Ben Wa (band): Difference between revisions
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'''Ben Wa''' was an American [[Electronic music|electronic]] band from Oakland, California comprising Anthony "House" Chaba (programming and bass guitar) and Eric Ware (programming and keyboards), who had worked together before in bands such as Limbomaniacs, Big Janitor, and MCM & the Monster.<ref name="allmusic">[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ben-wa-mn0000169230/biography Ben Wa] biography on ''[[Allmusic]]''.</ref> |
'''Ben Wa''' was an American [[Electronic music|electronic]] band from Oakland, California comprising Anthony "House" Chaba (programming and bass guitar) and Eric Ware (programming and keyboards), who had worked together before in bands such as Limbomaniacs, Big Janitor, and MCM & the Monster.<ref name="allmusic">[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ben-wa-mn0000169230/biography Ben Wa] biography on ''[[Allmusic]]''.</ref> |
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After releasing a four track ''EP 1'' full of breaks and electro in 1998 they began recording their debut album ''[[Devil Dub]]'' featuring guest musicians such as guitarists [[Buckethead]] and [[M.I.R.V.]], drummer [[Bryan "Brain" Mantia]] and turntablist [[DJ Disk]], plus [[Scientist (musician)|Scientist]] live on stage for the release party<ref name="allmusic"/> in |
After releasing a four track ''EP 1'' full of breaks and electro in 1998 they began recording their debut album ''[[Devil Dub]]'' featuring guest musicians such as guitarists [[Buckethead]] and [[M.I.R.V.]], drummer [[Bryan "Brain" Mantia]] and turntablist [[DJ Disk]], plus [[Scientist (musician)|Scientist]] live on stage for the release party<ref name="allmusic"/> in January 1999. Chaba and Ware had met Scientist when opening for [[Bill Laswell|Bill Laswell's]] [[Praxis (band)|Praxis]] in San Francisco.<ref name="goldberg">Michelle Goldberg: ''[http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/01.07.99/benwa-9901.html Ben Wa's debut CD, 'Devil Dub,' offers classic old-school dub.]'' In: ''Metro Silicon Valley'', January 7, 1999.</ref> |
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Reviews for ''Devil Dub'' were positive with ''[[URB (magazine)|URB]]'' calling it "one of the most crucial records of any genre released this year"<ref name="goldberg"/> and Michelle Goldberg of ''[[Metro Silicon Valley]]'' stating: "The lazy pace is lulling, but like [[Tricky (musician)|Tricky's]] music, it's more edgy and creepy than ethereal."<ref name="goldberg"/> Rick Anderson of ''Allmusic'' gave 4,5 out of 5 stars, writing: "This is remarkably pleasant stuff."<ref>Rock Anderson: Review of ''[http://www.allmusic.com/album/devil-dub-mw0001888373 Devil Dub]'' on ''Allmusic''.</ref> Noah Wayne of online music magazine ''[[Splendid (magazine)|Splendid]]'' wrote: "It's campy, it's twisted, it's dub!"<ref>Noah Wayne: Review of ''[http://www.splendidezine.com/reviews/nov-9-98/ben.html Devil Dub].'' In: ''Splendid'', November 9, 1998.</ref> |
Reviews for ''Devil Dub'' were positive with ''[[URB (magazine)|URB]]'' calling it "one of the most crucial records of any genre released this year"<ref name="goldberg"/> and Michelle Goldberg of ''[[Metro Silicon Valley]]'' stating: "The lazy pace is lulling, but like [[Tricky (musician)|Tricky's]] music, it's more edgy and creepy than ethereal."<ref name="goldberg"/> Rick Anderson of ''Allmusic'' gave 4,5 out of 5 stars, writing: "This is remarkably pleasant stuff."<ref>Rock Anderson: Review of ''[http://www.allmusic.com/album/devil-dub-mw0001888373 Devil Dub]'' on ''Allmusic''.</ref> Noah Wayne of online music magazine ''[[Splendid (magazine)|Splendid]]'' wrote: "It's campy, it's twisted, it's dub!"<ref>Noah Wayne: Review of ''[http://www.splendidezine.com/reviews/nov-9-98/ben.html Devil Dub].'' In: ''Splendid'', November 9, 1998.</ref> |
