User:Richard.richo/Splintered

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Splintered, formed when Fourth Dimension Records and Grim Humour fanzine's Richard (Richo) Johnson's previous band, Playground, fell apart in 1989, were a UK-based experimental-rock group who drew from post-punk, industrial, psychedelia and drone music. Along with other ex-Playground members, Paul Wright (bass) and Paul Dudeney (drums, metal percussion), and James Machin (guitar), and an intention to push the previous band's noise excursions to denser realms, they quickly picked up the interest of several underground record labels and garnered some attention as part of a subculture of groups from the UK who operated in a similar sphere, such as Terminal Cheesecake, Skullflower, Ramleh and Godflesh. Utilising an array of other instruments, samples, multi-layered guitars, powerful rhythms and often submerged vocals that were either shouted or appeared like cries of anguish, Splintered created a huge din that soon became their own and gradually developed over the course of the ensuing eight years before they went into some kind of hiatus. Other members joined the group along the way, such as Steve Pittis (Band of Pain, Dirter Promotions) and Colin Bradley (Dual), plus the first album featured Stefx (Headbutt) on drums when Paul Dudeney failed to make the recording sessions. In 1997, James and the two Pauls decided they needed a break and could not face a European tour arranged for the same year. Richo, aided by Colin Bradley (tabletop guitar/electronics), assembled a final line-up for this that consisted of Stuart Carter (Heroin, Sarcasm) on bass, Hassni Malik (dROME, The Vitamin B12) on guitar and James Hodson (later of Faust) on drums, percussion and flute. Once over, and following the release of another album in 1998, the group once again dissolved and during the course of the next two years got replaced by a new group, Theme, which consisted of Richo, Stuart and Hassni. Theme continue to this day and have a third album out on Israel's HCB Recordings in Autumn 2009.

Side Projects

Splintered were involved in several other projects along the way as well. These were usually activated by Richo and Steve Pittis, plus often involved other members of the group as well as others. These projects were Husk, A.S.P., Slugbait and Band Of Pain. All of them had releases out, on both Steve Pittis and Richo's respective labels and others such as Ralf Wehowsky's Selektion, Meeuw Muzak and Cold Spring Records. Band Of Pain then became the main concern for Steve Pittis and continues to record to this day, with a new album scheduled for 2010.

Splintered Discography

Splintered released many records and appeared on various compilations on labels from Europe and the USA, but here are the main releases.

ALBUMS

Parapraxis LP/CD/MC (Intellectual Convulsion, SPASM4, France, 1992).

The Judas Cradle CD (Dirter Promotions, DPROMCD17, 1993).

Noumena LP (Dirter Promotions, DPROMLP33, 1995).

Moraine LP (Suggestion/No Risk No Fun, SUG013, Germany). Includes Jim O'Rourke source material.

Splintered/RLW eponymous CD (Black Rose Recordings, BRCD96-1005, 1996). Collaborative album with Germany's Ralf Wehowsky.

Noumena CD reissue (Amanita, Suggestion, Fourth Dimension, AMA41/SUG16/FDCD60, France/Germany/UK, 1998).

SINGLES

Nothing (Shock, SX09, 1990).

Pigmeat (Remix) (Fourth Dimension, FDS26, 1991).

Mouth Clamp (Remix) (Fourth Dimension, FDS25, 1991). Split single with Cindytalk, limited to 500 hand numbered copies and sold with Richo's Grim Humour magazine.

Link e.p. (Dying Earth Europe, DE001, 1991).

Head Wound (Drunken Fish, DF01, USA, 1992). Split with Back Off Cupid.

Skin Shift split CD single (Noiseville, N31, USA, 1992). Split with Headbutt.

Godsend (Dirter Promotions, 7DPROMS13, 1993).

Hilt (Pitsbull, PBR009, Belgium, 1994).

Comparatively Mainstream e.p. (Aquese Recordings, AQR703, 1994). Features Death In June/NER affiliates Somewhere In Europe on 'S.H.C.'

Kill the Body... (live) (Fourth Dimension, FDS29, 1994). Split release with No Tomorrow Charlie.

Smokescreen e.p. (Suggestion, 009, Germany, 1996).

Martian Sunset split-10" (Fourth Dimension, FDTEN53, 1997).

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