Worriedaboutsatan
Encyclopedia
Worriedaboutsatan are an electronica band who originated in Leeds
, West Yorkshire
, England
.
in 2005. Worriedaboutsatan began as a side project for Miller, but later became the joint focus of Miller and Ragsdale after their other band, Johnny Poindexte, split up.
The band's mixture of rock and electronic genres can be attributed to Miller and Ragsdale's musical influences, which give equal importance to post-rock
bands such as Explosions in the Sky
and Mogwai
as well as electronic dance music
artists, such as Underworld
and Trentemøller
. Worriedaboutsatan's sound, in reflection of their musical tastes, is in their own words, an attempt 'to fuse elements of everything we listen to - glitch, techno, electronica, rock [and] metal'. Worriedaboutsatan also employ the use of samples from a wide variety of sources, such as a speech given by Patricia Hearst (as featured in the EP1 track, 'Patty Hearst') and a spoken performance of a Siegfried Sassoon
poem, sampled in a new track called "Evil Dogs".
Worriedaboutsatan's music has appeared on several BBC Radio
shows, including Steve Lamacq
's show on BBC 6 Music
and Tom Robinson
's Introducing and Mary Anne Hobbs
' Experimental Show, both on BBC Radio 1
. Since 23 July 2008, their music has also been featured in episodes of the British soap opera
, Coronation Street
.
, one remix
album, two EPs
and one single
. The first EP, self-titled but known as EP1, was released in 2006 and is now out of print. It is currently available online. The single, "An Infinity of Oncoming Lights" was released in 2006, and is also available on Last.fm.
The second EP, entitled EP02, was released in late 2007 to a largely positive critical response, with solid recommendation from Traffic magazine (March 2008) and The Silent Ballet. The track "Relative Minors", featured the vocals of local singer-songwriter
, Paul Marshall. It was mastered at Transition Studios, who have also worked with Burial
and Kode9
.
The debut album Arrivals was released on 25 May 2009, through Gizeh Records. It has received good critical response, including a 7.6 score on Pitchfork.
A remix album, Arrivals Remixed was released in December 2009.
Worriedaboutsatan are also featured on both of the On The Bone Records compilations
, along with other popular Leeds artists such as This Et Al
, Pulled Apart By Horses
and Benjamin Wetherill.
Worriedaboutsatan remix
ed a Maybeshewill
track, "Takotsubo", which is available on their remix CD, Amateur Grammatics : The Remixes Vol. 2.
. This changed in 2008 to using an iMac with the software package Ableton Live
. The band now use two laptops: Ragsdale's runs the electronic elements via Ableton Live
, whilst Miller's runs the software package Guitar Rig
, which he plays live guitar through.
Earlier shows found the band performing on the floor directly in front of the audience, giving Ragsdale the ability to walk out into the crowd whilst playing guitar. However, recent performances have seen the role of guitarist given solely to Miller, whilst Ragsdale takes control of the computer and electronic elements.
Amongst the many bands that Worriedaboutsatan have performed with include 65daysofstatic
. iLiKETRAiNS
, Dälek
, Yndi Halda
, Ólafur Arnalds
and Maybeshewill
.
to their 1996 single "Theme From Turnpike".
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
The band comprises of charismatic front-man Gavin Miller and rhythm master Tom Ragsdale, who met whilst both attending Leeds College of MusicLeeds College of Music
Leeds College of Music, located in Leeds’ Quarry Hill cultural quarter, is the largest music college in the United Kingdom, with over 1,000 full-time and 1,000 part-time students. The college is best known for its leading role in jazz education and started one of the first jazz degrees in Europe...
in 2005. Worriedaboutsatan began as a side project for Miller, but later became the joint focus of Miller and Ragsdale after their other band, Johnny Poindexte, split up.