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Revision as of 22:19, 3 October 2014
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Ben Wa | |
|---|---|
| Origin | USA |
| Genres | Electronic, Dub |
| Years active | 1998 - 2001 |
| Labels | Black Hole Records, Malvado Records, Stray Records |
| Past members | Anthony "House" Chaba, Eric Ware |
Ben Wa was an American electronic band from Oakland, California comprising Anthony "House" Chaba (programming and bass guitar) and Eric Ware (programming and keyboards), who had worked together before in bands such as Limbomaniacs, Big Janitor, and MCM & the Monster.[1]
After releasing a four track EP 1 full of breaks and electro in 1998 they began recording their debut album Devil Dub featuring guest musicians such as guitarists Buckethead and M.I.R.V., drummer Bryan "Brain" Mantia and turntablist DJ Disk, plus Scientist live on stage for the release party[1] in January 1999. Chaba and Ware had met Scientist when opening for Bill Laswell's Praxis in San Francisco.[2]
Reviews for Devil Dub were positive with URB calling it "one of the most crucial records of any genre released this year"[2] and Michelle Goldberg of Metro Silicon Valley stating: "The lazy pace is lulling, but like Tricky's music, it's more edgy and creepy than ethereal."[2] Rick Anderson of Allmusic gave 4,5 out of 5 stars, writing: "This is remarkably pleasant stuff."[3] Noah Wayne of online music magazine Splendid wrote: "It's campy, it's twisted, it's dub!"[4]
Two of their tracks, "Re-Dub" and "Ephedream", were included on Laswell's releases Reanimator: Black Market Science and Tetragrammaton - Submerge.[5][6] They also contributed tracks to a few other dub compilations.[7]
Another EP called Elektro-Krazy followed in 2000, again concentrating on breaks and electro and described on Epitonic as "the gap between Detroit techno and funky dance floor breaks in a most ingenious way".[8] Their next album Disciples Of Retro-Tech was released in 2001 as a double vinyl and single compact disc, featuring explorations of pure electro and synth-pop terrain. Stephen Cook of Allmusic wrote: "The hybrid mix is so inventive that suspect pastiche and old-school chic absolutely do not figure into it". He gave the album 4 out of 5 stars.[9] Daiv Whaley of music newspaper Hear/Say concluded his review: "This is cool, accessible music for every child of man and machine. File under 'electro-funk,' file under 'fantastic.'"[10]
Discography
- EP 1 (12" EP on Black Hole Records, 1998)
- Devil Dub (CD album on Black Hole Records, 1998)
- Elektro-Krazy (12" EP on Malvado Records, 2000)
- Retro-Tech EP (12" EP Stray Records, 2001)
- Disciples Of Retro-Tech (Double vinyl and single CD album on Stray Records, 2001)
External links
- Ben Wa discography at Discogs
- Ben Wa at AllMusic
- Official website as archived on July 28, 2009.
- GearTalk: Ben Wa. In: IGN, April 4, 2001.
- Chris Baty: Ben There, Done That. In: SF Weekly, October 17, 2001.
- Cleofus Williams: Runnin' With The Devil, gogorilla.com
References
- ^ a b Ben Wa biography on Allmusic.
- ^ a b c Michelle Goldberg: Ben Wa's debut CD, 'Devil Dub,' offers classic old-school dub. In: Metro Silicon Valley, January 7, 1999.
- ^ Rock Anderson: Review of Devil Dub on Allmusic.
- ^ Noah Wayne: Review of Devil Dub. In: Splendid, November 9, 1998.
- ^ Reanimator - Black Market Science on Discogs.
- ^ Tetragramaton - Submerge on Discogs.
- ^ Releases page on official website.
- ^ Ben Wa on Epitonic.
- ^ Stephen Cook: Review of Disciples Of Retro-Tech on Allmusic.
- ^ Daiv Whaley: Review of Disciples of Retro-Tech. In Hear/Say, November 2001.