Black Sun Productions
Encyclopedia
Black Sun Productions is the project of sound, visual and performance artists & activists Massimo & Pierce.
Massimo and Pierce had previously been well known as artists in Switzerland and Italy, but they gained international attention when their performance piece, Plastic Spider Thing, became part of the industrial
band Coil
's European tour in 2002.
After this tour, Black Sun Productions continued performing throughout Europe. These performance pieces were often controversial, involving nudity, sexuality and urinating on stage. In 2003, their offices in Zurich were raided by police who seized computers and files, among other things. Undeterred, they continued working, turning again to recording. In 2004 they emerged with two CDs, Astral Walk and Toilet Chant.
In 2005 Massimo and Pierce issued a new release. OperettAmorale is a tribute to Bertolt Brecht
and includes covers of his songs with such guest musicians as Coil, doing a version of "A List Of Wishes", recorded with John Balance
before he died; "The Ballad Of Sexual Dependency" with Lydia Lunch
providing vocals; and H.R. Giger performing "Seeräuber-Jenny" and providing cover images . Massimo and Pierce have also collaborated with the Italian industrial music project Mariae Nascenti
in performance and on the CDs Morituri Te Salutant and Anarcadian Night.
In 2006 Black Sun Productions released the double album titled The Impossibility of Silence
, featuring Massimo & Pierce and guest artists such as Lydia Lunch, Val Denham, Sudden Infant and Sonne Hagal
. Throughout the year the collective played a number of live performances including Darkness Is Enlightening at Paradiso, Amsterdam, on a multiple bill with Psychic TV
, Lydia Lunch and Val Denham.
In 2007 Black Sun Productions ceased to be a collective. Down to a duo, Massimo & Pierce released in April the album Chemism and the EP Dies Juvenalis and played a number of live performances, including the Transformer Festival in Biel, Switzerland (with Val Denham) the IV Congresso Post Industriale in Prato, Italy and the Dada Industrial Nights in Pavia, Italy. In November, Massimo & Pierce's short film Uncle Billy was premiered in NYC at the 20th MIX Festival. Two compilations featuring Black Sun Productions' tracks were released in 2007: Radio Intereference from Unknown Orgasm (Somnimage) and Old Europa Cafe (OEC100).
Biography
Black Sun Productions is the project of sound, visual and performance "artivists" Massimo & Pierce, also known as the Anarcocks.Massimo and Pierce had previously been well known as artists in Switzerland and Italy, but they gained international attention when their performance piece, Plastic Spider Thing, became part of the industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
band Coil
Coil (band)
Coil were an English cross-genre, experimental music group formed in 1982 by John Balance—later credited as "Jhonn Balance"—and his partner Peter Christopherson, aka "Sleazy". The duo worked together on a series of releases before Balance chose the name Coil, which he claimed to be...
's European tour in 2002.
After this tour, Black Sun Productions continued performing throughout Europe. These performance pieces were often controversial, involving nudity, sexuality and urinating on stage. In 2003, their offices in Zurich were raided by police who seized computers and files, among other things. Undeterred, they continued working, turning again to recording. In 2004 they emerged with two CDs, Astral Walk and Toilet Chant.
In 2005 Massimo and Pierce issued a new release. OperettAmorale is a tribute to Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
and includes covers of his songs with such guest musicians as Coil, doing a version of "A List Of Wishes", recorded with John Balance
John Balance
John Balance , born in Mansfield, England, was the founder of the experimental music group Coil, along with his partner Peter Christopherson...
before he died; "The Ballad Of Sexual Dependency" with Lydia Lunch
Lydia Lunch
Lydia Lunch is an American singer, poet, writer, and actress whose career was spawned by the New York No Wave scene...
providing vocals; and H.R. Giger performing "Seeräuber-Jenny" and providing cover images . Massimo and Pierce have also collaborated with the Italian industrial music project Mariae Nascenti
Mariae Nascenti
Mariae Nascenti is a one-man industrial music project from Milan, Italy.The creation of Ango Visone, Maria Nascenti has been described as 'dark ambient', 'harsh electronics' and 'ambient industrial'. Songs consist of soundscapes, sometimes employing "found sound", and are frequently accompanied by...
in performance and on the CDs Morituri Te Salutant and Anarcadian Night.
In 2006 Black Sun Productions released the double album titled The Impossibility of Silence
The Impossibility of Silence
The Impossibility of Silence is a CD studio album by Black Sun Productions, released by Old Europa Cafe in 2006 and produced by Massimo & Pierce....
