Signal Aout 42
Signal Aout 42, also known as SA42, is a Belgian electronic music band. Initially active in the 1980s, Signal Aout 42 became known for producing music in the EBM and industrial styles of electronic music, but into and through the 1990s also incorporated techno, acid, and trance styles.[1] After a decade-long hiatus, the band became active again in the late 2000s.
Signal Aout 42 | |
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Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2016 | |
Background information | |
Origin | Belgium |
Genres | Electronic |
Years active | 1980–present |
Labels | LD Records, Alora Music, Out Of Line, Disco Smah, Music Man Records, SPV GmbH |
Website | http://signalaout42.wix.com/sa42 |
Members | Jacky Meurisse |
Past members | Damien Vandamme Luc Vandamme Rudy Garyn |
Background
Signal Aout 42 (at the time known simply called SIGNAL) formed in 1981 as the project of a bunch of schoolmates (Jacky Meurisse, Damien and Luc Vandamme) who decided to get on stage to have fun and play improvised gigs.[2]
In fact they didn’t have proper compositions but they were more like audio and visual performances (industrial noises, chainsaw, metal barrels…played to rhythms generated by drum machines and synthetic sound atmospheres, the whole thing being made in a DIY style, tinkering around with homemade or borrowed instruments.
Due to many jokes about the name Signal (which was also the name of a famous brand of toothpaste), Signal changed its name to Signal Aout 42 (translated: Signal August '42), a reference to the date when the German Wehrmacht propaganda publication Signal was first released. A cover image from the debut issue was used on posters announcing their concerts.
With his first salary in 1985, Jacky Meurisse bought a bit of equipment, including a Roland TB-303 Bass Line and a TR-606, which enabled them to write the first tracks worthy of the name: "Pleasure and Crime" and "Lovely Trees". They were released together as 12″ maxi single by Disco Smash, which became an underground club hit. The follow-up single was "Girls of Vlaanderen", a nod to his wife who is of Flemish origin.
The success of these releases led to recording of an album, Pro patria. It remains a cult record in the mind of alternative electronic music fans.
In 1988 Meurisse became a professional musician and invested in a recording studio located on 22 rue du Fort in Comines. It was here that he composed the smash hit "Le Dormeur" for one of his more chart-oriented side projects, Pleasure Game, as well as the 12″ singles "Submarine Dance", "To Talk Nonsense", "The Right Thing", and "Carnaval", which all became EBM New Beat classic tunes.
A second album, Contrast, was released in 1990. At that time Signal Aout 42 was made up of Jacky Meurisse; Damien Vandamme, who gave constructive ideas and who was in charge of visuals for the band; Jean Luc Szekanecz, who took part in the writing of a couple of 12″ singles and a few gigs; and Luc Vandamme, who performed live percussion. The compilation album Immortal Collection 1983-1995 was released in 1995 by Out of Line Music.[3][4]
From 1990 to 1995, Jacky Meurisse relocated the studio. He worked exclusively for Disco Smash-Blackout Records and wrote several successful tracks for side projects like Pleasure Game ("Le Dormeur"), Le Park ("Naked"), DJPC, Amnesia ("It's A Dream"), and BORIS while keeping his passion for SA42 and After the third album, Conviction, there was a hiatus of more than ten years before the release of a fourth album, Transformation, in 2007. This was followed by Vae Victis in 2010 and Inspiration in 2013.
Discography
Studio albums
- Pro Patria – 1989
- Contrast – 1990
- Conviction – 1993
- Transformation –2007
- Vae Victis – 2010
- Inspiration - 2013
- Insurrection - 2019
Compilation albums
Singles
- "Pleasure And Crime"
- "Girls of Vlaanderen"
- "Pleasure and Crime" (Remix)
- "Carnaval" (Acid Mix)
- "Submarine Dance" (Remix)
- "Right Thing"
- "Dead Is Calling"
- "I Want To Push"
- "To Talk Nonsense"
- "Waterdome"
- "The Last Quest"
- "Welcome to Reality"
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Signal Aout 42. |
References
- "Território da Música: Machina Redux traz Signal Aout 42 ao Brasil" (in Portuguese). Território da Música. 23 September 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
- Van Isacker, Bernard (8 May 2019). "Signal Aout 42 return with 'Insurrection' on 7 June 2019 – here's the album trailer". Side-line. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- Worley, Jon (November 18, 1996). "Signal Aout 42: Immortal Collection 1983-1995". Aiding & Abetting (123). Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- Christian, Chris (December 1996). "Signal Aout 42: Immortal Collection 1983-95". Sonic Boom. 4 (11). Retrieved September 5, 2020.