Chris Clark (musician)

Christopher Stephen Clark (born 29 August 1979) is an English electronic musician, performing under the mononym Clark. He has produced music for his own albums, as well as music for television, films and video games. His records have been released by Warp Records, Deutsche Grammophon and his own label Throttle Records.[2][3]

This article is about the electronic musician. For the American soul singer, see Chris Clark (singer).

Chris Clark
Background information
Birth nameChristopher Stephen Clark
Also known asClark
Born (1979-08-29) 29 August 1979[1]
St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, UK
GenresElectronic
Occupation(s)
  • Producer
  • composer
  • performer
InstrumentsVarious
Years active2001 (2001)–present
LabelsWarp, Throttle Records, Deutsche Grammophon
Websitethrottleclark.com

History

Clark was born Christopher Stephen Clark in 1979 in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England,[3] where he grew up and attended St Albans School.[4] He started making music as a teenager, and also began experimenting with building his own primitive equipment, including a "home-built stylus made out of a hook and some masking tape".[5] He went on to attend Bristol University.[6] As a student, his music teacher told him that if Chris were to buy a drum machine, he would give up all hope in Chris' musical ability.[7] Whilst still a student, Chris first impressed staff at Warp Records playing under the moniker Chris From St Albans at their Nesh party in December 2000.[8] He was subsequently signed to Warp, and as Chris Clark released his debut album Clarence Park in April 2001.[9] Chris then moved to Brighton'[10] followed by Birmingham where he stayed for some time,[11] and during this time collaborated with Broadcast on a reinterpretation of his track Herr Barr[12] and other unreleased material.[13] He currently resides in Berlin.[14] With the 2006 release of Throttle Furniture, he shortened his artist name to Clark.[15] His music has been played on BBC Radio 6 by Shaun Keaveny and BBC Radio 6 Music by Lauren Laverne and Tom Ravenscroft.[16] He also recorded a mix for Ravenscroft,[17] described by the presenter as "just about the best ever done for the show".

Style

Clark's music is generally considered to fall under the genre of electronic music, although Clark himself finds this label ambiguous and describes Turning Dragon as a "techno album".[18] He often experiments with forms of degradation, distortion and decay associated with different mediums, employing techniques such as re-recording samples and field-recordings in different environments.[19] Describing such processing, he has said "What I tend to do is just jam stuff through as many boxes as I can, until everything sort of bleeds into itself and all its surrounding parts".[20] Clark plays the drums, and some of his material, especially Body Riddle features recordings of his drumming, often heavily re-sampled.[14]

Live

On describing his live set Clark states "If you see me play, my hands are all over the place – literally I’m doing every single thing. Everything that happens on stage is being played and created live. It’s very interactive. So in that respect, it is very much based on live instrumentation."[21] His set has in the past included a live drummer.[22]

Clark has played a Boiler Room session,[23] played the Berlin club Berghain[24] and the Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago. Festival appearances have included Bang Face,[25] Sónar Tokyo,[26] Sacrum Profanum[22] and Taico Club.[27]

In December 2013 he premiered his live show Phosphor in London.[28]

Videos

Notable music videos for Clark's work include Lynn Fox's video for Gob Coitus,[29] 1stavemachine's video for Ted[30] (selected by Pitchfork as one of the top 50 music videos of 2007[31]), James Healy's video for Herr Barr[32] and The Vikings' video for Black Stone.[33]

Commissions

Art

Clark contributed music, along with fellow Warp artist Jamie Lidell to a giant interactive projection show at Saatchi & Saatchi's New Director Showcase in 2011.[34]

Clark collaborated with Brighton based artist collective Blast Theory in 2011 on a piece entitled Fixing Point. The piece was an interactive audio walk with music by Clark and deals with the legacy of the Conflict In Northern Ireland, in particular the disappearance of Seamus Ruddy.[35] He worked again with the collective on a piece for the Aichi Triennale, contributing his track Black Stone for use in the work.[36]

Dance

During the summer of 2010, he scored a contemporary dance piece titled 'Tilted Fawn' that was performed by Melanie Lane at the Sydney Opera House.[37] The pair also collaborated on a 2013 performance installation Shrine, which trod "the line between dance performance and sculptural installation"[38] and was centred on ideas of ritual and ceremony.[39] They have also worked together on the project Held, which "explores the relationship between memory and the architecture of space that we live in".[40]

Film

The track The Pining Pt.2 from Iradelphic was featured in the 2013 film Elysium.[41] The track Vengeance Drools was used in a domestic violence awareness advertising campaign by Woman's Aid, which starred Keira Knightley.[42][43] In 2019 Clark scored the film Daniel Isn’t Real.

