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/
To Be Free
Information Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can sometimes
Feel like dying
Doing what I have to do
I can almost
Hear you crying
This is how it feels
This is how it feels
To be free
To be free
Figures slowly come to life
Almost always
They are having
Minor problems minor strife
I can almost
Hear you laughing
This is how it feels
Using up the time we steal
This is how it feels
To be free
So this is how it feels to be free
The lyrics of Information Society's song To Be Free capture the frustration and irony of modern-day living. The opening lines refer to staring at an empty screen and feeling like dying, which could be interpreted as a commentary on our obsession with technology and the cost it takes on our mental health. The singer of the song is caught up in the mundanity of life, doing what they have to do, often hearing the cries and laughter of others who are going through similar struggles.
As the song progresses, we see the figures on the screen coming to life, often faced with minor problems and strife - a reflection of the trials and tribulations of everyday existence. Yet despite all these challenges, there is an underlying sense of freedom that the singer experiences. This freedom comes from the ability to make choices and use up the time that they have.
Overall, the song seems to convey a sense of resignation and acceptance of the struggles that come with living in a world that is constantly changing and evolving.
Line by Line Meaning
Staring at an empty screen
Feeling isolated and alone while sitting in front of a computer screen with nothing to occupy the time.
I can sometimes
Occasionally, the feeling becomes unbearable.
Feel like dying
The despair and loneliness can be so intense that suicide seems like the only option.
Doing what I have to do
Obligations to society and daily life continue, regardless of the heavy emotional burden.
I can almost
The emotional connection to another person is so strong it feels like they are present despite their physical absence.
Hear you crying
The pain and sadness of the other person are palpable, even from a distance.
Figures slowly come to life
In contrast to the unchanging emptiness of the screen, mental images arise and become more vivid.
Almost always
These images are always tinged with sorrow or difficulty.
They are having
The people in these images are experiencing.
Minor problems minor strife
Everyday setbacks and stresses are amplified into a sense of overwhelming hardship.
I can almost
The same emotional connection to the distant other person is present in these visions.
Hear you laughing
It is possible to perceive moments of joy and levity, but they are overwhelmed by the larger sense of anguish.
This is how it feels
The anguish and longing are so visceral that it is suffused into every moment of existence.
Funny how it's all so real
The pain and the visions are intangible, but they are in some ways more vivid than reality itself.
To be free
The ultimate goal is to escape this intense emotional state and find some kind of relief or peace.
Using up the time we steal
Despite the sense of unrelenting distress, life still goes on and time must still be filled.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL ROBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jorge Paniagua
Mais uma para a minha coleção de favoritas do INSOC!
Marcelo Carvalho 😎
I Love this song.
Nina Mendes Terapeuta
Adoro INSOC. Kurt é um amor em pessoa. Super atencioso. Tive a oportunidade de conhecê-lo esse ano. Adoro!!!
David Q
Badass track!
Carlos Hidalgo
Una real maravilla me emociona llena de recuerdos hermosos !
Fernando Szatkowski
Olha aí influência de Depeche Mode de novo!!! Voltem Information Society, por favor!!
Fernando Szatkowski
@Jose Roberto Da Silva Barbosa qual a dúvida???
Jose Roberto Da Silva Barbosa
???
singinglawnchair
You can tell this is a Karl Bartos production, it definitely has his "flavor" :) love it!
Sala Samsung
Well said. Similar “flavor” was later heard on Electronic 1996 album Raise The Pressure.