V/Vm

V/Vm is the experimental music and sound collage project of James Leyland Kirby, from Stockport, England. Although starting out mainly in the style of noise music, Kirby is also a composer of original electronic music and remixes. His vast output is released primarily on his own V/Vm Test Records label. Alongside the work of the V/Vm project, James Kirby also records most often as The Caretaker. He currently resides in Kraków.

V/Vm
Birth nameJames Leyland Kirby
Also known asBilly Ray Cyrix, Butcher Claus, Butcher Claws, The Caretaker, CV[ev], Dr. Fred, The Edgeley Musher, Leyland Kirby, Leon and Hits, MC V/Vm, The Notorious P.I.G., Pole (disputed), The Stranger, V/Vm Allstar Marching Band, V/Vm and the Hog Chorus, V/Vm with Garry's Glitter
Born (1974-05-09) 9 May 1974
OriginStockport, England
GenresExperimental music, noise music, sound collage
InstrumentsComputer, sampler, turntable
Years active1996–present
LabelsV/Vm Test Records
WebsiteOfficial website

History

Since 1996 there have been numerous releases by V/Vm on a host of labels and featuring the work of a number of musicians. Early releases were often electronic in nature, including a critically acclaimed split 12" release on Fat Cat Records.[1] In 1999, V/Vm also released a recording of pigs feeding[2] at a pig farm in the North West of England to the horror of many reviewers who mistook the sound of feeding pigs for that of pigs being killed.

Around the time of this release, V/Vm appeared on the cover of The Wire (October 1998, issue 176).[3] Under the banner "Harder! Faster! Louder!" the article explored a developing scene which also included Alec Empire, DJ Speedranch, Diskono, and Fat Cat Records.

The late 1990s saw a distinct shift for V/Vm, into more hacked-up, remixed pop music, repackaged crudely and released in a manner which ignored copyright. At this time V/Vm was in conversation with the artists spearheading the bootleg and mashup (a.k.a. bastard pop) genres. This work culminated in 2000 with V/Vm achieving Single of the Week in the NME[4] for the reworking of the Chris de Burgh hit "The Lady in Red". Also around this time, Sick Love was released;[5] it featured a number of classic love songs reprocessed to become only faintly recognisable.

For a time V/Vm continued to hack many artists and audio styles. In 2003, however, lawyers challenged V/Vm after he re-released "Relax", the seminal 1983 hit by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. In a reproduction of the original release, a double L P, a 7-inch picture disc, and a CD single were released, each featuring numerous remixes of "Relax." Within weeks of the release V/Vm received legal threats and in the end was forced to legally withdraw the release from sale.[6]

Whereas V/Vm is best known for "hacking" other artists' works, he has also substantial original recorded output, including a some recordings made in an improvisational style with electronics. Examples of non-sample-based audio exist throughout V/Vm's output, including many electronic and noise-based compositions. His music and performance style is at times critical of other artists, such as Carl Cox. V/Vm was accused of scamming the Fat Cat Records label by impersonating minimal glitch artist Pole, finally confirmed in a talk alongside Pole at Unsound Festival 2012 in Kraków, Poland. V/Vm also brought back Belgian new beat, creating a microsite and releasing two twelve-inch records and a CD featuring new audio made in this electronic style.

The V/Vm live show is often disturbing and has occasionally resulted in serious injury to the artist, most notably in 2006 in Tienen, when V/Vm dislocated a kneecap while performing there.[7] V/Vm has played globally, embarking on tours of America, Australia, Europe, and playing festivals such as Roskilde in Denmark, ZXZW in the Netherlands and Sónar in Barcelona.

V/Vm Test Records

V/Vm runs the V/Vm Test Records label, which releases records from About This Product, Goodiepal, Jansky Noise, and Fast Lady, among many others. The label has been at the forefront in giving away free audio in the form of unrestrictive MP3 downloads through its website[8] and via his new online label Vuzkid[9] and associated microsites.[10]

V/Vm 365 and current projects

In 2005 V/Vm recorded a remix of the Alphaville hit "Forever Young", which was to be used on a worldwide advertising campaign for Sony. The advert was shot but pulled at the last minute due a dispute at the TBWA ad agency. The video was leaked to the Internet.[11][12]

V/Vm spent all of 2006 on the V/Vm 365 project. "The idea is basically to create and upload free audio for one whole year and leave a massive big mess behind, warts and all, for you to digest as you see fit." This involved producing 603 audio tracks and six video tracks, with a total running time of 52 hours, 3 minutes and 57 seconds.[13] Each day one or more audio pieces were uploaded along with text and a picture for the day.

