1. An industrial group from LA
1. An industrial group from LA
2. A post-punk act from Detroit
The first and most well known is the Los Angeles electronic-industrial music group, formed in 1992 by Matt Green and his New York-based collaborator, Rob Morton. The group signed to Cleopatra Records. That same year, a self-titled, four-song EP with vocals supplied by Scott Franklin (later to become bassist for The Cramps), was released. In 1993, they added vocalist Athan Maroulis and recorded their debut album Collateral Damage. Their sophomore effort, The Coiled One, appeared two years later in the midst of Morton leaving the band due to creative and logistical differences. After his departure, the line-up was expanded to include Christian Death drummer David Glass, Screams for Tina guitarist Kent Bancroft, and Tubalcain drummer Harry Lewis. This offered a beginning of the fuller, more diverse, dark electro-industrial sound that Spahn Ranch would continue to pursue. By 1997 Spahn Ranch pared themselves down to a tight, three-piece unit of Green, Maroulis and Lewis.
Architecture, released in 1997, featured contributions from Killing Joke/Prong bassist Paul Raven and Rockats/Nancy Sinatra guitarist Danny B. Harvey. This album took an even more experimental appraoch to the Spahn Ranch sound, incorporating elements of drum and bass, dub and for the first time, live guitar parts. Beat Noir, in 1998, followed a similar path even further and included work with Bauhaus/Love & Rockets bassist David J.The band regularly toured throughout North America during their existence with the likes of Front Line Assembly, Front 242, Switchblade Symphony and The Electric Hellfire Club. Spahn Ranch also made a couple of European treks prior to their demise as a group in 2000. Closure was a posthumous release in 2001 of their final album recorded in 2000.
The second band was formed in Detroit, MI in 1986 and released one album in 1987 called Thickly Settled. In it's infancy, the band played in many local venues on the bill with various local bands. Quickly a strong following developed, which immediately precipitated a self titled cassette release of six tracks on the Ikthus Network label. After having missed their own billing at a show, the band was introduced to Eric Cope of Insight Records from San Francisco, CA. He offered them a contract with Insight after reviewing their cassette and video work. The band accepted and began recording their first LP, 'Thickly Settled' in California where they were welcomed by receptive audiences. 'Thickly Settled' was hailed as one of the best albums of the year by England's Underground Magazine, and also met favorable reception in the U.S.A. None of the members of Spahn Ranch had any formal music training and had not played an instrument prior to forming the group. "The sound they create is tense and raw, not polished to distract from the music itself. Drummer Odell Nails lays down a thick, almost tribal drum beat, accompanied by Hobey Echlin's bass foundation for the music. Guitarist Bradley Horowitz adds the energetic, consuming guitar melodies, changing the tunings for each song in order to make no two sets alike. Bob Sterner's vocals with a touch of folk influence, mesh with the instrumental sounds that give the finished product, intense music which envelopes and audience." Hobey Echlin later joined the band as bassist.
Compression Test
Spahn Ranch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sedatives labor shift
Driven by caustic reason
Sent the spleen directing
The answer came from the gun
An interruption
Replay the firing order
Control of the body
Do as they say
The suture marks
Crushed the lights on the face
The lyrics to Spahn Ranch's song "Compression Test" are quite cryptic and open to interpretation. However, there are a few possible meanings that one can read into these lyrics. Firstly, the "corner of decision" may refer to a point in someone's life where they must make a choice, one that is being influenced by a "caustic reason", perhaps something toxic or negative that is driving them. This "reason" may be the "spleen directing", meaning that they are acting impulsively or out of anger. The sedatives mentioned in the second line may suggest that this decision is being made under the influence of drugs or medication, making the choice even more clouded.
The following lines discuss the consequences of this decision, which appears to involve a gun. The "answer came from the gun" refers to the outcome of whatever happened - perhaps someone was shot or killed. The use of the word "interruption" suggests that this act disrupted something or caused a halt in proceedings. The third verse describes "taped mouths in the process", suggesting that the incident was covered up or silenced in some way. The "firing order" is a technical term which suggests the precise sequence in which shots were fired, again implying a violent act that has been concealed. The final lines are particularly disturbing, hinting at someone being controlled, possibly through force or manipulation. The "suture marks" suggest wounds that have been stitched up, and the "crushed lights on the face" may indicate someone being physically beaten or oppressed. Overall, the lyrics to "Compression Test" paint a bleak and violent picture, where decisions have devastating consequences and freedom is stifled.
Line by Line Meaning
The corner of decision
At the point of deciding, weighing options and consequences
Sedatives labor shift
Medications altering consciousness and mental state causing a shift in labor or work
Driven by caustic reason
Motive or rationale for action is based on a corrosive and harmful logic
Sent the spleen directing
Sending negative emotions or anger in a specific direction or target
The answer came from the gun
Solution or outcome derived from the use of a weapon, likely a firearm
An interruption
Breaking a continuous activity or flow, likely in a violent or abrupt manner
Taped mouths in the process
Restricting speech or expression during a procedure or operation
Replay the firing order
Reenacting the sequence or pattern of shots fired
Control of the body
Exerting dominance or authority over physical actions and movements
Do as they say
Following commands or orders without question or hesitation
The suture marks
Physical scars left by wounds stitched or held together by medical sutures
Crushed the lights on the face
Putting out or extinguishing the spark or vitality in a person's countenance or appearance
Contributed by Hudson E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.