Portion Control (band)
Portion Control | |
---|---|
Origin | London, England |
Genres | Electronic, industrial |
Years active |
1979–1987 2002–present |
Labels | Ladelled Music, In Phaze Records, Third Mind Records, Illuminated Records, Rhythmic Records, Dead Man's Curve, Catalyst, Sigsaly Transmissions, Other Sounds, Minimal Maximal |
Associated acts | Solar Enemy |
Website | www.portion-control.net |
Members |
Dean Piavanni John Whybrew |
Past members | Ian Sharp |
Portion Control are a British electronic and industrial band from South London, formed in 1979.[1] The original incarnation of the group existed until 1987; they reformed in 2002.
The band pioneered the use of sampling and were acclaimed for their use of the Apple II computer based Greengate DS3 sampling and sequencing system.[2] They have been cited as an influence on Frontline Assembly, Skinny Puppy, Orbital and Nine Inch Nails.[3]
History
Portion Control formed in 1979 with a line-up of Dean Piavanni, Ian Sharp and John Whybrew. The trio's first release, the cassette-only A Fair Portion, was issued in 1980 by Ladelled Music, followed by three further cassettes on In Phaze Records, Gaining Momentum and Private Illusions No 1 (both 1981) and With Mixed Emotion (1982).[4]
Author S. Alexander Reed, in his book Assimilate: A Critical History of Industrial Music, said that Portion Control's early sound "blends innocuously with the moodier moments of Cabaret Voltaire and Throbbing Gristle", and at times "demonstrated a gift for gritty, teethgrinding distortion, not unlike Esplendor Geometrico".[1]
Their first full-length vinyl release, I Staggered Mentally, was released 22 November 1982 by In Phaze.[4] Further albums included ..Step Forward (1984, Illuminated Records) and Psycho-Bod Saves the World (1986, Dead Man's Curve).[4]
In January 1984, Portion Control recorded a Peel Session.[5]
In 1987, the band ended. All three founding members reorganized in 1990 as Solar Enemy, releasing two albums before splitting in 1993.
Piavanni and Whybrew reformed Portion Control in 2002, and self-released their first reunion album, Wellcome, in 2004.[4]
Members
- Current members
- Dean Piavanni (1979-1987, 2002–present)
- John Whybrew (1979-1987, 2002–present)
- Former members
- Ian Sharp (1979-1987)
Discography
Studio albums
- A Fair Portion cassette-only (1980, Ladelled Music)
- Gaining Momentum cassette-only (1981, In Phaze Records)
- Private Illusions No 1 cassette-only (1981, In Phaze Records)
- With Mixed Emotion cassette-only (1982, In Phaze Records)
- I Staggered Mentally (1982, In Phaze Records)
- Shot in the Belly cassette-only (1983, Third Mind Records)
- ..Step Forward (1984, Illuminated Records)
- Psycho-Bod Saves the World (1986, Dead Man's Curve)
- Wellcome (2004, self-released)
- Dissolve (2004, Catalyst)
- Filthy White Guy (2006, self-released)
- Onion Jack IV (2007, self-released)
- Slug (2008, self-released)
- Violently Alive (2010, Sigsaly Transmissions)
- Pure Form (2012, Other Sounds)
- Unrest in the Grime (2014, Minimal Maximal)
- ’k
Singles
- "Across the Fence" flexi-disc (1981, In Phaze Records)
- "Raise the Pulse" 7"/12" (1982, Illuminated Records)
- "Rough Justice" 12" (1984, Illuminated Records)
- "Go-Talk" 12" (1984, Illuminated Records))
- "The Great Divide" 7"/12" (1985, Rhythmic Records)
EPs
- Dining on the Fresh cassette-only (1981, In Phaze Records)
- Surface and Be Seen 12" (1982, In Phaze Records)
- Hit the Pulse 12" (1983, In Phaze Records)
- Purge 12" (1986, Dead Man's Curve)
- Code 11 digital (2003, self-released)
- Stansted 7"/CD (2005, self-released)
Live albums
- Assault (1986, For All and None)
- Live in Europe (Spain⦁UK⦁Sweden) (1987, Big Noise in Archgate)
- Live Granada 1985 (2014, Wet Dreams)
Compilation albums
- Simulate Sensual (1983, In Phaze Records)
- The Man Who Did Backwards Somersaults (1994, T.E.Q. Music?)
- Archive (2006, self-released)
- Solar Enemy vs. Portion Control (2008, Bastet Recordings)
- Crop (2009, Sigsaly Transmissions)
- Progress Report 1980-1983 (2010, Vinyl-on-demand)
- Progress Report 1982-1986 (2015, Vinyl-on-demand)
References
- 1 2 Assimilate: A Critical History of Industrial Music by S. Alexander Reed
- ↑ "Variegated Menace". Timesquotidian.com. 2011-01-09. Retrieved 2014-08-08.
- ↑ http://louderthanwar.com/portion-control-pure-form-album-review/
- 1 2 3 4 https://www.discogs.com/artist/26168-Portion-Control
- ↑ BBC John Peel Sessions - Portion Control. Retrieved 4 November 2006.