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.
Remnants
Spahn Ranch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They have you believe
That there is a way
Through the escapade
Breathe like you never before
And you take what you know
When it's all said and gone
They said to me
The imagery
Is sold and played
And when the tide turns
And a soul resists
And when you feel burned
You move ahead
Your parody
Plays in part
And all through the start
Cutting strips out of air
Your driver impaired
Breathe like you never before
And you take what you know
When it's all said and gone
They said to me
Your road is paved
The imagery
Is sold and played
And when the tide turns
And a soul resists
And when it feels burned
You move ahead
Breathe like never before
From the line you read
They have you believe
That there is a way
Through the escapade
They said to me
Your road is paved
The imagery
Is sold and played
And when the tide turns
And a soul resists
And when it feels burned
You move ahead
You move ahead
The lyrics of Spahn Ranch's song "Remnants" seem to be about the power of propaganda and how it can influence people into believing certain things. The lines that are read and sold to people make them believe that there is a way out of their current situation, which the song refers to as the "escapade." The singer encourages the listener to breathe deeply and take in what they already know, suggesting that they should be wary of falling for the false promises that are being presented to them.
The imagery that is being sold and played in the song may refer to the way that propaganda is often presented through media and advertising, creating an idealized version of reality that is not necessarily attainable. When the tide turns and a soul resists, the song urges the listener to move ahead and not give up, even if they feel burned by the lies that they have been told. The line "Your driver impaired" may suggest that the person who is being influenced by propaganda is not in control of their own thoughts and beliefs, but rather being led down a path by outside forces.
Overall, this song seems to be a cautionary tale about the dangers of blindly accepting what is being sold to us, and the importance of staying true to ourselves and our own beliefs. It reminds us that even when we feel burned by the lies we have been told, we must keep moving forward and not give up on our own journey.
Line by Line Meaning
From the lines you read
The things you read and hear influence your beliefs and actions.
They have you believe
Others are manipulating you to believe in their way of thinking.
That there is a way
They make you think there is a solution to your problems.
Through the escapade
They promise you an exciting journey to this solution.
Breathe like you never before
Take a deep breath and be brave.
And you take what you know
Use your knowledge to move forward.
When it's all said and gone
After everything is over and done with.
They said to me
Someone told me this before.
Your road is paved
Your path is laid out for you.
The imagery
The visuals and storytelling used to convince you.
Is sold and played
The propaganda is being marketed and spread to the masses.
And when the tide turns
When things change unexpectedly.
And a soul resists
When someone rebels against the norm.
And when you feel burned
When you are hurt or betrayed.
You move ahead
Keep going, don't give up.
Your parody
Your mockery or imitation of what you are being fed.
Plays in part
Your resistance is helping to break down the false narrative.
And all through the start
From the beginning of this journey.
Cutting strips out of air
Fighting against something intangible and invisible.
Your driver impaired
Your judgment and decision-making skills are compromised.
Breathe like you never before
Remain calm and focused in the face of adversity.
From the line you read
From something you were told or read.
They have you believe
You are being manipulated into believing in something false.
That there is a way
They are giving you false hope of a solution.
Through the escapade
Through an exciting and dangerous journey.
They said to me
Someone convinced me of this before.
Your road is paved
Your path is predetermined and out of your control.
The imagery
The visuals and storytelling to sway your beliefs and emotions.
Is sold and played
The propaganda is being marketed and spread to manipulate you.
And when the tide turns
When the situation changes suddenly and unpredictably.
And a soul resists
When someone rebels against the false narrative.
And when it feels burned
When you feel betrayed, hurt, or defeated.
You move ahead
You keep going despite the obstacles and setbacks.
Contributed by David F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tony Suarez
Hard to believe the changes Spahn Ranch has undergone!!
werftenklang
Yes, it is! Got the album.
SightblinderX
No prob, glad you like it :)
Mark Angelo
1st song live at every show after 98
BlinkBunny
Excellent
airwolfwwf
the best i been lookin 4 this song 4 almost ten yrs i never knew the name but put keywords n the song n finally something 4 thanks 4 posting
Mark Spaltenstein
apolgize for the low recording depth...as one of my chiefs famously said "my ass is made of steel so i can take."
James Lehr
Do I hear the U.S Army theme being used in this song at times 1:10, 2:10, and 3:05. Nicely derivative, I think. Plus can you get FUTURIST UNLIMITED on. This is a great song.
Jackson Landers
@GoodChineezeCheeze Yes it is. I have the album and have listened to it many times. We're all staring and pointing and laughing at GoodChineezeCheeze right now.
Pulitzer
what is this? dark techno from the 90's? ebm for life // oldschool forever!