Clock DVA — Digr

17Works

35Releases

71For sale

Liner notes

About Clock DVA

Adi Newton formed the first line up of Clock DVA in 1978, after his departure from [[artist:247309]] together with Judd Turner (ex-Block Opposite) but soon expanded the group. The term 'DVA,' [meaning 'two' in Russian] was inspired by Anthony Burgess' satirical science fiction novel, 'A Clockwork Orange.').

Originally focusing on experimental music inspired by SF and the occult and later reflecting the burgeoning industrial and electronic music that had begun seeping into underground music scenes on both sides of the Atlantic. After a handful of privately produced cassettes (most of which have since been collected in the 'Horology' boxed sets) the band released what they would call their first proper album on Cassette via Throbbing Gristle's [[label:9095]] label.

'White Souls In Black Suits' features Adi Newton (vocals, violin, EMS Synthi E, tapes), Steven James "Judd" Turner (bass, vocals, treatments, rhythm machine), and the original guitarist David J. Hammond (guitar, treatments). Two additional musicians had been added to the line up; Roger Quail (drums) and Charlie Collins (saxophones, flute, and percussion). The first formalised DVA line-up also featured Simon Mark Elliot-Kemp on synthesiser who had already left by then.

In 1981 David J Hammond left and guitarist Paul Widger joined. The following album, 'Thirst' was produced by Ken Thomas and released through the independent record label Fetish (and was cited by the Journalist Paul Morley as one of the great albums of the 80's). After 'Thirst', Newton & Turner decided to take Clock DVA into another direction and parted company with Qual, Collins and Widger, who consequently formed the group [[artist:277331]]. Tragedy struck then with the death of co-founder Steven James Turner.

By 1983, with Newton as the only remaining original member aided by John Valentine Carruthers (guitar), Paul Browse (saxophone), Dean Dennis (bass) and Nick Sanderson (drums). A brace of singles then preceded 'Advantage', their album for Polydor Records. After the accompanying tour Carruthers and Sanderson departed, leaving Clock DVA to continue as a trio.

Although it would be five years before another Clock DVA album, Newton remained busy with his audio visual conceptual project [[artist:The Anti Group]] (TAGC) which researched and developed ambisonics and psychoacoustics through experimental uses of frequencies and ambient acousmatic sound pieces, alongside visual and conceptual text pieces. The album, 'The Delivery' (a live recorded soundtrack album for a TAGC 16 mm film) a series of EP's and the acclaimed ambisonic album 'Digitaria' plus the pioneering 'Meontological Research Recordings ' were released.

In 1988 'Buried Dreams' was recorded, utilising the first digital sampling synthesisers and computer sequencing which Newton had been experimenting with in TAGC, released in 1989 by Interfisch, and often hailed as the group's masterpiece. By the time of 1991's live mini album 'Transitional Voices', Browse had left to form [[artist:1140]] and been replaced by Robert E. Baker.

DVA left Interfisch and released the 1992 album 'Man Amplified and the instrumental companion 'Digital Soundtracks' in 1992 and after Dean Dennis' departure 'Sign' in 1993 on the Italian Record Label Contempo along with various singles and reissues. In 1994 a compilation of single tracks from 1988-1993 in alternate versions appeared after Contempo's demise and closed the 2nd chapter.

After 15 years of silence, Adi Newton reactivated Clock DVA.

Since 2011 a new line-up (feat. Maurizio "TeZ" Martinucci) has performed at major independent electronic festivals and venues throughout Europe. The 'Horology' series of vinyl box sets compiling early cassette-only material began in 2012 (with three volumes released as of 2019).

A new archival album, 'Post-Sign' was released in 2013 with recordings made in 1994/95 by Newton solo as an instrumental companion album to 'Sign', which had remained unreleased due to problems after Contempo's demise. 'Clock 2', a printed aluminium USB Smart Media Card in printed metal box was composed with TeZ and released in 2014 with the first new material (plus remixes) and several videos by [[artist:3925208]] and also including a 48-page PDF booklet through Newton's own label Anterior Research Media Communications.

Since then [[artist:744799]] aka TeZ is a constant member of Clock DVA and Adi Newton's ArmCom teamed up with the Italian label [[label:1376886]]. Adi Newton also reactivated TAGC and keeps publishing broad minded solo and collaboration works.

From the Discogs profile

Discography