Zorch
Encyclopedia
Zorch, who formed in 1973, were England's first totally electronic band, pioneering integrated performances of synthesizer
s and lightshow. Originally a four piece, by 1975 Zorch were performing as a duo: Basil Brooks and Gwyo Zepix played three monophonic EMS analogue synthesizers, but were augmented by Silver (dance) and a full-on psychedelic light show. At times reminiscent of Tim Blake
as well as Tonto's Expanding Head Band
, their repetitive melodies, extended improvisation and thumping sequenced bass created a unique musical style that anticipated techno and trance. In the days before polyphonic synthesizers and personal computers, they filled out the sound using two reel-to-reel tape machines as a delay line.
The duo played at a number of 1970s free festivals including Windsor
in 1974, Meagan Fayre in 1975 and Stonehenge Festival in 1974 and 1975. Zorch were the only band to record in Peter Zinovieff
's EMS studio in Putney–in 1975 they used the EMS Synthi 100 to record the "Ouroboros" Suite, recently been remastered for CD. Some of this music was used as the soundtrack
for the short film
, Mother Earth, with synthetic visuals from the EMS Spectron Video Synthesizer.
Zorch split up in 1976. Brooks joined the Steve Hillage
Band and provided the live sound effects for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
stage shows. Gwyo Zepix joined Bristol jazzrock band, Skywhale, before moving to Germany in 1979. He returned to the UK in 2000 to join Gong
on keyboards and guitar. Zorch also reformed at this time, and have since played a few UK gigs including The Garage with Daevid Allen
on guitar, and Hackney Empire
supporting Gong. In 2001, they played at the Assembly Rooms in Glastonbury
, and recorded a live album
of this event (Glastonbury Live).
More recently, Zorch took part in the three day 2006 Gong Unconvention at the Melkweg
, Amsterdam
.
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s and lightshow. Originally a four piece, by 1975 Zorch were performing as a duo: Basil Brooks and Gwyo Zepix played three monophonic EMS analogue synthesizers, but were augmented by Silver (dance) and a full-on psychedelic light show. At times reminiscent of Tim Blake
Tim Blake
Timothy 'Tim' Blake , keyboards, vocalist instrumentalist and composer with both Gong, and Hawkwind. Blake is best known for his Synthesizer and Light performances as Crystal Machine, with the French Light Artist Patrice Warrener...
as well as Tonto's Expanding Head Band
Tonto's Expanding Head Band
Tonto's Expanding Head Band was a British electronic music duo consisting of Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff. Despite releasing only two albums in the early 1970s, the duo were influential because of their session work for other musicians , extensive commercial advertising work and the unique...
, their repetitive melodies, extended improvisation and thumping sequenced bass created a unique musical style that anticipated techno and trance. In the days before polyphonic synthesizers and personal computers, they filled out the sound using two reel-to-reel tape machines as a delay line.
The duo played at a number of 1970s free festivals including Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
in 1974, Meagan Fayre in 1975 and Stonehenge Festival in 1974 and 1975. Zorch were the only band to record in Peter Zinovieff
Peter Zinovieff
Peter Zinovieff is a British inventor of Russian ethnicity, most notable for his EMS company, which made the famous VCS3 synthesizer in the late 1960s...
's EMS studio in Putney–in 1975 they used the EMS Synthi 100 to record the "Ouroboros" Suite, recently been remastered for CD. Some of this music was used as the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
for the short film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, Mother Earth, with synthetic visuals from the EMS Spectron Video Synthesizer.
Zorch split up in 1976. Brooks joined the Steve Hillage
Steve Hillage
Steve Hillage is an English musician, best known as a guitarist. He is associated with the Canterbury scene and has worked in experimental domains since the late 1960s...
Band and provided the live sound effects for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a science fiction comedy series created by Douglas Adams. Originally a radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1978, it was later adapted to other formats, and over several years it gradually became an international multi-media phenomenon...
stage shows. Gwyo Zepix joined Bristol jazzrock band, Skywhale, before moving to Germany in 1979. He returned to the UK in 2000 to join Gong
Gong (band)
Gong is a Franco-British progressive/psychedelic rock band formed by Australian musician Daevid Allen. Their music has also been described as space rock. Other notable band members include Allan Holdsworth, Tim Blake, Didier Malherbe, Pip Pyle, Gilli Smyth, Steve Hillage, Francis Moze, Mike Howlett...
on keyboards and guitar. Zorch also reformed at this time, and have since played a few UK gigs including The Garage with Daevid Allen
Daevid Allen
Daevid Allen , sometimes credited as Divided Alien, an Australian poet, guitarist, singer, composer and performance artist is co-founder of psychedelic rock groups Soft Machine and Gong .-Biography:In 1960, inspired by the Beat Generation writers he had discovered...
on guitar, and Hackney Empire
Hackney Empire
The Hackney Empire is a theatre on Mare Street, in the London Borough of Hackney, built in 1901 as a music hall.-History:Hackney Empire is a grade II* listed building...
supporting Gong. In 2001, they played at the Assembly Rooms in Glastonbury
Glastonbury
Glastonbury is a small town in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the low lying Somerset Levels, south of Bristol. The town, which is in the Mendip district, had a population of 8,784 in the 2001 census...
, and recorded a live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
of this event (Glastonbury Live).
More recently, Zorch took part in the three day 2006 Gong Unconvention at the Melkweg
Melkweg
The Melkweg is a popular music venue and cultural center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It is located on the Lijnbaansgracht, near the Leidseplein, a prime nightlife center of Amsterdam. It is housed in a former warehouse and is divided into a number of spaces of varying sizes...
, Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.