Eyeless in Gaza (band)
Encyclopedia
Eyeless In Gaza are a Post-punk
musical duo of Martyn Bates and Peter Becker, based in Nuneaton
, Warwickshire
, England
. They have described their music as "veer[ing] crazily from filmic ambiance to rock and pop, industrial funk to avant-folk styles." Formed in 1980, the group went into hiatus in 1987 as Martyn Bates pursued a number of solo projects and collaborations, reemerging in 1993.
The name is a reference to the novel of the same name
by Aldous Huxley
. Bates has said he chose the name "for the sound of it.... I was reading the Huxley book when I met Pete.... It sounded perfectly nice." But Bates has also acknowledged an allusion to the "biblical myth" of Samson
, saying, "I feel attracted by religion
. I feel that people don’t pay enough attention to the spiritual side of their life; it is a very interesting side of the human psychism and it fascinates me." (Interview in Les Inrockuptibles, number 14, 1988)
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
musical duo of Martyn Bates and Peter Becker, based in Nuneaton
Nuneaton
Nuneaton is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. They have described their music as "veer[ing] crazily from filmic ambiance to rock and pop, industrial funk to avant-folk styles." Formed in 1980, the group went into hiatus in 1987 as Martyn Bates pursued a number of solo projects and collaborations, reemerging in 1993.
The name is a reference to the novel of the same name
Eyeless in Gaza
Eyeless in Gaza is a bestselling novel by Aldous Huxley, first published in 1936. The title originates from a phrase in John Milton's Samson Agonistes:The chapters of the book are not ordered chronologically...
by Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley
Aldous Leonard Huxley was an English writer and one of the most prominent members of the famous Huxley family. Best known for his novels including Brave New World and a wide-ranging output of essays, Huxley also edited the magazine Oxford Poetry, and published short stories, poetry, travel...
. Bates has said he chose the name "for the sound of it.... I was reading the Huxley book when I met Pete.... It sounded perfectly nice." But Bates has also acknowledged an allusion to the "biblical myth" of Samson
Samson
Samson, Shimshon ; Shamshoun or Sampson is the third to last of the Judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Tanakh ....
, saying, "I feel attracted by religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
. I feel that people don’t pay enough attention to the spiritual side of their life; it is a very interesting side of the human psychism and it fascinates me." (Interview in Les Inrockuptibles, number 14, 1988)
Albums
- Photographs as Memories , 1981 (CD reissue includes 7 bonus tracks from early singles)
- Caught in Flux, 1981 (original LP included bonus 5 track 12", "The Eyes Of Beautiful Losers", also included on CD reissue)
- Pale Hands I Loved So Well, 1982
- Drumming the Beating Heart, 1982 (CD issue (1996) also includes Pale Hands I Loved So Well)
- Rust Red September, 1983 (CD issue (1994) includes 6 bonus tracks)
- Back From the Rains, 1986 (CD issue (1989) includes 4 bonus tracks)
- Kodak Ghosts Run Amok-–Chronological Singles, etc., 1980-86, 1987 (compilation)
- Transience Blues, 1989 (compilation)
- Orange Ice & Wax Crayons, 1992 (unreleased material)
- Voice; The Best of Eyeless in Gaza, 1993 (compilation from Cherry Red years)
- Fabulous Library, 1993
- Saw You in Reminding Pictures, 1994
- Bitter Apples, 1995
- All Under the Leaves, the Leaves of Life, 1996
- Song of the Beautiful Wanton, 2000
- Sixth Sense-–The Singles Collection, 2002 (compilation)
- Home Produce—Country Bizarre, 2003 (w/ Lol CoxhillLol CoxhillLowen Coxhill, generally known as Lol Coxhill is a free improvising saxophonist and raconteur...
) - No Noise-–The Very Best of Eyeless In Gaza, 2005 (compilation)
- Summer Salt & Subway Sun, 2006
- Answer Song & Dance , 2010
EPs
- Kodak Ghosts Run Amok , 1980
- Invisibility, 1981
- Others, 1981
- For Edward (etc.), 1982 (cassette w/ Lol CoxhillLol CoxhillLowen Coxhill, generally known as Lol Coxhill is a free improvising saxophonist and raconteur...
) - New Risen, 1983
- Sun Bursts In, 1984
- Welcome Now, 1985
- Kiss the Rains Goodbye, 1986
- Streets I Ran, 1995 (5 track companion release to "Saw You In Reminding Pictures")
Videos
- Street Lamps n' Snow, 1994 (1982 concert in Le Havre)
- Saw You in Reminding Pictures, DVD 2005 (reissue of above video plus original promo videos for "Veil Like Calm" and "New Risen" and six tracks recorded live on the Isle Of Wight, 2004)
External links
- Eyeless in Gaza; official website
- [ Allmusic: Eyeless in Gaza]