Meat Beat Manifesto are ready to release Impossible Star, their first new full-length in seven years. MBM performs live at the Los Angeles’ Cold Waves LA (Day 2) on Nov. 11th. Igloo Magazine will be featuring an exclusive listen to be announced.
(Press-Release) San Francisco, CA – Gearing up for the release of its first full length album in over seven years, (they released a tour-only EP last year) seminal electronic band Meat Beat Manifesto (MBM) is ready for the release of Impossible Star on January 19, 2018 via Flexidisc distributed by Virtual Label. The album will be available for pre-order through iTunes, Google, and Bandcamp.
Often using politics and cultural events as a starting point, MBM mastermind Jack Dangers connects the current climate to the creative direction of Impossible Star. “I suppose it would be similar to an MC Escher optical illusion which spirals around and around and never seems to end, which can be used as a metaphor of many current events and other pertinent things right now,” he says.
Minimal, textural and cinematic in scope, Impossible Star follows the music innovator deeper into more experimental territory. From the thick and discordant soundscape of “One” to the cut-and-paste pastiche of “Bass Playa” to the downtempo of “T.M.I.,” Impossible Star is a layered exploration of sounds and rhythms.
“MBM has always gone in many different directions,” Jack explains. “”I Am Surrounded'” and “T.M.I.” represent the paranoid xenophobic ‘so-called’ fake news cycle we are living in. But seriously at this point, I really wouldn’t know what to say. We’ve entered a world of surrealism which is uncharted territory for me… or maybe it’s territory we’ve been through before in the ’30s? What do I know… Further explorations are in the pipeline!”
With tour dates being planned for next year, MBM will be performing one show on this side of 2018 at Cold Waves LA – Day 2 on Saturday, November 11 at The Regent Theater in Los Angeles (headlining with Revolting Cocks and MC900 Ft. Jesus). Those familiar with MBM’s mind-blowing live performances are fully aware that the visual component combines a sonic electronic assault with their stunning and often political video mash-ups. The visual “battles” waged between mastermind Jack Dangers and MBM partner-in-crime Ben Stokes will undoubtedly be uproariously provocative and incredibly timely with video samples culled from news reports and found footage.
MBM’s consistent musical invention has led to all forms of electronic musical experimentation over its 30 year history, from jungle to techno to industrial to dubstep to jazz fusion. Its long string of influential futuristic classics includes such groundbreaking tracks as “God O.D.”, “Strap Down”, “Psyche Out,” “Helter Skelter,” “Radio Babylon,” “Edge of No Control” to “It’s The Music.” The single, “Prime Audio Soup” (from the album Actual Sounds and Voices) was featured in the sci-fi fantasy blockbuster The Matrix and on its platinum-selling soundtrack.
An acknowledged and celebrated innovator in the electronic music scene (his remix of Tower of Power’s “What Is Funk?” was nominated for a Grammy in 2006), Jack Dangers continues to stretch sonic boundaries and influence new generations of sound activists. As a premiere remixer, producer and sound designer, he has played a seminal role in defining tomorrows’ music today. Past production/remixing projects include: Public Enemy, David Bowie, Orbital, Nine Inch Nails, David Byrne, Bush, Depeche Mode, and Tower of Power.
Looking ahead to 2018 and the release of Impossible Star, Jack is cautious at best for what’s in store. “Well, I am afraid at this point it looks like it’s going to be fear… more fear… I got the fear… happy new year! <mis·in·for·ma·tion> is all we are gonna get now.”
Impossible Star will be released on January 19, 2018 via Flexidisc with distribution by Virtual Label. Pre-order iTunes, Google, and Bandcamp.
Listen to “We Are Surrounded” exclusive stream only via Igloo Magazine:
