Blatant Propaganda CD:

EYE - "Herd Under Social Hypnosis: 1993-1995" (2003) BPCD016

industrial e.b.m. cyberpunk propaganda collages

CD cover image

01. grave new world i) mkultra ii) the death of freedom 04:52 8-track 1994
02. not the key 04:52 8-track 1995
03. flickers (ode t.v.) 07:09 4-track 1994
04. dr. anderegg speaks 02:28 4-track 1994
05. splinters 05:45 2-track 1994
06. die zombie stomp 02:55 8-track 1994
07. head transplantation operation 00:38 8-track 1995
08. the vivisector 04:57 8-track 1995
09. passion 04:48 4-track 1994
10. active-in-it 04:58 8-track 1995
11. h.u.s.h. 05:17 8-track 1994
12. does this look like science to you? 05:25 4-track 1993
: : : : : extra bits & pieces : : : : :
13. etude 01:18 2-track 1993
14. love (turns) to hate (the boiling frog vs the new world order) 04:14 8-track 1994
15. scapegoat 01:57 4-track 1994
16. indie 02:54 4-track 1994
17. feed 02:41 4-track 1994
18. die zombie stomp - 1st rough demo 00:45 8-track 1993

Total = 68:21

EYE composed & recorded these tracks between 1993 & 1995. Tracks 1, 2, 6, 8, 9 and 11 were recorded at "Community Radio 2XX" Canberra, Australia. All other tracks were recorded at EYE's "Room 101" studio, Canberra, Australia.

Tracks 1 to 4, 6, 9, 11, 12 and 18 were originally released on the "Herd Under Social Hypnosis" cassette in May 1995. Around 500 copies of this cassette were either sold or sent to unsuspecting targets in 1995-96. It was the first release that EYE sent out for review and for radio airplay. Some of these tracks (most notably "Grave New World") received quite a bit of radio airplay in Australia, Europe and the USA. That might seem surprising now, being off a cassette, but that was before the age of CD burners.

Actually, "Grave New World" could be regarded as EYE's first "hit" ie. first song that was widely heard. It has re-appeared on over 5 compilation CDs since 1996. "Not the Key" and "Die Zombie Stomp" were other well-loved EYE tracks. "Die" having the intended dual use of the German & English words of that spelling. It was re-recorded, a little more clearly, in 1996 (it's on the "Aphazia" CDr). EYE think this original studio version has more punch to it though. As for the title track "H.U.S.H.", EYE greatly prefer the live version which appears on the "Aphazia" CDr. It has an energy and punch that is missing from this studio version. This song was greatly transformed in 1996 and re-appeared on the "Politics can be Fun" CD.

"Flickers..." is one of EYE's all-time fave tracks - though this 4-track demo was the only version ever recorded. "Does this look like Science...", despite it's muddyish sound quality, was also played on radio a fair bit. All of the dialogue was taken from video then to cassette and then to a 4-track recorder - and messed about with via effects units. Same can be said of "Dr. Anderegg Speaks". EYE did the best EYE could with basic gear - didn't have a (basic) sampler until 1996. "Splinters" is a piece that was used in the soundtrack for the 1994 "D.I.G.I.T." Theatre production in Canberra. Also included here is the first studio recording of "The Vivisector". It's pretty grungey. It was re-worked and re-recorded in 1996 with undistorted vocals and much less-dense instrumentation; giving the track much more 'room to breathe'. In 1998, a greatly different "All the People Killed by Drugs" version was composed and recorded for Europe's "Chain DLK" magazine. "Love to Hate" and "Active-in-it" were two of the first tracks recorded in EYE's Room 101 studio on a rented digital 8-track. "Active-in-it" later evolved into "Aktifinit" and "Action=life".

"Passion" features samples from a docco about tantric meditation (ie. the rather ecstatic "whole body orgasm" noises from breathing exercises - just so you know they're not from a porno ;-) In many ways, "Passion" could be considered the first E.L.F. track. (EYE's dancier sibling project). Tracks 13,15,16 and 17 are instrumentals that were never completed ie. lyrics were never scribbled though EYE did have plans to. There was spare room on this CDr so here they are.

PRICE:

SOLD OUT, Sorry! To be re-issued.

REVIEWS:

"Absolutely thrilling . . . Exciting and different." Lord Litter, disc-jockey on the Europe-wide Radio Marabu, Germany, 1996.

"Bill Gibson's nightmares, if he'd watched too many X-files . . . be ready for anything with EYE, because listening to them may not be safe!" Aether Sanctum web-site, Perth, 1997.

"... These wild and subversive Australians, Eye, also have their own subversive information service. Eye succinctly describe their music as "propaganda-laden-cyber-neo-industrial-electronic-body-music". What we have on "Herd Under Social Hypnosis is noisy, abrasive, industrial dance akin to Nine Inch Nails and Skinny Puppy. Cut up and modified samples of propaganda are cleverly interwoven into their music creating an abrasive, industrial, frenzied and powerful media tool... eight tracks of truly original and innovative music. Highly recommended!" The Third Half, Scotland, 1997.

"... intelligent, confronting... harsh and powerful, with fascinating samples... it really does make Nine Inch Nails sound lame... a sly humour at work... an alternate perception of the world you live in, as well as some uncompromisingly industrial sounds..." Modern Movement zine, Brisbane, 1996.

"...They're very clever. Excellent programming . . . great noises and riffs..." Australian DIGITAL magazine, 1996.

"... startling on several levels... very good at what they do... the cassette "Herd Under Social Hypnosis" is characterised by a variety which is absent from too many commercially available electro-industrial releases. . . EYE's music is unashamedly ideological, but in a way which complements, rather than detracting from, the songs. Causes which are taken up on the cassette include distaste at modern citizens' willingness to abandon individual thought to the corporate machine and tv culture, and opposition to vivisection and society's reliance on prescription pharmaceuticals." Peter Stills (aka the office goth), Woroni, student newspaper of the Australian National University, 1996.

"... aggressive Electronic Body Music attacks.... professionally produced... the songs dwell inside your mind with their electronic tripping character, before they are spread all inside your body and soul!" Fight Amnesia zine, Germany, 1996.

". . I'm born again, I had no idea that anything THIS radical was going on down under... Very hi-tech sound here, not a didgeridoo in sight, some beautiful synth sounds, muchly fast tekbeats, Gary Numan on helium vocals, propaganda-laden politico lyrics. Tis manic teknoid indeed, very weird and quirky, these guys have a sense of humour ... some utterly amazing sound processing, has to be heard to be believed, trust me. Grungy guitar riff, just like metal, this is "the Vivisector", sounds like Robert Palmer on heavy tekdanz, incredible! ... something very psychotronic about all this... Clever and megainventive, so much in it... out of this world sounds... classy, really have a style all their own. Love them squidgy bass seqs, analogue sounds with much VCF travelling... No, this band are NOT a teknoid dance band at all, that's just the first element you come across... and it misleads you...completely! The most original band I've heard from Australia in all my life, brilliant!" Mick Magic, Music & Elsewhere Newsletter vol. 11 no.1, U.K., 1998.