TV

In 2015 Clark scored the six-part TV series The Last Panthers starring Samantha Morton, John Hurt and Tahar Rahim, broadcast in Europe by Sky Atlantic and Canal+.[44][45] In 2018, Clark scored the minimal, acapella voice dominated Channel 4/Hulu soundtrack for the mini-series, Kiri.[46]

Video games

Clark contributed an unreleased track, "Alice", to the OST for the game Sleeping Dogs.[47] He also contributed to the soundtrack of Driveclub. The song Winter Linn was added to Watch Dogs 2's soundtrack.

Albums

Clarence Park
Main article: Clarence Park (album)

Clarence Park was Clark's first release and debut full-length album, released on Warp Records in April 2001 under the artist name Chris Clark.[48] The album was named after Clarence Park, a public park in his home city of St Albans.

Empty the Bones of You
Main article: Empty the Bones of You

Empty the Bones of You was Clark's second full length, released on Warp Records in September 2003 under the artist name Chris Clark.[49] Reviews noted that Clark had developed a more mature and distinctive voice,[50][51] and The Mlik Factory described it as "consistent, mature and bloody captivating".[51]

Body Riddle
Main article: Body Riddle

Body Riddle was released on Warp Records in October 2006.[52] The album marked a change in style for Clark, and featured the prominent use of live instrumentation, albeit highly processed.[53] It was well received by critics, with Pitchfork giving it 8.5/10[54] and Almost Cool giving it 8/10.[55]

Turning Dragon
Main article: Turning Dragon

Clark's fourth full-length album, Turning Dragon, found Clark exploring a less organic and more mechanised sound, with Pitchfork declaring that it "takes a detour from Clark's ultimate goal of meshing man and machine into one seamless, clattering bundle" and "[it] finds the robots taking the upper hand".[56] The album fared well with critics, with Pitchfork awarding it 8.2/10[56] and Resident Advisor giving it 4/5.[57] It was released on Warp Records in March 2008.[58]

Totems Flare
Main article: Totems Flare

Totems Flare was released on Warp Records in July 2009.[59]

Iradelphic
Main article: Iradelphic

Iradelphic was released on Warp Records in April 2012.[60] The album was described by The Quietus as "less ethereal, more compact and cohesive" than earlier work.[61] Clark himself commented "Iradelphic is some of the most heartfelt stuff I've ever done, and even though a lot of it is years old, it still really resonates with me."[19]

Feast/Beast

Feast/Beast was released on Warp Records in September 2013.[62] It predominantly features Clark's remixes of other artists' tracks, amongst them Nathan Fake, Battles, Nils Frahm and Letherette, but also features some reworks of Clark's tracks by other artists.[63]

Clark
Main article: Clark (album)

His self-titled seventh studio album, Clark, was released on 3 November 2014 on Warp Records.

The Last Panthers

The Last Panthers was released on Warp Records in March 2016.[64]

Death Peak

Death Peak was released on Warp Records in April 2017.

Kiri Variations

Kiri Variations was released on 26 July 2019, via Throttle Records.[65]

Daniel Isn't Real

Daniel Isn't Real was released on 3 December 2019, via Deutsche Grammophon.

Discography
Main article: Clark Discography

Albums

EPs and singles
  • Ceramics Is The Bomb (2001), as Chris Clark.
  • Throttle Furniture (2006), as Clark.
  • Throttle Clarence (2006), as Clark.
  • Ted E.P. (2007), as Clark.
  • Throttle Promoter (2007), as Clark.
  • Growls Garden (2009), as Clark.
  • Willenhall / Baskerville Grinch (2011), as Clark, a Record Store Day 12" in collaboration with Bibio.
  • Fantasm Planes (2012), as Clark.
  • Superscope (2014), as Clark.
  • Flame Rave (2015), as Clark.
  • The Last Panthers (2016), as Clark.
  • A Badman Sound / Heath Town / Inf Inf Inf Inf (2016), as Clark, a Record Store Day 12" in collaboration with Mark Pritchard and Bibio.
  • Bobbie Caris / Idle Withdrawal (2017), as Clark, in collaboration with Com Truise.
  • Rellik EP (2017), as Clark.
  • Honey Badger / Pig (2017), as Clark.
  • E.C.S.T. T.R.A.X. (2018), as Clark.
  • Branding Problem (2019), as Clark.

