Sonovac

This UK-based unit is an aural excursion into the mind of Mike and Suzy Silver, a sibling combo who fashion a melting pot of Kraftwerk, Laid Back, Ladytron and Can. After graduating in 1996, Mike toured as a co-curator on many cutting edge art shows around Europe. When he moved back to London he met DJ/producer and Output Recordings boss Trevor Jackson through a mutual friend, which resulted in Mike giving the DJ a tape of very basic sounding songs. Jackson encouraged Mike into a proper studio so that he could really develop the demos into fully-realized arrangements. The first release in 1998 was the frenetic It Happens Every Day EP, that opened with Mike’s distorted voice talking in a menacing manner, before twisted guitars and Suzy’s angelic lyrics ushered in a raging punk tune. In 2000, the musically diverse Raw was released, encompassing everything from thrash punk to minimalist electronica. The Silvers retained close links with Output even although Mike started his own label Flesh Records, releasing the much-hyped Zongamin before he signed to XL Recordings. Sonovac are truly experimental in every sense of the word, from their music to the artwork on their record sleeves.