The band's mixture of rock and electronic genres can be attributed to Miller and Ragsdale's musical influences, which give equal importance to post-rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
bands such as Explosions in the Sky
Explosions in the Sky
Explosions in the Sky is an American post-rock band from Texas. The band has garnered popularity beyond the post-rock scene for their elaborately developed guitar work, narratively styled instrumentals, what they refer to as "cathartic mini-symphonies," and their enthusiastic and emotional live shows...
and Mogwai
Mogwai
The word mogwai is the transliteration of the Cantonese word 魔怪 meaning "monster", "evil spirit", "devil" or "demon".-Mogwai/Mogui in Chinese culture:...
as well as electronic dance music
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
artists, such as Underworld
Underworld (band)
Underworld are a British electronic group, and principal name under which duo Karl Hyde and Rick Smith have recorded together since 1980.- Early years: 1979–1986 :...
and Trentemøller
Trentemøller
Anders Trentemøller is a Danish electronic music producer and multi-instrumentalist based in Copenhagen, Denmark.-History:...
. Worriedaboutsatan's sound, in reflection of their musical tastes, is in their own words, an attempt 'to fuse elements of everything we listen to - glitch, techno, electronica, rock [and] metal'. Worriedaboutsatan also employ the use of samples from a wide variety of sources, such as a speech given by Patricia Hearst (as featured in the EP1 track, 'Patty Hearst') and a spoken performance of a Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Loraine Sassoon CBE MC was an English poet, author and soldier. Decorated for bravery on the Western Front, he became one of the leading poets of the First World War. His poetry both described the horrors of the trenches, and satirised the patriotic pretensions of those who, in Sassoon's...
poem, sampled in a new track called "Evil Dogs".
Worriedaboutsatan's music has appeared on several BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
shows, including Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq , sometimes known by his nicknames Lammo or "The Cat" is an English disc jockey, currently working with the BBC radio stations BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2.-Early career:He was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire...
's show on BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music is one of the BBC's digital radio stations, was launched on 11 March 2002 and originally codenamed Network Y. It was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years....
and Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson is an English singer-songwriter, bassist and radio presenter, better known for the hits "Glad to Be Gay", "2-4-6-8 Motorway", and "Don't Take No for an Answer", with his Tom Robinson Band...
's Introducing and Mary Anne Hobbs
Mary Anne Hobbs
Mary Anne Hobbs is an English DJ and music journalist from Garstang, Lancashire. She launched a new Primetime show on Xfm on 9 July 2011-Early career:...
' Experimental Show, both on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
. Since 23 July 2008, their music has also been featured in episodes of the British soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
, Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
.
Releases
The band have so far released one albumAlbum
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, one remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
album, two EPs
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
and one single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
. The first EP, self-titled but known as EP1, was released in 2006 and is now out of print. It is currently available online. The single, "An Infinity of Oncoming Lights" was released in 2006, and is also available on Last.fm.
The second EP, entitled EP02, was released in late 2007 to a largely positive critical response, with solid recommendation from Traffic magazine (March 2008) and The Silent Ballet. The track "Relative Minors", featured the vocals of local singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, Paul Marshall. It was mastered at Transition Studios, who have also worked with Burial
Burial
Burial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
and Kode9
Kode9
Kode9 is a London-based electronic music artist, DJ, and owner of the Hyperdub record label. An MC, The Spaceape, is a frequent collaborator...
.
The debut album Arrivals was released on 25 May 2009, through Gizeh Records. It has received good critical response, including a 7.6 score on Pitchfork.
A remix album, Arrivals Remixed was released in December 2009.
Worriedaboutsatan are also featured on both of the On The Bone Records compilations
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, along with other popular Leeds artists such as This Et Al
This Et Al
This Et Al were an English alternative rock band, from Leeds and Bradford, West Yorkshire. They were active between 2002 and 2008. Their sound was often compared to My Bloody Valentine, ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Queens of the Stone Age and Interpol.-Band members:* Neil 'Wu'...
, Pulled Apart By Horses
Pulled apart by horses
Pulled Apart by Horses are an alternative rock band from Leeds, England. They formed in late 2007, and released their debut self-titled album Pulled Apart By Horses on 21 June 2010.- Formation and debut release "Meat Balloon" :...
and Benjamin Wetherill.
