MOZ
Encyclopedia
MOZ is the dark ambient
, power electronics
project of American musician/composer JC Brand (born 1976-2010).
in 1997, transplanted to Anchorage, Alaska
in 2000, and dubbed Post Power Electronics by Gary of Bed Molt/a sonic deterrent. Early releases were in the harsh noise genre and had no clear themes, but later works were not only less harsh but tended to deal with social and left-wing
/ anarchist political issues. Most recent work is influenced by Buddhist and other Asian spirituality, due to Brand's increasing involvement with Buddhism (including stints living in monasteries in both America and Asia). However even though devoted to Theravada Buddhism, Brand still maintains his previous anarchist political views and identifies himself as a "Dhammic Socialist".
James Brand died unexpectedly at the age of 34 from a brain aneurism in Anchorage, Alaska on August 30, 2010.
of Sonic Youth
, KK Null
of Zeni Geva
, (Man is the) Bastard Noise
, Government Alpha
, a sonic deterrent, the Haters
and Hermit
. Most MOZ releases are Split releases with another artist, keeping a sort of collectivist attitude to releasing albums.
the writer of the screen play for the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
two of which were released by SHOCK-O-RAMA Cinema and the latest, The Wild Man of the Navidad
by IFC
. He is also a published author and currently devotes most of his creative output to writing though continues to record for Belgian experimental label: Silken Tofu.
Dark ambient
Dark ambient is a subgenre of ambient music that features foreboding, ominous, or discordant overtones. Although it had its roots in the 1970s, Dark ambient emerged in the 1980s and 1990s with the introduction of newer, smaller, and more affordable Effects units, synthesizer and sampling technology...
, power electronics
Power electronics
Power electronics is the application of solid-state electronics for the control and conversion of electric power.-Introduction:Power electronic converters can be found wherever there is a need to modify a form of electrical energy...
project of American musician/composer JC Brand (born 1976-2010).
Origins
Founded in Houston TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in 1997, transplanted to Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
in 2000, and dubbed Post Power Electronics by Gary of Bed Molt/a sonic deterrent. Early releases were in the harsh noise genre and had no clear themes, but later works were not only less harsh but tended to deal with social and left-wing
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
/ anarchist political issues. Most recent work is influenced by Buddhist and other Asian spirituality, due to Brand's increasing involvement with Buddhism (including stints living in monasteries in both America and Asia). However even though devoted to Theravada Buddhism, Brand still maintains his previous anarchist political views and identifies himself as a "Dhammic Socialist".
James Brand died unexpectedly at the age of 34 from a brain aneurism in Anchorage, Alaska on August 30, 2010.
Releases and Collaborations
MOZ has had numerous releases on 4 continents, most notable were splits and collaborations with Thurston MooreThurston Moore
Thurston Joseph Moore is an American musician best known as a singer, songwriter and guitarist of Sonic Youth. He has also participated in many solo and group collaborations outside of Sonic Youth, as well as running the Ecstatic Peace! record label...
of Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
, KK Null
KK Null
KK Null is a Japanese experimental multi-instrumentalist. He began as a guitarist, but soon added composer, singer, electronic musician and drummer to his list of talents, and also studied with the Butoh workshop....
of Zeni Geva
Zeni Geva
Zeni Geva is a Japanese heavy metal group led by singer and guitarist KK. Null, together with guitarist Mitsuru Tabata and drummer Tatsuya Yoshida...
, (Man is the) Bastard Noise
Bastard Noise
-History:The Bastard Noise was founded in 1991 by Henry Barnes, W. T. Nelson and Eric Wood, initially as a side project of powerviolence band Man Is The Bastard.-Project personnel and past contributors:...
, Government Alpha
Government alpha
Government Alpha is the name of the Japanese harsh noise project of Yasutoshi Yoshida , also known as S.Isabella, member of Barom One, Mecha-dote-chin & Monster DVD, who also operates his own record label 'Xerxes' out of Tokyo, Japan....
, a sonic deterrent, the Haters
The Haters
The Haters are a noise music and conceptual art troupe from the United States. Founded in 1979, they are one of the earliest and best-known acts in the modern noise scene...
and Hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
. Most MOZ releases are Split releases with another artist, keeping a sort of collectivist attitude to releasing albums.
