The Normal
| The Normal | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Industrial, post-punk, new wave, electronic |
| Instruments | Korg 700s |
| Years active | 1978–1979 |
| Labels | Mute, Rough Trade, Sire/Warner Bros. |
| Associated acts | Robert Rental |
| Past members | Daniel Miller |
The Normal is the recording artist name used by English music producer Daniel Miller, a film editor at the time, who is best known as the founder of the record label Mute Records.
Contents |
Background [edit]
In 1977, Miller had split up with his girlfriend. A friend suggested that he read a book he himself had just finished. The book was Crash (1973) by J.G. Ballard.[1] He felt that Ballard's writing took him five minutes into the future; the novel was to be a major influence in the music he would produce as The Normal.[1] Miller was disillusioned by the fact you needed to learn three chords to be in a punk band, so he decided to purchase a synthesiser. His thinking was that you only needed to learn to press one key on a synthesiser.[1] After buying a Korg 700s synthesiser from Macari's music shop in London,[1] Miller recorded and released a single under the name The Normal. This was "T.V.O.D."/"Warm Leatherette". Both tracks were minimalist electronic songs influenced by the Crash novel.[1] He wanted the sound of the recordings to be visual, like driving along a highway between large buildings then going through a tunnel.[1] The single was recorded in Daniel Miller's house using a TEAC four track tape recorder and the Korg synthesiser.[2]
"Live at West Runton Pavilion", The Normal's second release, done with another Mute Records act, Robert Rental, wasn't well received. A strange release, it was a one-sided album (side two was left blank) of improvised electronic noises, in a plain purple dust jacket. Marat Records released the record in Germany as Daniel Miller Robert Rental Live, with a black and white picture sleeve, catalogue No. Marat Rough 017.
Influence on other artists [edit]
Songs by The Normal have been covered and performed by many notable artists such as Grace Jones, Sleep Chamber, Chicks on Speed/Hell on a split-7", Giddle and Boyd Rice and in 2006 by Trent Reznor with Jeordie White and Peter Murphy.[3] A recent cover of "Warm Leatherette" was performed live by Duran Duran in November 2007, and as part of an electro medley during their 2008 tour,[4] in support of their album Red Carpet Massacre.
Discography [edit]
- The Normal - "T.V.O.D." / "Warm Leatherette" (Mute Records 1978)
- Robert Rental & The Normal - Live At West Runton Pavilion, 6-3-79 (Rough Trade 1980)
References [edit]
Notes [edit]
- ^ a b c d e f Synth Britannia - Documentary (BBC4 2 August 2010)
- ^ “Mute Records - History”. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
- ^ Warm Leatherette - Trent Reznor, Jeordie White, Peter Murphy, at YouTube
- ^ "Set List: WaMu Theater - Seattle, WA". Duran Duran Music. 2008-04-30. Retrieved 2008-05-07.