Worriedaboutsatan remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed a Maybeshewill
Maybeshewill
Maybeshewill are an instrumental band from Leicester, United Kingdom whose music is characterised by the use of programmed and sampled electronic elements alongside guitars, bass and drums....
track, "Takotsubo", which is available on their remix CD, Amateur Grammatics : The Remixes Vol. 2.
Live shows
The band started out using a desktop PC with the software package Reason to run the electronic elements, whilst the two members either played guitar or controlled the PC via a MIDI controllerMIDI controller
MIDI controller is used in two senses.*In one sense, a controller is hardware or software which generates and transmits MIDI data to MIDI-enabled devices....
. This changed in 2008 to using an iMac with the software package Ableton Live
Ableton Live
Ableton Live is a loop-based software music sequencer and DAW for Mac OS and Windows by Ableton. The latest major release of Live, Version 8, was released in April 2009. In contrast to many other software sequencers, Live is designed to be an instrument for live performances as well as a tool for...
. The band now use two laptops: Ragsdale's runs the electronic elements via Ableton Live
Ableton Live
Ableton Live is a loop-based software music sequencer and DAW for Mac OS and Windows by Ableton. The latest major release of Live, Version 8, was released in April 2009. In contrast to many other software sequencers, Live is designed to be an instrument for live performances as well as a tool for...
, whilst Miller's runs the software package Guitar Rig
Guitar Rig
Guitar Rig is a software effect processor developed by Native Instruments. Primarily designed for electric guitar and bass, the software uses amplifier modeling to allow real-time digital signal processing in both standalone and studio environments.It was originally released in mid-2004...
, which he plays live guitar through.
Earlier shows found the band performing on the floor directly in front of the audience, giving Ragsdale the ability to walk out into the crowd whilst playing guitar. However, recent performances have seen the role of guitarist given solely to Miller, whilst Ragsdale takes control of the computer and electronic elements.
Amongst the many bands that Worriedaboutsatan have performed with include 65daysofstatic
65daysofstatic
65daysofstatic are an instrumental post-rock and math rock band from Sheffield, England comprising Paul Wolinski, Joe Shrewsbury, Rob Jones and Simon Wright...
. iLiKETRAiNS
ILiKETRAiNS
I Like Trains are an alternative/post-rock band from Leeds, England. The group play brooding songs featuring sparse piano and guitar, baritone vocals, uplifting choral passages and reverberant orchestral crescendos...
, Dälek
Dälek
dälek is an American experimental hip hop duo from Newark, New Jersey. The group is composed of MC dälek and the Oktopus...
, Yndi Halda
Yndi halda
Yndi Halda is a post-rock band from Canterbury, England. 'Yndi Halda' is Old Norse for "Enjoy Eternal Bliss", also the name of their self-titled debut...
, Ólafur Arnalds
Ólafur Arnalds
Ólafur Arnalds is a multi-instrumentalist and producer from Mosfellsbær, Iceland. Ólafur Arnalds mixes strings and piano with loops and edgy beats crossing-over from classical to pop....
and Maybeshewill
Maybeshewill
Maybeshewill are an instrumental band from Leicester, United Kingdom whose music is characterised by the use of programmed and sampled electronic elements alongside guitars, bass and drums....
.
Etymology
The band's name, Worriedaboutsatan, is taken from a song of the same name by Belgian rock band Deus. It was a B-sideA-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
to their 1996 single "Theme From Turnpike".
EPs
- 2007: EP02
- 2006: Worriedaboutsatan (aka EP1) You Are Not Stealing RecordsYou Are Not Stealing RecordsA Portuguese netlabel launched by Stealing Orchestra in 2001.The original idea was to create a way to freely share EPs by the band or their side projects but soon it expanded to include items by other artists.-Discography:...
Videos
- 2006: Falcons, Morwenna, Outside Your Window
- 2007: An Infinity of Oncoming Lights
- 2008: Relative Minors
- 2009: One Down, Arrivals