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Revenge of Calculon started life in 2015 as an experimental solo synth project by Rob Maddison (aka Sonic Abuser) which combined half-working analogue synths and 2nd hand drum machines. The plan was to mix elements of 1970's funk with experimental electronic pioneers such as Wendy Carlos, Deliah Derbyshire and Louis and Bebe Baron's sci-fi score to the film Forbidden Planet.
Sonic was soon joined by bassist JC9000 and the duo grabbed a pair of their favourite Luchador masks and raided the backrooms of discount leisure stores for some old tracksuits. They gave their first live performance at Dot to Dot festival in Nottingham before heading to Reykjavik to play at the legendary Lucky Records during Iceland Airwaves festival.
They released their debut EP "Noise Candy" in 2016 which included five tracks of slightly weird electro with some chunky bass riffs, several of the tracks were eagerly played on BBC 6Music and the duo began to play regular live dates and release more studio material. A chance meeting in 2017 with cult film composer Simon Boswell developed into a collaboration project to re-work elements of his original score to the Angelina Jolie film Hackers. The resulting track became the soundscape to a VR app which was released to celebrate the anniversary of the film. Simon and the band went on to perform special live shows at ComicCon and Sci-Fi London festival.
A series of 7" singles followed as the band's signature blend of electro space-funk took shape. Some of the singles were accompanied by music videos that included the band playing at a Kung-Fu fight in a disco, being taken over by a TV android, and one driving around in a 1970s open top Cadillac with rapper/beatboxer Motormouf. More random studio projects were undertaken including remixing, sync music and Sonic becoming an occasional member of the in-house band on Channel 4's The Last Leg.
In 2020 Sonic and JC were joined by Mr 2nd Bass who came equipped with an array of keytars and Casio abnormalities. The result was another musical evolution into a dirtier squelching electro funk sound with the clinical drum machines now being doubled up with lo-fi Hip hop beats and collaborations with Motormouf on the singles "Electric Soup" and "Atari-Safari". Now a three-piece, their live shows got even the most passive gig-goers dancing like beasts.
After a long string of live performances in the UK and annual appearances in Reykjavik for Iceland Airwaves, the band then spent another intensive stint in the studio which resulted in the forthcoming release of their debut LP "MANIPULATOR".
LP launch parties are at Rough Trade records in Nottingham on October the 26th, followed by Lucky Records in Reykjavik on November the 8th.
For press, bookings and production, contact: noisemonkey@revengeofcalculon.com