For over twenty years now, New Zealand’s The Dead C have charted sonic excursions deep into the musical unknown, providing a daunting and sea-sick map for other noise welders interested in traveling realms beyond the well trampled “Song”. Formed in 1986, in an already prolific and vibrant New Zealand scene that centered around the South Island town of Dunedin, The Dead C quickly set themselves apart from their peers by their fierce adherence to an improvisational and disorienting take on music. With Bruce Russell on guitar, Michael Morley on vocals and guitar, and Robbie Yeats playing drums, these young, misfit musicians quickly charged themselves with, “finding a new musical language”.
By the 1980’s, New Zealand was full of musical jewels, and many of these bands such as The Clean, Verlaines, and The Bats centered around the island’s prolific record label, Flying Nun. New Zealand music had been infused with a good deal of creative energy unleashed by punk rock’s liberating effect, as well as the creative possibilities opened up by the 4 track recorder. Fitting right in with New Zealand’s do-it-yourself kind of vibe, punk rock and the 4 track were crucial for allowing musicians to pursue their visions in their own way. The 4 track would become a central tool in The Dead C’s efforts, allowing them to follow their idiosynchratic vision without contaminating effects from record labels, producers, or management; and, thus, allowing the band to record and release an album for nearly every year of their existence!
From the start these three young musician’s work seemed just outside the musical. Because each of the three members had been mostly self taught, there was a looseness to their approach that allowed them to use their instruments and musical understanding in new ways. In addition, committing themselves to an improvisational approach meant each musical session set out into uncharted waters without a distinct destination! The results, from the start, were startling and compelling, if not also chaotic and raw. Realizing they were onto something, Bruce Russell used his work experience and contacts at Flying Nun to have The Dead C’s first album DR503 released by the label; while also taking his experience at Flying Nun to start his own label effort, Xpressway, a label which would go onto support important New Zealand musicians such as Alastair Galbraith, Graeme Jefferies, and Sandra Bell. Russell’s time at Flying Nun had also opened up his knowledge to the rich, world-wide interest in independent and experimental music, supported by a cross-continental network of ‘zines and small labels. While too noisey and raggedy for a New Zealand scene that was tending towards a psychedelic and fuzzy pop, The Dead C’s more extreme visions caught the interest of art minded listeners around the world, and by 1990 the band had found a new home on Phillies left of field label, Siltbreeze.
The 90’s would find the band reaching new audiences while continuing to harness their musical relationship, a relationship that has endured to the present, and one whose closeness and understanding has given these musicians the trust and facility to dive into the unknown while re-emerging with compelling musical findings. Such albums as Harsh 70’s Reality, Trapdoor Fucking Exit, and The Whitehouse have provided much evidence for the vitality of an experimental approach to music making, and in so doing have helped carve out important niche genres such as lo-fi, drone, and noise.
Since signing with US label Ba Da Bing in 2006, The Dead C have put out two albums, 2007’s Future Artists, and 2008’s Secret Earth. In addition, reissues of important work such as DR503 /The Sun Stabbed EP as well as Eusa Kills with Helen Said This, have been put out by Ba Da Bing in conjunction with JagJaguwar. 2008’s Secret Earth still finds the band pushing their efforts deep beyond the boundaries of ordinary music making, and The Dead C have indeed found an often disturbing and disorienting language to tell their tales of what lie in those forboding realms beyond the safe and known confines of the “Song”.
Live Eye Tv had the great pleasure to catch up with The Dead C during their rare 2008 tour of the states. What follows is an intimate interview with the band as they reflect upon twenty years of music making, as well as a chance to see this band do what they do best…make a helluva racket!
