Pan sonic
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Pan sonic is a Finnish experimental / electronica music duo, consisting of members Mika Vainio and Ilpo Väisänen.
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About
Formed in 1993, with extra member Sami Salo (who later left the group), they now operate from a base in Barcelona to escape the long Finnish winters. Originally, the band was called Panasonic, but the corporation of the same name discovered this and threatened legal action unless it changed. The conflict was resolved, and duo removed the 'a' from their name altogether to become 'Pan sonic'. The missing 'a' still lives on as the title of their 1999 album.
Pan sonic cite their influences from the formative early 1980s, with industrial acts like Throbbing Gristle, Einstürzende Neubauten and Suicide to reggae, hip-hop and dub. Vainio often remarks that their music is a merger of these two schools of music; taking the harsh and pure sounds typical of industrial techno and spacing them out into longer, subdued soundscapes such as instrumental reggae and dub would produce.
Trivia
- In a climate where sequencing and recording music using computers is standard, the group is known for recording everything live, straight to DAT (Digital Audio Tape) using home-made and modified synthesizers and effect units.
- In the late 1980s, as part of a 'sound performance', they spent 10 hours in a locked room, exposed to a constant low-frequency hum at 125 decibels.
- The song titles are in Finnish. For instance, Aaltopiiri means Wave circle.
- The duo performed a gig in London's East End from an armoured car using a 5000 watt sound system similar to the type used by the police to disorient rioters.
- The inside of the CD cover of their EP together with Barry Adamson contains images of a brain scan of the Icelandic composer Magnús Blöndal Jóhannsson, performed while he was listening to the CD.
Discography
Albums
- Vakio (1995)
- Kulma (1997)
- A (1999)
- Endless (1998) (under the name 'Vainio Väisänen Vega' with Alan Vega)
- Aaltopiiri (2001)
- Kesto (2004)
EP's / Singles
- Panasonic EP (1994)
- Osasto EP (1996)
- Arctic Rangers 2 x7" (1998)
- Medal 12" (1998) (with Alan Vega)
- B (1999)
- Destria (Live) (1999)
- Motorlab #3 (2001) (with Barry Adamson)