Modwheelmood
Encyclopedia
Modwheelmood is an Electronic
-Alternative
band from Los Angeles, California formed by Alessandro Cortini
(part of the Nine Inch Nails live lineup
from 2005 to 2008) and former Abandoned Pools
guitarist Pelle Hillström in 1998.
Modwheelmood have released five EPs
; ?
(released in 2003), Enemies & Immigrants
(released on Buddyhead in 2006), Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1
(released in 2007), Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 2
(released in 2008), and Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 3
(released in 2008). As well as Things Will Change
, the companion remix
disc to Enemies & Immigrants (released in 2007). In March 2000, Modwheelmood was awarded the Artist Development Industry Choice at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood and were "honored with the inclusion of their songs "Anyone", "Sleep" and "Headgames" on three different Musicians Jams promotional CDs." Two of these songs, "Anyone" and "Sleep", would later appear on Modwheelmood's first EP, ?.
Subsequently, much of Enemies & Immigrants was conceived and recorded by Alessandro Cortini "in hotel rooms across the world" while touring with Nine Inch Nails throughout 2005 to 2006 in support of their 2005 album With Teeth
. However, it is important to note that Hillström has made equal contribution to the EP. He has stated that there are "decidedly more acoustics on this EP than their first," to create "more of a lush, earthly, percussive sound." In addition, Hillström adds that the EP was conceived with the objective of "making music that meant something to us." The release of Enemies & Immigrants was followed by a West Coast tour of the U.S. with Mellowdrone
and Monsters Are Waiting
. While Enemies & Immigrants
was released on Buddyhead Records
, Modwheelmood is currently unsigned to a record label
.
Recently, Modwheelmood released the EP
Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1
as a digital-only release on the December 25, 2007. This was followed by the digital release of Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 2 in February 2008. The next release, Pearls to Pigs, Vol.3, was released in July 2008, after problems with mixing and mastering caused it to be delayed. In addition, Modwheelmood have remixed Nine Inch Nails
' "The Great Destroyer", which appears on the remix album Year Zero Remixed
. and Ladytron
's song "Ghosts" from their latest album Velocifero
. The remix appeared on the Ghost single.
In 2008, Modwheelmood remixed "Adore Adore" and "Beautiful Lie" of South-African artist Yoav
, for the EP
Charmed and Rearranged.
In 2008, on December 13, Alessandro left Nine Inch Nails
after 4 years in the band. On the Modwheelmood website, he explains that he left the band to "move onto new things," showing his ambition to make something new with Modwheelmood.
Beginning in June 2009, coinciding with their West Coast tour, Modwheelmood released Pearls to Pigs
physically as a CD, limited-edition vinyl, and on download cards sold at concerts. The new version of Pearls to Pigs includes an extra track, "Happily Delayed", and new accompanying artwork. The digital download of the 2009 version of the album also includes demos and b-sides ("betas") of the tracks included on Pearls to Pigs and an accompanying PDF with artwork and the bits from the band members about the genesis' and recording of each track on the album.
, Cat Stevens
, Francesco De Gregori
, Depeche Mode
, Alva Noto
and Brian Eno
. Hillström began developing an interest for music and composition by "playing saxophone in jazz orchestras in the afternoon and learning Iron Maiden riffs in the evening" and by moving to the U.S. to satisfy his "desire to play music for a living." Hillström's guitar playing style has been compared to that of Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood
.
, sparse, raw and ambient guitars and soft, falsetto
-like vocals, Modwheelmood have often been compared with Radiohead
. However, critics of Modwheelmood often assert that their style is unique. In a review of Enemies & Immigrants
, Allmusic's Jason MacNeil states that Modwheelmood's electronic style "seem[s] to come from a slightly different angle than bands like Nine Inch Nails
and Depeche Mode
." Prefix Magazine's Chris Sahl, however, is more critical, stating that "Modwheelmood paradoxically sounds like no other band and is almost entirely derivative."
Remixes
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
-Alternative
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band from Los Angeles, California formed by Alessandro Cortini
Alessandro Cortini
Alessandro Cortini is an Italian musician best known for touring and recording with the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails from 2004 to 2008. Currently, Cortini is also the frontman for the Los Angeles based electronic-alternative band SONOIO. In addition, he was a touring member of The...
