DESSAU is the musical output mainly of one John Elliott. Mining a similar artistic vein as Nitzer Ebb and early Ministry, Dessau delivered powerful, rhythmic industrial dance tracks that translated better to the dancefloor than to the home stereo. Songs like "Suffer", "Sun90", "Unshakeable" and of course, "Isolation" are well known amongst the scene's "older" aggro fans. Elliott began his musical career in 1979 as drummer for Nashville punk rock outfit Cloverbottom. Elliott later experimented with electronic percussion as a member of Actuals (later known as Factual). After becoming fed up with the stagnant Nashville rock scene, Elliott moved to Chicago in the fall of 1981, joining Stations who worked with producer Martin Hannett (Joy Division, New Order). In Chicago he also gained valuable friendships with Ministry's Al Jourgensen & Steve Albini (Pixies / Nirvana). Returning to Nashville in 1983, Elliott formed DESSAU & worked again with Martin Hannett on DESSAU's first EP, RED LANGUAGES. Working with veteran Nashville rockers Skot Nelson (guitars), Mike Orr (bass) & Barry Nelson (bass), DESSAU would release a series of dance-oriented 12" EPs through the latter half of the '80s, including HAPPY MOOD in 1986. The 1988 Mad Hog EP featured a remix of the dance floor hit "Unshakeable" by Ministry's Al Jourgensen. Both Jourgensen and Paul Barker would contribute to the 1988 cover of Joy Division's "Isolation" which would become DESSAU's dancefloor breakthrough. A full-length album, EXERCISE IN TENSION, would follow in 1989. Produced by Giles Reaves & John Elliott and including "Isolation," the CD version included "Beijing," DESSAU's third hit dance track. During the '90s, Elliott turned toward other projects which included Passafist, Rebecca St. James, Final Cut, Lick, Pyskosonik & writing the theme music for the Wax Trax! Black Box DVD with Chris Randall of Sister Machine Gun. Re-forming DESSAU with guitarist Norm Rau, Elliott released the heavier, less dance-oriented DETAILS SKETCHY in 1995, collaborating with members of Ministry, Die Warzau, Pigface, and Filter. Mausoleum / BMG Records would later buy the rights to DESSAU's back catalog; old friends Jourgensen and Barker revisiting and remixing DESSAU songs like "Beijing," "Skeletons By Nature," and "Isolation" for the label's 1995 CD reissue DESSAU. They have worked with a virtual "whos-who" of "Industrial" including Paul Barker and Al Jourgensen (Ministry), Jason McNinch (Lick), Van Christie / Jim Marcus (Die Warzau), Luc Van Acker (Revco), Richard Patrick (Filter) and many others. DESSAU have toured with Nitzer Ebb, Pigface & Urban Dance Squad. There may be a possibility (hmmm hint hint here, I wonder who may be smart enough to release this??) of DESSAU releasing some new material soon soon which may include the re-release of some old EP's, unreleased Paul Barker/ Al Jourgensen remixes, demos and out-takes as well as another new release that has NEW songs and new remixes on it! DISCOGRAPHY: Red Languages (12") Dessau Ltd. Records 1985; Happy Mood (Vinyl, EP) Faction Records 1986; Isolation (12") Carlyle Records 1988; Mad Hog (12") Carlyle Records 1988; Exercise In Tension (CD) Carlyle Records 1989; Exercise In Tension (LP) Carlyle Records 1989; Exercise In Tension (LP, Album) Carlyle Records 1989; Beijing / Europe Light (Remix) (12") Carlyle Records 1990; Dessau (CD, Album) Mausoleum / BMG 1995; Details Sketchy (CD, Album) Fifth Colvmn Records 1995.
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D E S S A U
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Martin Hannett George Martin Atari computers Akai samplers
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