Anything Box
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Anything Box | |
|---|---|
| Origin |  Paterson, New JerseyOrange County, California |
| Genre(s) | Synthpop Electronica New Wave |
| Years active | 1986-Present |
| Label(s) | Endpop Presswerk.13 Jarrett Records Orangewerks Epic Records |
| Website | Anything Box Official Website Endpop Label Anything Box on MySpace |
| Members | |
| Claude S Dania Morales Paul Rijnders |
|
| Former members | |
| Gary S Dave South |
|
Anything Box is an electronic/synthpop musical group originally from Paterson, New Jersey and now based in Orange County, CA. They are best known for their 1990 Single "Living In Oblivion". The band is one of primary bands which carried electronic music's transition from the late 1980's into the 1990's and beyond. With a current lineup consisting of Claude S, Dania Morales and Paul Rijnders, the past members have included Gary S and Dave South. The band is noted for its melodic, synth-driven dance beats from its early years as well as its fusion of electronics and guitars which is its current musical focus. The band's songs, lyrics, as well as Claude's vocals have been widely regarded in the electronic music community as some of the finest. The band also receives praise for its album artwork which ranges from oil paintings to electronic paintings which are all works of Claude S. Anything Box, or also known as Abox by its loyal fan-base, has release several albums, EPs and singles and continues to perform their energetic live shows throughout the World.
The band's name comes from the title of a book of short stories by Zenna Henderson, The Anything Box. In the title story, a young girl imagines the world as she would have it, apparently by staring at an empty space between her hands. Her school teacher discovers that the box is invisible, but real.
Anything Box's most recent release is The Future Past EP (Endpop, June 2007) which features a remake and remixes of their 1990 fan-favorite "Carmen" as well as a Spanish version of the song. This marks the first time Anything Box has released a song in Spanish, which has often been requested by their fans.
[edit] History
[edit] Beginning/Peace (1986–1990)
Anything Box was started by Claude S in Paterson, New Jersey playing local clubs as Pipeline and The Loop Lounge. This is where Claude met Dania Morales whom joined as a group shortly after. Playing numerous shows and producing demo-tapes, they drew the attention of Epic Records. The band moved to Orange County, California where Paul Rijnders joined the group. They began recording their first album, Peace which was released on Epic in 1990. The band toured in support of the album.
[edit] Worth (1992)
Following the success and praise for Peace in the electronic music scene, Claude and Dania headed to Germany to begin recording their second album, Worth with producer Gareth Jones. Paul Rijnders had left the band to pursue personal goals. The album was completed in 1992, but a dispute with Epic and eventual break-up with the label prevented the album's release to the public. It was later distributed by the band to members of its fan-club as the band continued to perform shows despite the non-release of the album. The album shows the softer side of Anything Box, as many of the album's songs are slower, softer, and emotional.
[edit] Hope (1993)
With Claude's brother Gary joining the band, Anything Box recorded and self-released their third album, Hope on their own label, Orangewerks. The album brings back the dance floor grooves with such songs as "Answer Me", "Where Is Love and Happiness", and "Life Is Fun". The band tours in support of the album.
[edit] Dance CD-5 (1994)
The band releases the EP, Dance CD-5 which features remixes of tracks from the Hope album as well as some unreleased songs.
[edit] The Diary: Page One (1995)
Claude releases a solo-album under the name The Diary on the Orangewerks label. The album, Page One was heavily influenced by the music of Joy Division and New Order. It is generally considered the darkest of Claude's albums.
[edit] Mixology.1, Living In Oblivion (1996)
With a high-demand for Anything Box tracks and the difficulty in obtaining singles mixes from Peace, the band releases a collection of remixes and unreleased songs called Mixology.1 on Orangewerks. They also release a new version and new mixes of their classic, "Living In Oblivion". The EP, Living In Oblivion MCMXCVI A.D. is released on Jarrett Records which had merged with Orangewerks. Anything Box performs at the Synthstock Music Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah where Paul Rijnders reunites with the band for the song "Lady In Waiting" from Peace.
[edit] Elektrodelica (1997)
Dania Morales departs Anything Box and Paul Rijnders returns to the band. The band releases their new album, Elektrodelica on Jarrett Records, including a deluxe version featuring a bonus interview disc. The album marks a musical change for Anything Box as Claude experiments in what he coins as an "Elektrodelic" sound. The album fuses the band's traditional synthesizers with Rijnders' guitar playing. The album is considered the band's most ambitious and daring effort and songs and sounds are considerably more diverse and the album's focus much broader. The album contains soft melodic tunes such as "Conscious" which is influenced by Claude's affection of The Beatles as well as loud, edgy songs such as "45" which is a 45-second, punk rock influenced song. "Conscious" is released as a single and "45" as a video.
[edit] Elektrospective (1999)
With anticipation for a second Mixology album, Jarrett Records instead releases Elektrospective which contains alternate versions of songs from both the Peace and Worth albums. Tension between the band and the label grow as Elektrodelika only receives wide-distribution, two-years following its initial release and Elektrospective artwork is mis-printed. The band leaves Jarrett Records which later closes.
[edit] Recovered (2000)
Claude discovers a collection of older Anything Box recordings from 1993-1995 on a nearly-destroyed DAT. Claude recovers these recordings and remasters them. They are released on album called Recovered 1993-1995. Recovered is released on the band's new, self-owned, label, Presswerk.13.
[edit] The Universe Is Expanding (2001)
Following is the footsteps of Elektrodelica, Anything Box continues its musical experimentation. The band releases 100% Air-Friendly Groove Pak, an EP featuring the single "Clean" and a beat-box, hip-hop influenced B-Side called "Radio Static". The band follows with the album The Universe Is Expanding on Presswerk.13. The album continues the band's fusion of synthesizers, guitar, and bass guitar. Dania Morales returns to provides backing vocals on several tracks, but does not perform live with the band. Dave South joins the band on keyboards and bass guitar.
[edit] The Effects of Stereo TV (2003)
Anything Box releases The Effects of Stereo TV on Presswerk.13 as a long-awaited companion/follow-up album to The Universe Is Expanding, a short, in-your-face experience. The album continues the band's synthesizer and guitar sound, but while some songs are soft melodies, others are abbrasive guitar-driven rock songs.
[edit] The Diary: Separate (2005)
While debating the direction for the next Anything Box album, Claude experiments with playing several instruments on his own including guitar, bass, and drums. The result is his most personal work to date. Returning as The Diary, he releases Separate a lo-fi mixture of synthesizers and live instruments all performed by Claude. Many of the song's lyrics are based on Claude's life experiences including his near-death by drowning when he was younger. The result is an album, truly from the heart as Claude expresses himself is a manner he has never done so before.
[edit] Future Past, Fan Tapes and Time Travel (2007)
With Dania Morales returning to the lineup and Dave South and Gary S departing, Anything Box comes full-circle and returns to the same lineup as its original Peace album from 1990. Having played several "reunion" shows throughout the Americas, the demand for new material grows. Anything Box renames its label Endpop and releases The Future Past EP in June. The EP features a remake and remixes of the band's popular 1990 song, "Carmen". It also includes a version on the song in Spanish. This is the first Anything Box song/release sung in Spanish. The EP also features remixes of other popular Anything Box songs as well as some new material. The band also begins releasing on the internet a series of short films put together by Claude S called "Fan Tapes and Time Travel". These films are constructed from old video footage of the band throughout its history which have been provided by its fans. It continues as a work in progress.
[edit] Nineteen (2008)
With a large collection of old Anything Box recordings in his possession, Claude, after much deliberation, decides to share some of this raw, early material from his past. Taking a cassette tape of these old recordings, Claude remasters and repairs them. The end result is "Nineteen", a short digitally released album. The songs date back to 1987-1988, with the exception of the final track which is roughly from 1990. The sound is darker, sadder, and quite a contrast to "Peace", which would be the band's first official release in 1990. Being a digital release, the website with a back story and artwork was created in conjunction with the album. The Book of Nineteen, features a collection of Claude's own artwork, as well as offers a streaming version of the album.
[edit] Band Member Projects
Claude S has released two albums as his solo-project The Diary.
Paul Rijnders has several music projects including: Goodbye July (synthpop) and The Lamented (garage rock). He is also known as a mash up remixer under the pseudonym Kult Litre, best known for the underground drum & bass remix of The Doors "L.A. Woman".
Dania Morales had a brief solo stint with Cellophane Flowers.
