BMG and Amber dial up the pioneering industrial duo to discuss collaboration and the long shadow they cast over underground music culture.
In the history of experimental electronic music, it’s hard to think of two musicians who have worked together as long and made as much of a massive impact as Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti, from their groundbreaking work in Throbbing Gristle to forming Chris & Cosey, from solo work to collaborations such as C.T.I. and the project with Sleazy as X-TG. In this interview conducted over the phone between their UK home base and Red Bull Radio’s Detroit studio, we cover the recent Eurorack release of Carter’s Gristleizer and its history; Cosey’s stellar book Art Sex Music; the recent reissue of her solo work Time to Tell; Carter’s upcoming album Chemistry Lessons Volume 1, his first solo release in 17 years; and Cosey’s comments on the #MeToo movement. We also delve into their history of collaborations with Sleazy, including how he was named, and the impact of their song “Gardens of the Pure” on the development of Chicago House via Ron Hardy playing it at the Muzic Box.
COSEY FANNI TUTTI - 2018 BOOK TOUR DATES
In Conversation - Out To Lunch Festival, Belfast, Ireland. SOLD OUT!
13th MARCH
Collusion Seminar: The Cross Space. Cambridge. UK - LINK
19th MARCH
Paperback launch. Faber Social, London. UK - LINK - SOLD OUT!
7th APRIL
Laugharne Music & Literary Festival, Wales. UK - LINK
19th APRIL
Walthamstow Rock 'n' Roll Book Club. London. UK - LINK - SOLD OUT!
3rd MAY
Chinwag - Leeds International Festival, UK - LINK - SOLD OUT!
6th MAY
Vinyl Festival - Dublin, Ireland - LINK
24th JUNE
Hebden Bridge Arts Festival. UK - LINK
22nd JULY
Deer Shed Festival 9, North Yorkshire. UK - LINK
25th AUGUST
Sea Change Festival, UK LINK
NEW SOLO ALBUM, FIRST IN 17 YEARS!
AVAILABLE NOW ON DOUBLE VINYL, CD & DIGITAL
CHRIS CARTER’S CHEMISTRY LESSONS VOLUME ONE
SPOTIFY / YOUTUBE / APPLE MUSIC - LISTEN / BUY
VINYL or CD & Signed Print - ORDER NOW!
Here’s our new Chris & Cosey remix of the The Charlatans ‘Different Days’ single… featuring the vocal talents of Tim Burgess, Sharon Horgan & Ian Rankin.
COSEY FANNI TUTTI
‘TIME TO TELL’
Deluxe Vinyl edition
First time on vinyl!
This long awaited deluxe edition, originally recorded and released on cassette in 1982, sees a timely release after the success of Cosey’s recent autobiography ‘Art Sex Music’ (pub. by Faber & Faber). Available now for the first time on vinyl this deluxe edition has been remastered and edited from the original audio tapes for this exclusive vinyl release. It is presented on super clear vinyl, in a gatefold sleeve incorporating a foil block title and is accompanied by a 16 page full colour 12” booklet containing the original cassette transcripts and photos plus new and updated statements and colour photos.
Track listing - Side 1: Time To Tell - Side 2: Ritual Awakening, The Secret Touch
Available now from all good record stores and from these links below:
THIS ALBUM HAS ALMOST SOLD OUT AND WON”T BE RE-PRESSSED
TG ONE is a special edition of the Tiptop Audio ONE module designed to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Throbbing Gristle’s groundbreaking ‘Second Annual Report’. Few bands have staked out such on original space in music that proved not only immediately provocative and illuminating, but filtered into almost every corner of electronic and popular music in the succeeding decades.
Collaborating with the band and MUTE records, the Tiptop Audio team tailored the features of the popular ONE to the sound and aesthetic of Throbbing Gristle.
Decked out in a TG color scheme of red and white on black, the design incorporates the iconic TG ‘flash’. Even the packaging sports classic cover art from ’20 Jazz Funk Greats’.
TG ONE is a special edition of the Tiptop Audio ONE module designed to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Throbbing Gristle’s groundbreaking ‘Second Annual Report’. Few bands have staked out such on original space in music that proved not only immediately provocative and illuminating, but filtered into almost every corner of electronic and popular music in the succeeding decades.
Collaborating with the band and MUTE records, the Tiptop Audio team tailored the features of the popular ONE to the sound and aesthetic of Throbbing Gristle.
Decked out in a TG color scheme of red and white on black, the design incorporates the iconic TG ‘flash’. Even the packaging sports classic cover art from ’20 Jazz Funk Greats’.
Working with long time beta-tester Chris Carter, the Tiptop R&D tweaked the ONE firmware creating two new modes: the first a random file selection on each trigger input; and the second, looping playback that randomly seeks in a sound file with each trigger. Both of these functions take TG ONE into new sonic territory.