References
  1. "Reviews: Chris Clark Clarence Park". May 2001. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012. From the top of his twenty-one years...
  2. Spano, Charles. "Biography: Clark". Allmusic. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  3. "Discogs Artist Page". Discogs. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  4. "St Albans Notable People". All About St Albans. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  5. "Groovetracker Entry". Groovetracker. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  6. "MilkFactory Interview". The Milk Factory. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  7. "Boomkat Clarence Park Review". Boomkat. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  8. "Warp Artist Signing Page". Warp. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  9. "Warp Release Page for Clarence Park". Warp. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  10. "Totem's Flare Announcement". Warp. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  11. "Bio Page". All Music. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  12. "Herr Barr Reinterpretation Page". Discogs. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  13. "Track Announcement". Clicky Clicky Music. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  14. "Barcode Interview". Barcode Zine. Archived from the original on 14 July 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  15. "CHRIS CLARK Interview". Themilkfactory.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  16. "BBC Radio Playlist Page". BBC. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  17. "Programme Page". BBC. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  18. "Clark Interview". Barcode. Archived from the original on 14 July 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  19. "Rewind Article". xlr8r. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  20. "Clark Interview". Junk Media. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  21. "Clark Interview". The Skinny. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  22. "Artist Page". Sacrum Profanum. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  23. "Artist Page". Boiler Room. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  24. "Leisure System Launch Page". Warp. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  25. "The Amen Event Page". Warp. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  26. "Sonar 2011 Page". Warp. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  27. "Taico Club '13 page". Time Out. Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  28. "Phosphor Announcement Page". Warp. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  29. "Gob Coitus Official Video". YouTube. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  30. "Ted Official Video". YouTube. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  31. "The Top 50 Music Videos of 2007". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  32. "Herr Barr Official Video". YouTube. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  33. "Black Stone Official Video". YouTube. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  34. "S & S Director's Showcase 2011 Page". Flat E. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  35. "Fixing Point Page". Blast Theory. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  36. "Clark Tweet". Twitter. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  37. "Tilted Fawn Announcement". Warp. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  38. "Shrine Page". Melanie Lane. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  39. "Chris Clark and Melanie Lane Interview". DJ Broadcast. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  40. "Held Page". Melanie Lane. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  41. "Elysium Soundtrack News Page". Warp. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  42. "Ad Campaign Press Release". Women's Aid. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  43. "Women's Aid Advert". YouTube. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  44. "Clark scores new crime thriller The Last Panthers". Resident Advisor. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  45. "The Last Panthers (TV Series 2015– ) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb". IMDB. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  46. "Clark Scoring Channel 4's & Hulu's 'Kiri'". Filmmusicreporter.com. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  47. "OFFICIAL SOUNDTRACK LIST". Sleeping Dogs Forum. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  48. "Release Page for Clarence Park". Warp. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  49. "Release Page for Empty the Bones of You". Warp. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  50. "Empty the Bones of You Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  51. "Empty the Bones of You Review". The Mlik Factory. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  52. "Release Page for Body Riddle". Warp. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  53. "Clark Interview". Timeout Japan. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  54. "Body Riddle Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  55. "Body Riddle Review". Almost Cool. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  56. "Turning Dragon Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  57. "Turning Dragon Review". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  58. "Release Page for Turning Dragon". Warp. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  59. "Release Page for Growl's Garden". Warp. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  60. "Release Page for Iradelphic". Warp. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  61. "Iradelphic Review". The Quietus. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  62. "Release Page for 'Feast/Beast". Warp. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  63. "Product Page for Feast/Beast". Bleep. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  64. "Release Page for The Last Panthers". Warp. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  65. Strauss, Matthew (26 June 2019). "Clark Announces New Album Kiri Variations, Shares "Cannibal Homecoming": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
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