Dave South currently plays bass guitar for The Valley Arena.
Gary S is also known as "The Notorious B.O.X." for his beat-boxing skills.
Claude S and a friend, Steve B, post a semi-monthly internet radio program called The Listen Show where they are often joined by other friends, including Paul Rijnders. The show is basically the participants playing and discussing a wide assortment of songs. It also serves as means of updating fans to the latest Anything Box news.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Out of print:
- Elektrodelica (Now on iTunes)
- Hope V3(Now on iTunes)
- Mixology 1
- Dance CD5
- Hope
- Worth
- Descension EP
- Ascension EP
Most of these can now be had on iTunes and CDBaby.com.
[edit] In print
- Peace
- The Diary 'Page One'(Now on iTunes)
- Worth V2
- Hope
- Recovered 1993-1995
- The Universe Is Expanding
- 100% Air-Friendly Groove Pak
- The Effects of Stereo TV
- The Diary - Separate
- Future Past EP
- Nineteen
[edit] Anything Box Complete Discography Updated 2007
This is a detailed discography of Anything Box. Some of these things are no longer in print, and are here for informational purposes only.
1988: Beat Of Life / I Know What You Want 12" Single 1 copy pressed on lacquer for DJs only. This got them their first shows! Very notable is that the jacket was hand painted by Claude S. in acrylics! The story goes, DJs were allowed to borrow it for only two weeks, then a show would come about.
1988: Living In Oblivion / Time To Go 12" Single 2 Copies for DJs only. Also contained a slow mix of Living In Oblivion on B-Side. We believe one of these was hand painted!
1989: Ascension EP Cassette only release sold at early shows. Notable songs: Living In Oblivion, World Without Love, Kiss Of Love, Ascension, and Heaven. At one point, Kiss Of Love and living In Oblivion entered college chart in NJ. For historical purposes, this is the demo tape that got them signed to a management deal in California, which prompted the band's move to the west coast.
1989: Descension EP Cassette only. Never released. "The Pain I Inherited" is one of the only surviving songs. MP3 available on the Worth page. This was the band's last NJ demo.
1989: Living In Oblivion CD single, cassette single, and 12" release on Epic / Sony Music.
1990: Peace The debut album on Epic / Sony that launched Anything Box and put them on the map. Still in print. Notable songs: Kiss Of Love, I felt The Pain, Jubilation, Carmen, Living In Oblivion, Lady In Waiting, and All These Hours Undone.
1990: Jubilation 2 CD Singles, one was Radio only. Retail version had Do You Hear Me Anymore as a B-Side. Also, a 12" Single was pressed in the US, and a 7" single in Mexico by Sony Music. It is believed (but not proven) that Carmen was released as a 7" in South America.
1991: Soul On Fire / Our Dreams 12" single contained an edit of Our Dreams by Dania & Claude S. CD single was released only to radio.
1992: Worth Known as "Black Cassette" version. Produced by Gareth Jones. Out of print. Notable songs: World without Love, Beat Of Life, The Ravine, Soldier & Child, Worth, An Ending, and a cover of The Beatles' All You Need Is Love.
1992-1993: Hope The first official release on Orangewerks Produkt Ltd. label. 1st Version is released in Cardboard packaging, and this pressing was limited to 5,000 units. It was then re-released in 1993 in a Jewel Case with new artwork. Most notable songs: Answer Me, Life Is Fun, Blue Little Rose, Every single Day, and Where Is Love & Happiness.
1994: Where Is Love & Happiness 12" single with remixes by Twitch and Anything Box. Pressing limited to 1,000 units. No longer in print. Also contained a house remix by an underground DJ (we had no copies to refer to).
1994: Dance CD5 This CD was all the Twitch remixes, plus remixes of Every single Day. Out of print.
1994: The Diary 'Page One' A "solo" album by Claude S. that is now considered the experimental studies that transformed Anything Box. Most notable songs: Because, Degenerate, Simpleton, Interleave, and a cover of Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart. Released on Orangewerks. Still in print, but rare.
1994: Mixology 1 This CD was to help fans out by putting the best of all 12" only mixes of Living In Oblivion, Jubilation, Beat Of Life, and unreleased B-Sides on one disc. Most notable tracks: A Tea Cup Falls, In Your Smile, Do You Hear Me Anymore, and Because (Diary song remixed for Abox).
