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Factory Floor

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Factory Floor
Performing at the Summer Sundae festival, August 2011
Background information
OriginLondon, England
GenresPost-industrial, electronic, minimal techno, acid techno, acid house, experimental, electronic rock
Years active2005 (2005)–present
LabelsDFA Records, Blast First Petite
MembersGabriel Gurnsey
Nik Colk
Past membersMark Harris
Dominic Butler

Factory Floor are a London-based band formed in 2005. They have been described as 'post-industrial', using live drums, synthesizers and noise.

History

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The band formed in 2005, originally comprising Gabriel Gurnsey and Mark Harris, who were then joined by Dominic Butler. Harris later left, going on to form Shift Work.[1] Gurnsey and Butler were then joined by Nik Colk (aka Nik Colk Void), formerly of KaitO, in 2010. Gurnsey played drums and drum machines, Butler played modular synths and electronics,[2] and Colk added manipulated vocals, guitar and samples.[3]

After two singles in 2008, and a mini-album, Talking On Cliffs in 2009, the band signed to Blast First's 'Blast First Petite' label, releasing several twelve-inch singles, including "Wooden Box" (featuring a Stephen Morris remix) and an untitled ten-inch mini-LP in 2010.[4] The latter was described by the NME as "a terrifying racket that simultaneously frazzles the nerves and slackens the bowels" and "an incessant drone of keyboards wired through twisted-metal synthesizers and thundering drums summoned from the heavens"; writer Ben Hewitt giving it a 9/10 rating.[5] The singles "Real Love" and "Two Different Ways" followed in 2011.

The band approached Morris by sending him a CD and asking if he would do a remix.[6] After remixing "Wooden Box", Morris continued to work with the band as producer.

Two twelve-inch releases followed featuring remixes by Stephen Morris and Chris Carter.[4] Since then, Factory Floor released "(R E A L L O V E)" (Optimo) and "Two Different Ways" on DFA Records.

In 2011 the band played a support slot for Chris & Cosey at the ICA, and Chris Carter joined the band later that year for two performances at Primavera Sound and the Roundhouse.

Colk Void released a single, "Gold E", under the name Nik Colk Void in February 2012.[7]

"Fall Back", the first single off their debut album, was released on 14 January 2013.

Factory Floor's debut self-titled album was released on 9 September 2013 featuring new versions of their previous singles "Two Different Ways" and "Fall Back", after which Dominic Butler departed the group.[8] Their second album 25 25 was released on 19 August 2016,[9] to positive reviews.[10][11]

Musical style

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Early single "Bipolar" drew comparisons with Joy Division and The Fall.[12] Paul Lester of The Guardian described the band in 2009 as "metronomic synth-noir over which a woman – who vaguely resembles, vocally, Nico in a particularly dark mood – intones mournfully".[4] Collaborator Stephen Morris described the band's sound as "unsettling disco".[6] The NME described the band as "post industrial, but it moves beyond that; this is post-apocalyptic, the soundtrack of an underworld disco."[5] FACT magazine described them as "tech-savvy but pared-down no wave electronic rock".[13]

Discography

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Studio albums

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EPs

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Singles

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  • "Bipolar" (2008), Outside Sound
  • Planning Application EP (2008), One of One
  • "A Wooden Box" (2010), Blast First Petite
  • Remix Series 1 12" (2010), Blast First Petite
  • Remix Series 2 12" (2010), Blast First Petite
  • "(R E A L L O V E)" 12" (2011), Optimo
  • "Two Different Ways" 12" (2011), DFA Records

References

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  1. ^ Macdonald, Kit (2015) "Shift Work - Document II", Resident Advisor, 27 November 2015, retrieved 4 May 2015
  2. ^ "FACT mix 28: Factory Floor", FACT, 10 February 2009, retrieved 1 September 2011
  3. ^ Turner, Luke (2010) "Factory Floor Live: Beyond The Industrial Production Line", The Quietus, 26 January 2010, retrieved 15 August 2011
  4. ^ a b c Lester, Paul (2009) "New Band of the Day: Factory Floor", The Guardian, 23 December 2009, retrieved 15 August 2011
  5. ^ a b Hewitt, Ben (2010) "Album Review: Factory Floor - 'Untitled'", NME, 3 May 2010, retrieved 15 August 2011
  6. ^ a b Turner, Luke (2010) "Stephen Morris Talks Factory Floor Production & Remix", The Quietus, 28 June 2010, retrieved 15 August 2011
  7. ^ Mackay, Emily (2012) "This Week's Singles", NME, 18 February 2012, p. 44
  8. ^ Eede, Christian (2016) "LISTEN: New Factory Floor", The Quietus, 25 May 2016
  9. ^ Owen, Chris (2016) "LISTEN: More New Factory Floor", The Quietus, 7 July 2016
  10. ^ "The Quietus | Features | The Lead Review | Lead Review: Mollie Zhang On Factory Floor's 25 25". Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  11. ^ Empire, Kitty (21 August 2016). "Factory Floor: 25 25 review – everything here bounces". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  12. ^ Milton, Jamie (2008) "Factory Floor - 'Bipolar'", Gigwise.com, 22 April 2008, retrieved 15 August 2011
  13. ^ Foxx, Trilby (2011) "Factory Floor: '( R E A L L O V E )'", FACT, 6 April 2011, retrieved 15 August 2011
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