I want to know when I'll see you again.
Come back to me?
I'm not sure if you share the same feeling, but I can still hope that you will return to me.
Coming back for one more week
I anticipate your return soon, even if it's only temporary.
Of what I have to do.
I have unfinished business or obligations to tend to before I can fully devote myself to you.
Never-ending changes.
The situation around me is constantly evolving, sometimes for the better and sometimes not, but it never stays the same for long.
Everything is new.
As a result, I'm trying to adapt and adjust to these changes, often struggling to keep up or make sense of it all.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Aislinnmomma
Absolutely great synth hooks, harmonies, and samples.
@MrMogwali1
Favourite song on the album
@carlakato6778
Top demais 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
@perihelion54
Always loved this song more than the singles that got radio play
@amangogna68
Fantastic !
@user-px8ii2zz3k
オーバーザ シー！メロ、アレンジ、リズムトラックの秀逸さ。もう神曲！！
@hoverant7709
I love this song
@VoIPPortland
Leonard Nimoy's son was an attorney and worked out the legalities of the Star Trek soundbites and permissions from Paramount.
In 92 or '91 they came to Portland to a small venue off Burnside in December. A blizzard hit and everyone that wanted to wait could, or you could get your money back. Half of us waiting three hours and I.S. came out and did the full concert. Amazing guys. They opened for The Tubes and it didn't end until about 3am.
@anonymoushuman8344
James Cassidy, the bass player, teaches soil science at OSU in Corvallis. I understand he still performs with Information Society, too.
@noabalansag7956
One of the Best❤🇵🇭