Going To Space with The Membranes
(insane in...)
The Membranes
"We have gone out on a limb and people came with us."
(John Robb)
Portrait; John Robb of Membranes, September 2016, Manchester
with kind permission of Nidge Luhg Sanders (Trust A Fox Photography)
One of the UK's original, key, punk rock bands took off on their own tangent, then left the planet for a couple of decades. Membranes made their TARDIS-like return when both My Bloody Valentine, then Shellac requested them for ATP Festivals appearances. Reborn, their dark sonics were such a hit that they won a massive additional following to their cause. All of this on their own terms, with noise as beauty, Membranes cosmically add science (and even their own choir) to punk's equations.
The mind blowing 2015 album, 'Dark Matter'/'Dark Energy' is an audacious and intergalactic assault of intense music experiences which has breathed new life into the words “alternative” and “rock”. Astounded reviews world wide ensured it's status as an independent Album Of The Year. The Membranes are currently working on their next long player, and are about to embark on November / December 2016 tour dates with Sisters Of Mercy, The Wolfhounds and Folk Devils.
Stars of a forthcoming dark cartoon, the band will headline their own Manchester festival in 2017 as part of their uniqulture theatrics, but you never know what they'll do next. An incredible journey, the next chapter kicks off on 4th November with album release ; 'Inner Space'/'Outer Space'. ('Dark Matter'/'Dark Energy' remixes by many eager, influential musicians) and a live show at Brixton Academy with Killing Joke.
The Membranes front man, John Robb, is one of alternative culture's national treasures and a favoured spokesperson. Photographer, Nidge Luhg Sanders has his finger on the pulse of a North West Of England which is gearing up for another heyday, and was behind the scenes at a forthcoming TV show, being made in Manchester, where John was a guest. More about that in the future, but in the mean time, we caught up with the energy force that is Mr Robb, and asked how things are going;
John Robb; “2016 has been real trip for Membranes. We have played all over Europe. Played every festival. We have gone out on a limb and people came with us.”
Music fans and fellow musicians alike have definitely done that. Membranes have enjoyed well received appearances at Glastonbury, Green Man, Beautiful Days, Rebellion, Rockaway Beach and global gigs have seen them welcomed warmly. They've become one of the live circuit's most in demand live acts at a time when punky rock with attitude, whether established or brand new, is exactly what we need right now. So what's next?
JR : “The Inner Space/Outer Space’ remix album is about to be released - 2017 will see a new album and some big gigs with our 25 piece choir…stay tuned…”
DIY is shaping awoken future into a galaxy of ideas and as mentioned, ‘Inner Space/Outer Space’ is harnessing new imaginations. It is a remix LP featuring the whole of ‘Dark Matter/Dark Energy' remixes by. Manic Street Preachers, Clint Mansell of Pop Will Eat Itself, Mark Lanegan and many more. This is one of AltCulture's reference points being re-imagined into a big bang genre-clash from the last few centuries, to create another.
A relevant antidote to the chaotic times that we are trying to live through, Inner Space/Outer Space’, (which also features remixes by Youth, Killing Joke, Therapy? Reverend And The Makers, Fun Da Mental and Einsturzende Neubauten) stretches the songs into new shapes. Membranes loved this, as they never play the same song in the same way themselves.
The new music and shows are wowing the crowds and media to splutter superlatives, yet through all this, The Membranes remain in their own, boundary free, parallel dimension.
Their surreal version of unique has inspired a feature length animation being made about them. Fitting, especially after 2015's Universe Explained gig where Higgs Boson scientists explained the universe to the capacity audience, before the band played. Due to demand, Universe Explained will be a festival in Manchester on 29th April 2017, a year which already needs the dark matter of their dark energy at its most innovative and interesting live music events.
Get this limited release (double CD/vinyl) release via Louder Than War Records.
Manic Street Preachers ‘The Universe Explodes Into A Billion Photons Of Pure White Light’
Mark Lanegan ‘ Dark Energy’
Clint Mansell ‘The Universe Explodes Into A Billion Photons Of Pure White Light’
Godflesh ‘21st Century Man’
Keith Levene ‘Dark Matter’
Reverend And The Makers ‘Space Junk dub’
Phillip Boa ‘Do The Supernova’
Mark Stewart (the Pop Group) Space Junk
Youth (Killing Joke) Hail To The Lovers
Carter Tutti ‘In The Graveyard’
Therapy ‘Hail To The Lovers’
Die Fliedermaus ‘The Breathing Song'
Therapy ‘Hail To The Lovers'
Tunnelmental ‘Money Is Dust’
In The Nursey ‘5776 (The breathing Song)’
Inca Babies ‘In The Graveyard’
Barfak ‘Magic Eye (To See The Sky)’
Alexander Hacke (Einsturzende Neubauten) ‘Hum Of The Universe’
Membranes – LIVE
Nov 4th : Fri : Brixton Academy with Killing Joke
Nov 11th : Breaking Barriers Festival in Belgium
Nov 18th : Westgarth Social club (near Middlesborough)
Nov 19th : Norwich UEA with Sisters Of Mercy
Nov 22nd : Birmingham O2 Institute with Sisters Of Mercy
Nov 23rd : Bristol O2 Academy with Sisters Of Mercy
Nov 25th : Liverpool Olympia with Sisters Of Mercy
Nov 26th : Sheffield University Foundry with Sisters Of Mercy
Dec 3rd : Preston with The Wolfhounds and Folk Devils
with mid December Italian shows and January Scottish dates being confirmed.
April 29th : Universe Explained Festival, Manchester; Membranes, Choir, Dub Sex, visuals, more
Video: 'Do The Supernova'