1996: Living In Oblivion A newly recorded and remixed version on Jarrett Records, with mixes by underground techno DJs, Seven Red Seven, Information Society, and the band. The last dance release. The band signs a deal with Jarrett Records.
1996: Hope V3 Hope is re-issued by Jarrett Records with extra remixes and new artwork.
1997: Conscious The first single off of Elektrodelica, and what would spark the controversy between old and new Abox, thanks in part to the songs Pop Song and Small, which featured more guitar work and a Diary-influenced sound.
1997: Elektrodelica What Anything Box considers their first realized album. Most notable songs: Negaverse, Mine, Heaven60, Pop Song, Conscious, Dirt, Doubt, and 45. Released on Jarrett Records. There is also a limited edition 2 CD set of this album floating around which contained outtakes and acoustic versions.
1997: 45 Video is released first, with plans for a CD single with remixes by The Claw. Problems arise with Jarrett Records and the company folds. There are some copies floating around.
2000: Recovered 1993-1995 This CD saw the release of a lost album written after Hope and before The Diary. In its entirety, it was known as Deconstructivism, but damaged masters prevented its release. After digitally remastering and mixing the surviving songs, the name was changed to Recovered. This is the first release under Presswerk13, which Abox fans know as the name of the Newsletters Anything Box put out.
2000: Worth V2 Worth is re-issued and remastered, with 2 unreleased tracks and photographs of Germany. Very limited edition, you may still find this version at www.cdbaby.com.
2000: Sharewear 1 (Orange) A T-Shirt / CDR combo which sees the release of rarities and classics. Most notable tracks: Met A Strange Girl, A Cold Day, Once In A While, and live on-air Blue Little Rose with Beatboxing from Gary. Only available here. The shirt is Orange, done in a futuristic neo 70's style.
2001: 100% Air-Friendly Groove Pak An EP to promote the release of The Universe Is Expanding. Notable tracks are the controversial Radio Static, and the somber Down, which was written while on tour with OMD. The stars here are Space Age Blues and the electronic Clean. Negaverse makes an appearance, as does scratching by underground hip hop DJs. A new Abox is born.
2001: The Universe Is Expanding An album that both incorporates the electronics of the early years and melds them with the edge of Elektrodelica. Add the Hip Hop element and you get a diverse and fresh approach to modern electronic music. Notable tracks: Constellations, Space Age Blues, I'm On My Way, Isolation99, Robotnik, and Best Friend.
2001: Sharewear 2 (Blue) Another Shirt/CD combo. This CDR has very special tracks, such as Everything Is Not Free, Scared, and Show Me, as well as the very strange Cheap Beats Theme and All The Light Has Faded Out. The Shirt is blue and the design very futuristic. Limited Edition.
2002: Binaural Repeats: 1993-2002 The front 'cover' of this download-only collection states "An elektrodelic body of enhanced works. Produced by Anything Box. Recorded at various studios. This is FREEWARE so share it." Distributed at the time from the band's own web page, and mentioned on slashdot.org in 2003. The album does not appear to be available on their site any longer.
2003: The Effects Of Stereo TV Edgier than than The Universe Is Expanding. An experimentation with power pop, punk-n-bass, and acoustics. Anything Box delves deeper into the farther reaches of the un-punkt disco closet where dreams are amplified by distortion and words you can remember, like a fantasy of the powerpuff girls hiding from robots in the back seat of your car. Notable songs: Neuropathic Halo, Vile, Love is LoFi.
2005: The Diary - Separate With this new album, Claude S. blends digital electronics with a tip of the hat to late 70's punk, recalling the innocent stylings of the New York school of New Wave. Using a lo-fi acoustic drum set, a 1965 SG and his computer, this era is brought to modern focus under Claude's surrealist gaze. You can dance to it, you can play it loud for your enemies, all the while escaping the realities of the bleak landscape of today's musical suicide.
2007: Future Past EP After much anticipation, Anything Box finally released the Future Past EP. This is unlike any other release for it contains never before heard remixes of their ballad Carmen not to mention a Spanish version. The EP also contains 2 tracks that have not been made public until now.
2008: Nineteen Claude remasters a old tape of early Anything Box recordings. The songs pre-date the band's first album, Peace. The band releases the album, Nineteen, digitally.