In 2007 V/Vm received an honorary mention for his work as The Caretaker at the ARS Technica 2007 awards.[14] He was also included in an exhibition in Madrid entitled "Ruidos, Silencios y la Transgresion Mordaz. De Fluxus al techno-noise"; the exhibit featured V/Vm video and artwork by V/Vm, Fluxus artists (Nam June Paik, Philip Corner, Wolf Vostell), and other contemporary artists and musicians (Ultra-red).[15]

Discography

Selected releases
  • Uplink Data Transmissions – V/Vm Test (1996)[16]
  • Machines – V/Vm Test (1997)[17]
  • Fat Cat Split 12-inch – Fat Cat Records (1997)[18]
  • Pig – V/Vm Test (1999)[19]
  • Auraloffalwaffle – V/Vm Test (1999)[20]
  • Lady in Red/All Night Long – V/Vm Test (2000)[21]
  • Sick Love – V/Vm Test (2000)[5]
  • Masters of the Absurd – V/Vm Test (2000)[22]
  • Snooker Loopy – V/Vm Test (2001)[23]
  • Helpaphextwin – V/Vm Test (2003)[24]
  • The Missing Symphony – V/Vm Test (2003)[25]
  • Stigma – V/Vm Test (2004)[26]
  • Sabam – The Sound of Belgium '89 – V/Vm Test (2006)[27]
  • White Death – V/Vm Test (2006)[28]
  • Vvmt365 – Daily Audio Downloads – V/Vm Test (2006)[13]
  • The Death of Rave – V/Vm Test (2006)[29]

Compilation appearances
  • "Cha-ha Meat Skran-r The 15lb. Turkey" on Brain in the Wire
  • "Engulfer" on Brainwaves (2006)
  • "Female Pig Herder" on Split Series 1–8

Discogs has the most comprehensive release overview of V/Vm Test Records[30] and V/Vm[31]

References
  1. FatCat Records : Releases Archived 15 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Fat-cat.co.uk (1 March 1998). Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  2. "V/VM - pig - 7" - VVM". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 9 December 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  3. "The Wire Index : Second Century". Sat.dundee.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  4. Rocklist.net...NME End Of Year Lists 2000. Rocklistmusic.co.uk (9 May 1992). Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  5. "V/Vm - sick love - CD - VVM". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  6. "[Rumori] [Snuggles] Fw: V/Vm :By listening and owning V/Vm you are breaking". Detritus.net. 13 March 2004. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  7. "Kid Shirt: Tienen Interlude". Web.archive.org. 19 October 2007. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  8. "V/VM Test Records - Downloads / Free Digital Media". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  9. "VUKZID - FREE AUDIO DOWNLOADS - Powered by V/Vm Test". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  10. "V/VM - Microsites". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  11. V/vm Playstation Video. YouTube (11 August 2006). Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  12. "V/VM - playstation2 war ad - Video Download". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 21 October 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  13. "V/VM 365 - VVMT365 - VVM". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 28 November 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  14. "ARS Electronica PRIX". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 3 November 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  15. "La Casa Encendida". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 20 August 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  16. "V/VM - up-link data transmissions - 12" - VVM". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  17. "V/VM - machine - 7" - VVM". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 8 March 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  18. "V/Vm / Third Eye Foundation - split series - Fat Cat Records - 12". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2 June 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  19. "V/VM - pig - 7" - VVM". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  20. "VARIOUS - auraloffalwaffle - 2CD - VVM". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  21. "V/VM - the lady in red / all night long - 7" - VVM". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  22. "V/VM - masters of the absurd - 12" - VVM". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 7 July 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  23. "V/VM - snooker loopy - 7" - VVM". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  25. "V/VM / DIMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH - the missing symphony - CD - VVM". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  26. "V/VM - stigma - CD - VVM". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  27. "V/VM - sabam (belgian new-beat) - CD - VVM". Archived from the original on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  28. "White Death | V/Vm". Vvmtest.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  29. "VUKZID01 - V/VM - the death of rave (the source)". Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  30. V/Vm Test Records – CDs and Vinyl at Discogs. Discogs.com. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  31. V/Vm Discography at Discogs. Discogs.com (9 August 2008). Retrieved 5 August 2011.
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