Other work
Besides releasing music as MOZ, JC Brand has composed music for several films for Trisomy Films all of which were produced by Kim HenkelKim Henkel
Kim Henkel is an American screenwriter, director and producer.Henkel was born in Virginia and grew up in several small towns in South Texas. He started at the University of Texas at Austin in 1964 majoring in English and graduated in 1969...
the writer of the screen play for the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a 1974 American independent horror film directed and produced by Tobe Hooper, who cowrote it with Kim Henkel. It stars Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow, and Gunnar Hansen, who respectively portray Sally Hardesty, Franklin Hardesty, the...
two of which were released by SHOCK-O-RAMA Cinema and the latest, The Wild Man of the Navidad
The Wild Man of the Navidad
The Wild Man of the Navidad is a 2008 horror film picked up by IFC Films shortly after its world premiere at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. - Plot :This movie is allegedly based on the real-life journals of Dale S...
by IFC
Independent Film Channel
The Independent Film Channel is an American cable TV network that airs independent film and related programming. IFC programming includes commercially interrupted feature-length films, original documentaries, shorts, animated series, original series, acquired series, and content exclusively for...
. He is also a published author and currently devotes most of his creative output to writing though continues to record for Belgian experimental label: Silken Tofu.
Partial discography
- CD "The Broken Tusk of Ganesha" on Silken TofuSilken Tofu-Silken Tofu:Silken tofu is an independent publishing platform from Belgium dedicated experimental music focusing on ambient, drone, death industrial, noise, and power electronics. Established in 2006, Wim has made a name for himself through releasing unique yet lesser known experimental projects...
(Belgium) - Split CD with KK NullKK NullKK Null is a Japanese experimental multi-instrumentalist. He began as a guitarist, but soon added composer, singer, electronic musician and drummer to his list of talents, and also studied with the Butoh workshop....
on crionic mind (USA) - Split/Collaboration CD with Thurston MooreThurston MooreThurston Joseph Moore is an American musician best known as a singer, songwriter and guitarist of Sonic Youth. He has also participated in many solo and group collaborations outside of Sonic Youth, as well as running the Ecstatic Peace! record label...
"Tribute to Martin Luther King JR." on breathmint (USA) - Split CD with Daruin on NEUS (Japan)
- Split CD with Government AlphaGovernment alphaGovernment Alpha is the name of the Japanese harsh noise project of Yasutoshi Yoshida , also known as S.Isabella, member of Barom One, Mecha-dote-chin & Monster DVD, who also operates his own record label 'Xerxes' out of Tokyo, Japan....
on Verbrante Erde (Germany) - Split CD with Armenia on bizzarre audio arts (Ecuador)
- Split 7" record with a sonic deterrent on anti-everything/maladjusted (USA)
- Split 7" record with A) Torture Mechanism on Balefire/ MT6 (USA)
- Split 10" record with Flatline Construct on maladjusted/ Let it Rot (USA/Canada)
- Collaboration 7" with Bastard NoiseBastard Noise-History:The Bastard Noise was founded in 1991 by Henry Barnes, W. T. Nelson and Eric Wood, initially as a side project of powerviolence band Man Is The Bastard.-Project personnel and past contributors:...
and HermitHermitA hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
on Balefire/ CRUCIAL BLAST (USA) - Compilation 7" record "Soun: An Anonymous and Random Compilation/Composition" on Gameboy (USA)
Filmography
- The Wild Man of the NavidadThe Wild Man of the NavidadThe Wild Man of the Navidad is a 2008 horror film picked up by IFC Films shortly after its world premiere at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. - Plot :This movie is allegedly based on the real-life journals of Dale S...
(2008) - Voltagen (2003)
- Headcheese (2002)
External links
- J.C. Brand IMDB page
- http://www.myspace.com/postpowerelectronics/MOZ myspaceMyspaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page] - The Wild Man of the Navidad at IMDB
- balefire recordings
- Trisomy Films
- SHOCK-O-RAMA CINEMA
- crionic mind
- Silken Tofu