disinformation | david thrussell

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david thrussell
by Alex Burns (alex@disinfo.com) - July 01, 2001

David Thrussell is a provocative Australian-based DJ, producer, remixer, musician, and anti-copyright sampling activist.

Widely known worldwide as the central member of the industrual-electronica outfit Snog, Thrussell has produced innovative electronica, industrial, world, and avant-garde music for over a decade. His music combines frequently savage and witty critiques of the contemporary Society of the Spectacle with samples and references to conspiracy theories and counter-cultural icons.

Snog was first formed in 1988, and its subversive techno has combined elements from Clock DVA, Cabaret Voltaire, Lustmord, Ennio Morricone and Lee Hazelwood. After disinterest from Australian record companies, Snog signed with the German label Machinery Records, scoring a dance-floor smash with "Corporate Slave" (1992). The album Lies, Inc (1992) was followed by several moderately successful singles.

The band came to truly worldwide attention with the brutal single "Cliche" (1994), which mocked rampant conspiracy theory paranoia long before fashionable television shows like Dark Skies and The X-Files did. The album Dear Valued Customer (1994) was Snog's strongest release yet, fusing cinematic electronica with a 'spaghetti western' influence that was to become more central to future recordings.

The chameleon-like Thrussell had remixed projects for the Australian bands TISM and Not Drowning, Waving, and already recorded material for a solo project called Black Lung, which drew on the writings of dissident journalists Noam Chomsky and John Pilger, film-makers Roman Polanski and Oliver Stone, and conspiracy writers William Cooper and Kenn Thomas for inspiration. He also found time to form Soma in collaboration with musician Pieter Bourke, who has worked with Snog, Dead Can Dance, and Lisa Gerrard. Soma's Hollow Earth (1994) and The Inner Cinema (1996) suggested as-yet unheard elements of Thrussell's brooding psyche. Both projects highlighted Thrussell's skills as a multi-talented DJ and producer, and he embarked on several tours of the United States and Europe between 1996 and 1998.

Faced with growing record company incompetence, Thrussell and Snog signed to Metropolis Records in 1996, morphed through various line-up changes, and subsequently released the well received The Future EP (1996), the Remote Control remix retrospective (1996), and Buy Me . . . I'll Change Your Life (1998). Press releases from Thrussell's satirical International Mind Control Corporation continued his activist persona by ruthlessly exanining the unforseen spectre of economic rationalism and religious bigotry in our daily lives, accompanied by annotated reading and film lists for further information.

Thrussell also promoted the pro-sampling agenda of Musicians Against Copyrighting Of Samples, often discussing in interviews the mind-numbing effects of contemporary mass media.

Recent releases include the Black Lung and Xinghu Hill collaboration The Andronechron Incident (1999) and the latest Snog album Third Mall From The Sun (1999). In the frontline battle against the forces of unconsciousness, the eclectic David Thrussell is still very much in demand.

Voltage Zine: Black Lung Review
A review of 'The Disinformation Plague' (1998). "Black Lung may not suited to dance clubs . . .I am filing this CD next to the Philip Glass and Einstuzende Neubauten."

Splendid E-zine Review: Soma
Review of Soma's 'The Inner Cinema' (1996) with a thirty-second sound clip. Aptly described as Ennio Morricone writing science fiction film soundtracks.

Effigy Magazine: Snog Interview
Raw interview with David Thrussell on George Orwell's 1984; anti-American rhetoric; the Thought Police; corporate slavery; and the dress tastes of Metropolis Records promo guy Michael Mahan.

KDVS Industrial & Electronic Reviews: Snog
Reviews of the recent Snog releases 'Buy Me . . .I'll Change Your Life' (1998) and 'The Human Germ' (1998) single, which feature spaghetti western movie soundtrack influiences.

Tobis CD Reviews: Soma
Reviews of the Soma back-catalogue, alluding to similarities with Kraftwerk. Intelligent techno for the mind cinema.

Discover Reviews: Soma
German reviews of various Soma releases, including 'The Inner Cinema' (1996).

David Thrussell On Roswell
An overview of the many worldwide conspiracies during the trial of 'Oklahoma City' bomber Timothy McVeigh, featuring brief comments by David Thrussel that the Roswell crash was a disinformation effort par excellence.

iMusic Club Showcase: Snog
Lengthy interview with David Thrussell railing against fundamentalist Christianity; the English press portrayal of industrial and ambient genres; conspiracy theories; the state of electronic music, and much, much more. Thrussell at his moody and witty best!

iMusic Club Showcase: Black Lung
A page devoted to David Thrussell's side-project Black Lung, describing releases and listing his diverse influences. Black Lung fuses toghet these stylistic elements with techno, industrial, and avant-garde compositions. A perfect soundtrack to accompany 'The Invisible War.'

Metarc: Black Lung & Xingu Hill
Exclusive samples from the Black Lung and Xinghu Hill collaboration 'The Andronechron Incident' (Ant-Zen, 1999). This site also contains track-listing and details of the Snog album 'Third Mall From The Sun' (1999).

Sonic Boom: David Thrussell Interviews
Two David Thrussell interviews from 1996 and 1998 conducted by 'Sonic Boom' magazine. Thrussell reveals his views on artistic self management; the genesis of Black Lung; European tours; the infamous 'Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars' document; the Unabomber; media pollution; and anti-copyright sampling campaigns.

Tobias Matkowitz's Soma Interview
An excellent in-depth interview with David Thrussell discussing the two Soma releases 'The Inner Cinema' (1996) and 'Hollow Earth' (1994), and the single 'Sleepwalker' (1995). Thrussell reveals his favourite films and eating habits, critiques the music press, and discusses the Australian electronica scene.

Listen To Your Black Lung
Stunning nine-minute Black Lung sample that must be heard. Promoted for gigs at the San Francisco based 'Black Lodge' electronica nights, which ended in June 1999.

The Danse Assembly Music Network!
Pre-production print facility aligned with Metropolis Records (the label David Thrussell is signed with). Interesting resource for industrial and electronica music news, including past David Thrussell interviews.

Metropolis Records: Black Lung
A site by Black Lung's record label, featuring RealAudio and MP3 selections from the excellent release 'The Disinformation Plague' (1998). Check it out now!

Metropolis Records: Snog
Snog signed with Metropolis Records in 1996, and this artist dossier features loads of MP3 and RealAudio selections from 'The Future' EP (1996), the 'Remote Control' remix retrospective (1996), and the very strange 'Buy Me . . .I'll Change Your Life' (1998). This music captures Thrussell's blistering attacks on socio-economic wage slavery and religious hypocrisies.

The International Mind Control Corporation
Winners don't do drugs . . .they just sell them! The OFFICIAL site for David Thrussell's Snog, Black Lung, and Soma projects. Definitive place for information - make sure you check out the IMCC Favourites pages.

Pieter Bourke Home-page
Pieter Bourke is a talented Australian musician who captured critical attention with the Eden project, before forming Soma with David Thrussell in 1993. This collaboration spawned over seventy compositions (Bourke was also a member of Snog between 1993 and 1997). He has also collaborated with Lisa Gerrard and toured with Dead Can Dance. This very stylish site contains revealing interviews, a detailed discography, reviews, and updates on Bourke's projects and collaborations.

Musicians Against Copywriting Of Samples (MACOS)
MACOS is a non-profit organization constructing an international network of musicians whose opinions of sampling and the use of sampling technology oppose the copyrighting of samples. Allowing the general public to sample from MACOS material freely, without incurring any legal ramifications. By including the MACOS logo on your product, you demonstrates your commitment towards sampling, authorizing that your product can be used as a sampling source. Sampling is the 21st century. Fight media pollution!

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