Cell:burn
Encyclopedia
cell:burn is an industrial music
project started in 1984
by Craig Anthony Perkins
. The original band name was Cybertek until a few years later when members of Front 242
started using the name as a side project (though they later changed the name to C-Tec
.) By the early 1990s Cybertek changed its name to cell:burn as to not be associated with the widespread overuse of the word cyber
, and as not to be confused with the better-known Front 242 side project.
er, Perkins has been able to incorporate his sound programming skills to produce a cinematic
-like sound; mixing harsh programmed drum
beats with analog and digital synthesizers as well as sampled found-sounds. Perkins is also a film composer
with several independent film
s under his belt, including the International Film Fest nominee No Way In.
Early influences include Gary Numan
, Skinny Puppy
, Front Line Assembly
and Ministry
. With current influences from Haujobb
to Autechre
to modernist architecture, cell:burn is constantly evolving its sound with the use of technology both new and old alike; currently working with software based synths and programming languages such as Max/MSP and cSound
.
Side projects include jido-genshi
, VENTER and StarDotStar.
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
project started in 1984
1984 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1984.-Janury-March:*January 21 – "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood reaches number one in the UK singles chart, despite being banned by the BBC; it spends a total of forty-two weeks in the Top 40.*January 27 – Michael Jackson's...
by Craig Anthony Perkins
Craig Anthony Perkins
Craig Anthony Perkins is a musician, composer, record label owner and producer, photographer, filmmaker, author and designer from Los Angeles who is most known for his designer toy figure the Broken Heart Robot and his music project jido-genshi.Perkins is an autodidact who is self taught in music,...
. The original band name was Cybertek until a few years later when members of Front 242
Front 242
Front 242 is a pioneering Belgian electronic music group that came into prominence during the 1980s. They are known for being the premier pioneer of electronic body music and as a major influence on the electronic and industrial music genres.-Formation:...
started using the name as a side project (though they later changed the name to C-Tec
C-Tec
C-Tec was a band originally formed as a side project in 1995 by Jean-Luc De Meyer , Jonathan Sharp , and Ged Denton as The Cyber-Tec Project. The name was taken from Cyber-Tec Records, who released their first album. This EP was also released on Fifth Column Records in the US...
.) By the early 1990s Cybertek changed its name to cell:burn as to not be associated with the widespread overuse of the word cyber
Cyber
Cyber may refer to:* Cyber-, a common prefix* Cybergoth* CDC Cyber, a range of mainframe computers* Cyber Acoustics, a brand of computer hardware* Cyber Missionary* Cybersex * Cyberitis * Cyber...
, and as not to be confused with the better-known Front 242 side project.
Sound and influences
With experience in the video game industry as a sound designSound design
Sound design is the process of specifying, acquiring, manipulating or generating audio elements. It is employed in a variety of disciplines including filmmaking, television production, theatre, sound recording and reproduction, live performance, sound art, post-production and video game software...
er, Perkins has been able to incorporate his sound programming skills to produce a cinematic
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
-like sound; mixing harsh programmed drum
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
beats with analog and digital synthesizers as well as sampled found-sounds. Perkins is also a film composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
with several independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
s under his belt, including the International Film Fest nominee No Way In.
Early influences include Gary Numan
Gary Numan
Gary Numan is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals.Numan is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music...
, Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy is a Canadian industrial musical group, formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1982. The group is widely considered to be the founders of the electro-industrial genre....
, Front Line Assembly
Front Line Assembly
Front Line Assembly is a Canadian electro-industrial band formed by Bill Leeb in 1986 after leaving Skinny Puppy. Influenced by early Industrial acts such as Cabaret Voltaire, Portion Control, D.A.F., Test Dept, SPK, and Severed Heads, FLA has developed its own unique sound while combining...
and Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
. With current influences from Haujobb
Haujobb
Haujobb is a German musical project whose output has ranged drastically within the electronic music spectrum, from electro-industrial to IDM and techno...
to Autechre
Autechre
Autechre are an English electronic music duo consisting of Rob Brown and Sean Booth, both natives of Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1987, they are one of the most prominent acts signed to Warp Records, a label known for its pioneering electronic music and through which all Autechre albums...
to modernist architecture, cell:burn is constantly evolving its sound with the use of technology both new and old alike; currently working with software based synths and programming languages such as Max/MSP and cSound
Csound
Csound is a computer programming language for dealing with sound, also known as a sound compiler or an audio programming language, or more precisely, a C-based audio DSL. It is called Csound because it is written in C, as opposed to some of its predecessors...
.
Side projects include jido-genshi
Jido-genshi
jido-genshi is an experimental electronic music project and pseudonym of musician and music-technologist Craig Anthony Perkins...
, VENTER and StarDotStar.
Albums
- Psyclonic Debri (1989)
- Cybertek Arena (1991)
- Burn Cycle (1996)
- Virus 1.0 (2000)
- Anfang (2002)
Singles
- RedLineHardMix (2004)
- Tokyo View (2005)
- 4 More Fears (2005)