, featuring Massimo & Pierce and guest artists such as Lydia Lunch, Val Denham, Sudden Infant and Sonne Hagal
Sonne Hagal
Sonne Hagal is a German experimental and neofolk group.-Albums and EPs:-Compilations:-Unofficial:**...
. Throughout the year the collective played a number of live performances including Darkness Is Enlightening at Paradiso, Amsterdam, on a multiple bill with Psychic TV
Psychic TV
Psychic TV or PTV, is a video art and music group that primarily performs psychedelic, punk, electronic and experimental music...
, Lydia Lunch and Val Denham.
In 2007 Black Sun Productions ceased to be a collective. Down to a duo, Massimo & Pierce released in April the album Chemism and the EP Dies Juvenalis and played a number of live performances, including the Transformer Festival in Biel, Switzerland (with Val Denham) the IV Congresso Post Industriale in Prato, Italy and the Dada Industrial Nights in Pavia, Italy. In November, Massimo & Pierce's short film Uncle Billy was premiered in NYC at the 20th MIX Festival. Two compilations featuring Black Sun Productions' tracks were released in 2007: Radio Intereference from Unknown Orgasm (Somnimage) and Old Europa Cafe (OEC100).
Albums
- Astral Walk, Finalmuzik, 2004
- OperettAmorale, Divine Frequency, 2005
- The Impossibility of SilenceThe Impossibility of SilenceThe Impossibility of Silence is a CD studio album by Black Sun Productions, released by Old Europa Cafe in 2006 and produced by Massimo & Pierce....
, Old Europa CafeOld Europa CafeOld Europa Cafe is an Italian independent record label and mail order service specializing in ambient music, noise music, electronic music, and industrial music. It is based in Pordenone. Originating in the early 1980s Old Europa Cafe began as a small cassette label. Some of the original Old...
, 2006 - Chemism, Old Europa CafeOld Europa CafeOld Europa Cafe is an Italian independent record label and mail order service specializing in ambient music, noise music, electronic music, and industrial music. It is based in Pordenone. Originating in the early 1980s Old Europa Cafe began as a small cassette label. Some of the original Old...
, 2007 - The Milky Smell of Phantom Sperm, Old Europa CafeOld Europa CafeOld Europa Cafe is an Italian independent record label and mail order service specializing in ambient music, noise music, electronic music, and industrial music. It is based in Pordenone. Originating in the early 1980s Old Europa Cafe began as a small cassette label. Some of the original Old...
, 2008 - Enoeraew (with Bahntier), Rustblade, 2009
- Somewhere Between Desire And Despair (with Val Denham), Tourette, 2009
Anacdrs
- Toilet Chant, anarcocks.com, 2004
- Anarcadian Night, anarcocks.com, 2005
- Musick for Porn Volume 1, anacdr01, 2005
- Musick for Porn Volume 2, anacdr02, 2006
- Once in a Full Moon, anacdr03, 2006
- Dies Juvenalis, anacdr04, 2007
EPs and Singles
- Das Gegenteil, Danhuser, 2006
- Uncle Billy / His Secret Secretions, Danhuser, 2006
Compilations
- The Loneliest Link in a Very Strange Chain, Else.product, 2005
- X-Rated: The Dark Files, Steamin' Soundworks, 2006
- Splicing the Icy Expanse, Else.product, 2006
- A Tribute to the Wor(l)ds of Jhonn Balance, Creative Fields, 2006
- Radio interference from unknown orgasm, SomnimageSomnimageSomnimage is an Illinois based company started in 1998 by multimedia artist Mykel Boyd as an outlet to release art, music and related artifacts. Their first project was a multimedia art show. Somnimage is an ongoing collaboration between artists, musicians, poets and writers.In 2003 Somnimage...
, 2007 - Old Evropa Cafe, OEC100, 2008
Films
- Fetish Garden, 1994
- Empire, 2003
- Macabre, Meet Murder My Angel, 2004
- Pirate Tapes #1, 2005
- Lustre, directed by Scott TreleavenScott TreleavenScott Treleaven is a Canadian artist whose work employs a variety of media including collage, film, video, drawing, photography and installation.-Artwork:...
, 2006 - Uncle Billy, 2007
External links
- Black Sun Productions - official website
- Black Sun Productions official Myspace
- Massimo & Pierce official Myspace
- Old Evropa Cafe - official website
- Divine Frequency - official website