The band was formed in 1989 by bassist Mark Clayden with guitarist and programmer Johnny Carter, later joined by vocalist JS Clayden and Stuart Toolin. During this time, the band played with local bands and soon gained attention of the Peaceville Records. During this time, JS went to live in France to sell paintings.
During 1990, the band started recording their début album, Industrial, with the main vocalist being Mark Clayden instead of JS, who contributed with backing vocals. The band later went on a small tour with bands like Napalm Death.
Their first few releases had a distinctive industrial sound where the influential gaze of Godflesh was abundantly apparent.
The simplified 808 style drum tracks and sluggish drone guitars evolved over the next decade to produce some of the most intense loop based crunching metal/punk riffs and hard floor dance rhythm sections.
Throughout their highly acclaimed career although often commercially overlooked, Pitchshifter were often heralded with founding the Electro Punk genre with JS Claydon's 'sex pistols' barrages on the current state of the UK, simplistic chord driven guitar lines and the inclusion of more and more elaborate sampling and synth based elements.
Similar to previous attempts at this meld of minds such as Pop Will Eat Itself (PWEI) Pitchshifter created an intense and dedicated fan-base who still work hard to promote the outfit.
Although the band officially ceased to be after releasing the album PSI, they have continued to reform for the occasional festival appearance or one-off event each of which is accompanied by one-off releases for ticket holders.
Since shutting down the PSI-political propaganda machine, members have gone on to work on various projects together and solo, including This is Menace, a super group comprising of members of Amen, Hundred Reasons, Funeral For a Friend and Earthone9.
Mark Claydon is now a regular tutor at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music (BIMM), and runs a regular advice column for bands just starting out in the UK-based Total Guitar magazine (available through Future Publishing).
Genius
Pitchshifter Lyrics
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Then I must be some kind of genius.
'Cause with me it's a religion 50,000 strong.
The lyrics of Pitchshifter's song Genius are quite straightforward but contain a deeper message. It is about dysfunction being a part of people's lives, and we learn from our mistakes. The singer of the song claims to be some kind of genius since he has made a religion of dysfunction with a fan-following of 50,000.
The song revolves around the idea that being dysfunctional doesn't necessarily mean being wrong. Mistakes are a part of life, which we learn from, and if we accept our shortcomings as our strengths, that's where the real genius lies. Hence, the claim to be a genius is justified here.
The song can also be seen as a commentary on society's acceptance of dysfunctional people, and the rise of cults, despite their unorthodox beliefs. It highlights how, as a society, we have come to embrace and idolize people who, in other circumstances, would be considered outsiders.
Line by Line Meaning
If dysfunction is our function
If we are predisposed to dysfunction
(and if we learn by our mistakes)
yet we depend on our errors for growth and learning
Then I must be some kind of genius.
Therefore, I must be an exceptional intellect capable of uncovering answers to long-standing problems.
'Cause with me it's a religion 50,000 strong.
My approach to solving problems is infectious and has garnered a following of 50,000 people who swear by it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHNATHAN CARTER, JON S. CLAYDEN, MARK CLAYDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind