Action Beat
Encyclopedia
Action Beat is an instrumental improvisational noise rock
band from Bletchley, UK, consisting of a rotating line up of three or more drummers and four guitar players and a bass player. The band was founded in 2004 by core members Don McLean (who also owns the label Fortissimo Records
) and James Carney. Other members are Harry Taylor (guitar), Jake Burton (drums), James Walsh (drums), Luke Webb (baritone) and Steven Dart (bass).
In 2007 their debut album 1977-2007: Thirty Years of Hurt, Then Us Cunts Exploded was released on their own Fortissimo label. This release led to a signing with Truth Cult/Southern Records
for the follow up albums.
The band makes music in the tradtion of the noise symphonies of Glenn Branca
and related acts such as the early Sonic Youth
and Boredoms. For their sound they tune their guitars often in alternate tuning
s.
Fortissimo Records re-released Glenn Branca
's 1981 album The Ascension
as a special edition on 180 grams vinyl in 2010. In 2010 Peter J Taylor released a solo album (with some Action Beat players playing on it) and left the band in December to pursue a solo carrier wherein his music is being performed live by ensembles consisting of local musicians.
Noise rock
Noise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.-Style:Noise...
band from Bletchley, UK, consisting of a rotating line up of three or more drummers and four guitar players and a bass player. The band was founded in 2004 by core members Don McLean (who also owns the label Fortissimo Records
Fortissimo Records
Fortissimo Records is an independent record label and promoting collective from Milton Keynes, England run by Action Beats Don McLean.Taking their name from the Italian musical term for "very loud" , Fortissimo was formed in 2002, arranging gigs at Bletchley Youth Club, in Milton Keynes...
) and James Carney. Other members are Harry Taylor (guitar), Jake Burton (drums), James Walsh (drums), Luke Webb (baritone) and Steven Dart (bass).
In 2007 their debut album 1977-2007: Thirty Years of Hurt, Then Us Cunts Exploded was released on their own Fortissimo label. This release led to a signing with Truth Cult/Southern Records
Southern Records
Southern Records is an independent record label closely associated with Crass Records, Corpus Christi Records and Dischord Records. It is based in London and previously had offices in Chicago , Le Havre and Berlin .Southern was originally a recording studio owned and operated by John Loder...
for the follow up albums.
The band makes music in the tradtion of the noise symphonies of Glenn Branca
Glenn Branca
Glenn Branca is an American avant-garde composer and guitarist known for his use of volume, alternative guitar tunings, repetition, droning, and the harmonic series. In 2008 he was awarded an unrestricted grant from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts.-Beginnings: 1960s and early 1970s:Branca...
and related acts such as the early Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
and Boredoms. For their sound they tune their guitars often in alternate tuning
Scordatura
A scordatura , also called cross-tuning, is an alternative tuning used for the open strings of a string instrument, in which the notes indicated in the score would represent the finger position as if played in regular tuning, while the actual pitch is altered...
s.
Fortissimo Records re-released Glenn Branca
Glenn Branca
Glenn Branca is an American avant-garde composer and guitarist known for his use of volume, alternative guitar tunings, repetition, droning, and the harmonic series. In 2008 he was awarded an unrestricted grant from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts.-Beginnings: 1960s and early 1970s:Branca...
's 1981 album The Ascension
The Ascension (Glenn Branca album)
The Ascension is the second album released by Glenn Branca, it was re-released by Acute Records in 2003 with new artwork, and again in 2010 by Fortissimo Records on limited edition 180g white vinyl.-Track listing:# "Lesson No...
as a special edition on 180 grams vinyl in 2010. In 2010 Peter J Taylor released a solo album (with some Action Beat players playing on it) and left the band in December to pursue a solo carrier wherein his music is being performed live by ensembles consisting of local musicians.
Discography
- 1977-2007: Thirty Years of Hurt, Then Us Cunts Didn't Explode (Fortissimo RecordsFortissimo RecordsFortissimo Records is an independent record label and promoting collective from Milton Keynes, England run by Action Beats Don McLean.Taking their name from the Italian musical term for "very loud" , Fortissimo was formed in 2002, arranging gigs at Bletchley Youth Club, in Milton Keynes...
, 2007) - The GOOOOD Noise Band from Bletchley (Truth Cult/Southern RecordsSouthern RecordsSouthern Records is an independent record label closely associated with Crass Records, Corpus Christi Records and Dischord Records. It is based in London and previously had offices in Chicago , Le Havre and Berlin .Southern was originally a recording studio owned and operated by John Loder...
, 2009) - Unbelievable Fuck-Ups (Urquinaona Records) - 2010
- Beatings (Truth Cult/Southern Records, 2010)