TG ONE includes two exclusive cards of Throbbing Gristle samples curated by Chris Carter from his archive of the original Throbbing Gristle recording sessions. The files have been further reworked and revised, modified and mangled by Carter to give the user a unique Throbbing Gristle sonic palette to work wonders with while retaining the spirit of the original sources. Card one consists of 128 percussive sounds and audio snippets with the second card featuring 128 longer samples, pads and loops.
Tightly coupled with the firmware these cards are only available with the TG module.
Tiptop Audio would like to thank Paul Taylor, Daniel Miller and all at Mute for their support; and Chris Carter, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Genesis Breyer P-Orridge and the late Peter ‘Sleazy’ Christopherson for their inspiration.
Click here for further details, specifications and dealer locations.
Chris Carter modular live performance at the Rough Trade East using the forthcoming special edition TG ONE Eurorack Module, created by Tiptop Audio and featuring sound libraries on cards newly created by Chris.
THE ALL NEW GRISTLEIZER
now available in Eurorack format!
The Gristleizer Eurorack
The latest evolution of the Gristleizer is into Eurorack format working with Future Sound Systems. As well as a single Gristleizer Eurorack panel they have also broken it down into four components. There’s the TG2 Generator, the TG3 Filter and TG4 Modulator and a fourth module, the TG5 Pre-Amplfier, which is inspired by Jonny Reckless’ discrete FET-based designs.
TG1 Gristleizer
The TG1 Gristleizer module brings together the functionality of the Gristleizer range behind one single panel. Normalised connections between the modules allows for simplified patching and instantaneous use. This workflow recalls the original Gristleizer, where audio was fed either into the Filter or VCA sections, both of which being modulated by the LFO. In the TG1, the Master Output from the Pre-Amplifier is normalised to the Input of the Filter. The Output of the Filter is then normalised to the Input of the Modulator, extending the functionality of the original Gristleizer where the Filter and VCA functionality was switched between. The Filter and Modulator sections are controlled by the Fold output of the Generator section, allowing for complex modulation effects to be easily set up.
FSS is producing a limited run of 50 units of the TG1 module, 40 of which will be available to the public to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Throbbing Gristle's Second Annual Report. The panel of the TG1 features etched autographs from Roy Gwinn and Chris Carter, and is also hand-numbered on the rear. Pre-orders are strictly one per customer - any payments for extra units will be refunded - though customers can still add extra TG2, TG3, TG4 or TG5 modules to their TG1. more information
TG2 Generator
This is designed to replicate the original functionality of the oscillator section, with some interesting additions. Roy Gwinn’s redesign has stabilised the oscillator and features 1V/oct tracking. It can range from LFO frequencies all the way up into the audible range making for “a killer bass oscillator as well as a fully-featured LFO”.
The oscillator is based on a shape-variable ramp generator with similar functionality to the Korg MS. The shape moves from descending saw through triangle to ascending saw. It then goes into a wave folder which outputs both fold and pulse waveforms. The ramp is finally fed into a comparator for the clock output, the pulsewidth of which is set with the shape control. more information
TG3 Filter
It’s a JFET-controller multi-feedback band-pass filter. Originally used mostly for some wah-wah effect the module adds Resonance and Register controls to the original circuit. The Register shifts the resonant frequency of the core itself. Push the resonance and it will start to self-oscillate. At the end of the circuit there’s a bit of drive to keep things meaty. more information
TG4 Modulator
This is a JFET controlled, voltage-controlled amplifier. It was originally controlled by the oscillator to create tremolo effects. The TG4 can be controlled by anything so is really a regular VCA with some added features. The Bias control sets the initial control point, whilst an attenuverter allows for full control over how the amplitude is modulated. And there’s a Dirt control which balances the mix between the VCA’s clean output and the output of the JFET. This can bring in some really nice audio character. more information
TG 5 Pre-Amplifier
Chris suggested that a pre-amp is a good thing to use in front of the other Gristleizer modules, and so the TG5 came into being. Based upon Jonny Reckless’ FET-based discrete amplifier circuitry, Roy Gwinn reworked it into a rep-amp with a high-quality VCA back-end which allows any external audio source to flow into your Eurorack. There are guitar and line inputs which go through the pre-amp and into a THAT VCA. There’a “Clean” output taken directly from this point. Otherwise, the signal goes through 2 more FET amplification stages and tone section, with Bite and Boost controls to give it some wellie. An RMS detector with sensitivity control is used as an envelope follower and gate detector. Access to the THAT VCA’s Gain control input allows the two Envelope outputs to be used as control sources for the pre-amplifier itself, turning the module into a dynamic compressor (Inverted Envelope) or expander (Normal Envelope). more information
AVAILABLE NOW ORDER HERE