Flux Information Sciences
Flux Information Sciences were a three-piece noise rock band based in Brooklyn, New York City. The band was formed in 1996 by vocalist/guitarist Tristan Bechet (born in Portugal, raised in Brazil) and keyboardist Sebastian Brault (born in Madagascar, raised in France) who met in art school in Marseilles. A revolving drummer policy saw Derek Ethridge[1] replace Phil Hernandez in 1999, who was in turn replaced by Shiobhan Duffy. Eventually the band settled on the line-up of Bechet and Brault, with Christopher Pravdica on electronics.
Flux Information Sciences were influenced by the 1980s New York No Wave scene and by bands such as The Contortions, James White & the Blacks, Suicide and Foetus.[2] In 2004, Flux were featured on S.A. Crary's documentary on No Wave Kill Your Idols.[3] According to a Young God press release, Private/Public was recorded before a live audience who were required to stand before the band naked and blindfolded.[4][5]
The band's debut album A Dedication to Volt was released in 1997 and follow by Services in 1999. Third album, Summer was released in 2000, and was described by Joe Silva of All Music as seeing Flux "retain...[their] ability to playfully challenge listeners to find entry points to their material, while maintaining their levels of chaos and invention".[6] In 2001, Flux signed to Young God Records and released "Private/Public"; described by Thom Jure as "some badass punk rock music of outrageously high caliber. FIS is pure art terrorism in the form of a rock & roll band. There is nothing here but decay, fun, racket, energy."[7] Young God label boss Michael Gira described the band as "Life-threatening and entertaining".[4]
The New York Times described their sound as "a clattering, dissonant, choppy, propulsive racket, punctuated every so often by a vocal chant; it's ominous and mockingly jubilant, somewhere between the Gang of Four and Ministry."[8] In "Kill Your Idols", Bechet provides insight to the band's approach to rhythm when he described living across the road to "a metal stamping factory, and the rhythms and sounds that they make, are truly fucking phenomenal, just fucking...pff...amazing and groovy as shit; those are the kind of rhythms I enjoy, its almost as if New York City is the script and we interpret that.[9]
Since Flux broke up, Bechet formed his own label, Pinksock Records, and has worked with artists such as F. M. Einheit of Einstürzende Neubauten and Khan.[10] Bechet has released albums by several experimental projects including his heavy metal mash up vinyl "Please Forgive Me" and "Waiting For The Sun" CD by "Sauna KIngs". After the Label faded, Bechet founded "SERVICES" with Christopher Pravdica; a former member of Flux.
[edit] Discography
- A Dedication to Volt (1997)
- Services (1999)
- Summer (2000)
- Private/Public (2001)
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Flux Information Sciences "Private / Public" Young God Records YG14 2001 (43:58)". Brainwashed.com. Retrieved on 25 October 2008.
- ^ Kellman, Andy. "Flux Information Sciences". Allmusic. Retrieved on 25 October 2008.
- ^ Amundsen, Matthew. "Kill Your Idols". Brainwashed.com, 29 October 2006. Retrieved on 25 October 2008.
- ^ a b Neate, Wilson. "The cover art of Private/Public alone is worth the price of admission". PopMatters, 01 May, 2001.
- ^ "Flux Information Sciences". YOUNG GOD RECORDS. Retrieved on 25 October 2008.
- ^ Sliva, Joe. "Summer". Allmusic. Retrieved on 25 October 2008.
- ^ Jure, Thom. "Private/Public". Allmusic. Retrieved on 25 October 2008.
- ^ "Pop and Jazz Guide, The New York Times, 14 June 2002. Retrieved on 25 October 2008
- ^ Crary, S.A. (dir.) "Kill Your Idols", 2004. 34:20–35:26
- ^ Finley, Julie. "For Your Consideration: An Interview with Trztn of Services". popshifter.com. Retrieved on 25 October 2008.