(part of the Nine Inch Nails live lineup
Nine Inch Nails live performances
Nine Inch Nails, an industrial rock band fronted by Trent Reznor, did various live performances throughout the world, including tours in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, Japan, and China. While Reznor controls the creative and musical direction of Nine Inch Nails in-studio, the...
from 2005 to 2008) and former Abandoned Pools
Abandoned Pools
Tommy Walter is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his Alternative rock band, Abandoned Pools, as well as being the former bassist and one of the founding members of Eels....
guitarist Pelle Hillström in 1998.
History
Modwheelmood formed in 1998, initially as a project entitled Gift? , which later developed into a full music project after Cortini's experimentation with "heavy loops and haunting synth passes integrated with melodic songwriting" and through collaboration with Hillström. Modwheelmood are named after the mod wheel, a controller typically mounted on the left hand of the keyboard.Modwheelmood have released five EPs
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
; ?
? (Modwheelmood EP)
-External links:* [ Information on ? at Allmusic]...
(released in 2003), Enemies & Immigrants
Enemies & Immigrants
Enemies & Immigrants is an EP by Modwheelmood released in 2006 on Buddyhead Records.-Track listing:#Things Will Change - 4:08#Going Nowhere - 4:30#Delay Lama - 4:05#As I Stand Here - 4:21#Money For Good - 3:56#Yesterday - 4:06...
(released on Buddyhead in 2006), Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1
Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1
Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1 is an EP and the 4th release by Electronic-Alternative Rock band Modwheelmood. It was released digitally only on December 25, 2007. This was the first of a series of releases, the next being Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 2, which was released in February, 2008. The album was mixed by...
(released in 2007), Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 2
Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 2
Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 2 is an EP and the 5th release by Electronic-Alternative Rock band Modwheelmood. It was released digitally only on February 26, 2008. This is a second of a series of releases, the release date of the next EP is June 2008...
(released in 2008), and Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 3
Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 3
Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 3 is an EP and the 6th release by Electronic-Alternative Rock band Modwheelmood. It was released digitally via iTunes and Amazon on July 17, 2008...
(released in 2008). As well as Things Will Change
Things Will Change
Things Will Change is the companion remix disc to Enemies & Immigrants by Modwheelmood released in 2007. The proceeds from the sale of this album are given to the Los Angeles based charity Create Now, a charity that deals with assisting and helping the lives of high-risk and at-risk youth through...
, the companion remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
disc to Enemies & Immigrants (released in 2007). In March 2000, Modwheelmood was awarded the Artist Development Industry Choice at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood and were "honored with the inclusion of their songs "Anyone", "Sleep" and "Headgames" on three different Musicians Jams promotional CDs." Two of these songs, "Anyone" and "Sleep", would later appear on Modwheelmood's first EP, ?.
Subsequently, much of Enemies & Immigrants was conceived and recorded by Alessandro Cortini "in hotel rooms across the world" while touring with Nine Inch Nails throughout 2005 to 2006 in support of their 2005 album With Teeth
With Teeth
With Teeth is the fourth studio album by American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails, released on May 3, 2005, by Interscope Records. The album was produced by Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor and long-time collaborator Alan Moulder. It was Reznor's first original studio album since The...
. However, it is important to note that Hillström has made equal contribution to the EP. He has stated that there are "decidedly more acoustics on this EP than their first," to create "more of a lush, earthly, percussive sound." In addition, Hillström adds that the EP was conceived with the objective of "making music that meant something to us." The release of Enemies & Immigrants was followed by a West Coast tour of the U.S. with Mellowdrone
Mellowdrone
-Biography:Mellowdrone consists of founding member Jonathan Bates, Tony Dematteo, and Brian Borg. The band's music encompasses a range of styles from lo-fi, indie rock and experimental. Mellowdrone's music has appeared on several television shows, including Project Runway, Six Feet Under, and Cane....
and Monsters Are Waiting
Monsters Are Waiting
Monsters Are Waiting... is an American indie-rock band, from Echo Park, California. The members of the band are: Annalee Fery , Andrew Clark , Jonathan Siebels , and Eric Gardner . They began in Los Angeles in 2005, playing at local parties and clubs. In October 2005, they released a self-titled...
