Barry Adamson
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Barry Adamson (born 1 June 1958) is an English rock musician who has worked with Magazine, Visage, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Pan Sonic, and has worked on film soundtracks for David Lynch. He has also released numerous solo recordings.
[edit] Biography
Born in Moss Side, Manchester, Adamson was weaned on comic books from an early age. In school he absorbed himself in art, music and film, writing his first song "Brain Pain" at the age of ten. His musical influences were diverse, ranging from Alice Cooper to Motown to David Bowie.
Adamson left school and shifted into graphic design but quit shortly after, favouring to venture into the exploding Punk Rock scene of the late '70s, joining ex-Buzzcock Howard Devoto's band Magazine, playing bass guitar. The band had a chart single called "Shot by Both Sides". He played on all the Magazine albums as well as contributing to Howard Devoto's solo album, and Devoto's next band Luxuria. He also contributed his talents during those years for the studio-only Visage project, playing in the ensemble's first two albums, Visage and The Anvil.
After the breakup of Magazine Adamson worked with another ex-Buzzcock, Pete Shelley, before joining Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, appearing on the albums From Her to Eternity, The Firstborn Is Dead, Kicking Against the Pricks and Your Funeral, My Trial.
His first solo release Moss Side Story, has been described as a "soundtrack for a non-existent movie" and with its use of dialogue and sound effects amidst the dramatic background music it represents a "day or night in the life of" as it begins with the reenactment of a rape.
The style of the music is closer to the contemporary classical sounds favored by Gavin Bryars and Jocelyn Pook with, in his case, influences from John Barry, Elmer Bernstein and Ennio Morricone. Later works have included jazz, electronics, soul, funk, and dub styles. These works led to Adamson composing soundtracks for real films, including Gas Food Lodging.
In 2002 Adamson left long-term label Mute and started his own "production home", Central Control International. In 2006 the album Stranger on the Sofa was released to critical acclaim.
[edit] Discography
Albums
| Year | Title |
| 2006 | Stranger on the Sofa |
| 2002 | King of Nothing Hill |
| 1999 | The Murky World of Barry Adamson (compilation) |
| 1998 | As Above, So Below |
| 1996 | Oedipus Schmoedipus |
| 1993 | The Negro Inside Me |
| 1992 | Soul Murder |
| 1989 | Moss Side Story |
EP's
| Year | Title |
| 1998 | Can't Get Loose |
| 1996 | Achieved In The Valley Of The Dolls |
| 1995 | The Big Bamboozle |
| 1995 | Movieology |
| 1992 | Cinema Is King |
| 1989 | Taming of the Shrewd |
Singles
| Year | Title |
| 2002 | Whispering Streets |
| 2002 | Black Amour |
| 2001 | Motorlab #3 (with Pan Sonic) |
| 1999 | The Crime Scene |
| 1998 | Jazz Devil |
| 1998 | What it Means |
| 1991 | These Boots Are Made For Walking (with Anita Lane) |
| 1988 | The Man With The Golden Arm |
Soundtracks
| Year | Title |
| 1997 | To Have And To Hold |
| 1991 | Delusion |