. While Enemies & Immigrants
Enemies & Immigrants
Enemies & Immigrants is an EP by Modwheelmood released in 2006 on Buddyhead Records.-Track listing:#Things Will Change - 4:08#Going Nowhere - 4:30#Delay Lama - 4:05#As I Stand Here - 4:21#Money For Good - 3:56#Yesterday - 4:06...
was released on Buddyhead Records
Buddyhead Records
Buddyhead is a music "webzine" and independent record label formed by Travis Keller in the summer of 1997 in Hollywood, California. Keller is notorious for outspoken criticism of popular culture and the music industry...
, Modwheelmood is currently unsigned to a record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
.
Recently, Modwheelmood released the EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1
Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1
Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1 is an EP and the 4th release by Electronic-Alternative Rock band Modwheelmood. It was released digitally only on December 25, 2007. This was the first of a series of releases, the next being Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 2, which was released in February, 2008. The album was mixed by...
as a digital-only release on the December 25, 2007. This was followed by the digital release of Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 2 in February 2008. The next release, Pearls to Pigs, Vol.3, was released in July 2008, after problems with mixing and mastering caused it to be delayed. In addition, Modwheelmood have remixed Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
' "The Great Destroyer", which appears on the remix album Year Zero Remixed
Year Zero Remixed
-Vinyl:-Critical reception:Year Zero Remixed received generally positive reviews. Virgin Media's review described the album as "a real cornucopia of treats" and "Highly recommended." Pitchfork Media's review, however, criticized the album, writing that it "lacks cohesion and is predictably...
. and Ladytron
Ladytron
Ladytron are an English electronic band formed in 1999 in Liverpool, Merseyside. The group consists of Helen Marnie , Mira Aroyo , Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu .Their sound blends electropop with New Wave and shoegazing elements. Ladytron described their sound as "electronic pop"...
's song "Ghosts" from their latest album Velocifero
Velocifero
Velocifero received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 73, based on 26 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews"....
. The remix appeared on the Ghost single.
In 2008, Modwheelmood remixed "Adore Adore" and "Beautiful Lie" of South-African artist Yoav
Yoav (musician)
Yoav is a singer-songwriter of Israeli-Romanian descent, raised in South Africa whose debut album Charmed And Strange was released in early 2008. Yoav's music is purely based on his own vocals and acoustic guitar, which he uses to create electronica-style beats with his hands...
, for the EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Charmed and Rearranged.
In 2008, on December 13, Alessandro left Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
after 4 years in the band. On the Modwheelmood website, he explains that he left the band to "move onto new things," showing his ambition to make something new with Modwheelmood.
Beginning in June 2009, coinciding with their West Coast tour, Modwheelmood released Pearls to Pigs
Pearls to Pigs
Pearls to Pigs is an LP and the 7th release by Electronic-Alternative Rock band Modwheelmood. It was released as an amalgam of the first three Pearls to Pigs EPs with a new track, "Happily Delayed", on June 2, 2009 at the first show of their West Coast tour in Scottsdale, Arizona...
physically as a CD, limited-edition vinyl, and on download cards sold at concerts. The new version of Pearls to Pigs includes an extra track, "Happily Delayed", and new accompanying artwork. The digital download of the 2009 version of the album also includes demos and b-sides ("betas") of the tracks included on Pearls to Pigs and an accompanying PDF with artwork and the bits from the band members about the genesis' and recording of each track on the album.
Influences
Both Cortini and Hillström have had influences which have underpinned their musical decisions and concepts. Cortini was encouraged by his family at an early age to develop an interest in music, and prominent influences of his include The BeatlesThe Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, Cat Stevens
Cat Stevens
Yusuf Islam , commonly known by his former stage name Cat Stevens, is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, educator, philanthropist, and prominent convert to Islam....
, Francesco De Gregori
Francesco De Gregori
Francesco De Gregori is an Italian singer-songwriter. He is popularly known as "Il Principe Poeta" , a nickname referring to the elegance of his lyrics.-1970s:...
, Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
, Alva Noto
Alva Noto
Alva Noto is a stage name of sound artist Carsten Nicolai who uses art and music as complementary tools to create microscopic views of creative processes. Another alias he uses is Noto...
and Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
. Hillström began developing an interest for music and composition by "playing saxophone in jazz orchestras in the afternoon and learning Iron Maiden riffs in the evening" and by moving to the U.S. to satisfy his "desire to play music for a living." Hillström's guitar playing style has been compared to that of Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood
Jonny Greenwood
Jonathan Richard Guy "Jonny" Greenwood is an English musician and composer, best known as a member of the English rock band Radiohead. Greenwood is a multi-instrumentalist, but serves mainly as lead guitarist and keyboard player. In addition to guitar and keyboard, he plays viola, harmonica,...
.
Musical characteristics
Buddyhead Records described Modwheelmood's sound as "alternative pop electronica" while also being "a stimulating departure from the typical laptop based bands who label themselves as 'electronica'." Due to their use of analog synthsSynthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, sparse, raw and ambient guitars and soft, falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
-like vocals, Modwheelmood have often been compared with Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
. However, critics of Modwheelmood often assert that their style is unique. In a review of Enemies & Immigrants
Enemies & Immigrants
Enemies & Immigrants is an EP by Modwheelmood released in 2006 on Buddyhead Records.-Track listing:#Things Will Change - 4:08#Going Nowhere - 4:30#Delay Lama - 4:05#As I Stand Here - 4:21#Money For Good - 3:56#Yesterday - 4:06...
, Allmusic's Jason MacNeil states that Modwheelmood's electronic style "seem[s] to come from a slightly different angle than bands like Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
and Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
." Prefix Magazine's Chris Sahl, however, is more critical, stating that "Modwheelmood paradoxically sounds like no other band and is almost entirely derivative."
Discography
- 2003: ?? (Modwheelmood EP)-External links:* [ Information on ? at Allmusic]...
(EP) - 2006: Enemies & ImmigrantsEnemies & ImmigrantsEnemies & Immigrants is an EP by Modwheelmood released in 2006 on Buddyhead Records.-Track listing:#Things Will Change - 4:08#Going Nowhere - 4:30#Delay Lama - 4:05#As I Stand Here - 4:21#Money For Good - 3:56#Yesterday - 4:06...
(EP) - 2007: Things Will ChangeThings Will ChangeThings Will Change is the companion remix disc to Enemies & Immigrants by Modwheelmood released in 2007. The proceeds from the sale of this album are given to the Los Angeles based charity Create Now, a charity that deals with assisting and helping the lives of high-risk and at-risk youth through...
(The companion remix disc to Enemies & Immigrants, released digitally only) - 2007: Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1 is an EP and the 4th release by Electronic-Alternative Rock band Modwheelmood. It was released digitally only on December 25, 2007. This was the first of a series of releases, the next being Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 2, which was released in February, 2008. The album was mixed by...
(released digitally only) - 2008: Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 2Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 2Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 2 is an EP and the 5th release by Electronic-Alternative Rock band Modwheelmood. It was released digitally only on February 26, 2008. This is a second of a series of releases, the release date of the next EP is June 2008...
(released digitally only) - 2008: Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 3Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 3Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 3 is an EP and the 6th release by Electronic-Alternative Rock band Modwheelmood. It was released digitally via iTunes and Amazon on July 17, 2008...
(released digitally only) - 2009: Pearls to PigsPearls to PigsPearls to Pigs is an LP and the 7th release by Electronic-Alternative Rock band Modwheelmood. It was released as an amalgam of the first three Pearls to Pigs EPs with a new track, "Happily Delayed", on June 2, 2009 at the first show of their West Coast tour in Scottsdale, Arizona...
Remixes
- 2007: "The Great Destroyer" by Nine Inch Nails on Year Zero RemixedYear Zero Remixed-Vinyl:-Critical reception:Year Zero Remixed received generally positive reviews. Virgin Media's review described the album as "a real cornucopia of treats" and "Highly recommended." Pitchfork Media's review, however, criticized the album, writing that it "lacks cohesion and is predictably...
- 2008: "Ghosts" by Ladytron on Ghosts EP
- 2008: "Adore Adore" & "Beautiful Lie" by Yoav on "Charmed and Rearranged EP"
External links
- modwheelmood.com – official website
- modwheelmood.com/forum/index.php – official forums
- Time Square article on Alessandro Cortini's contributions to NIN and Modwheelmood