Nagamatzu
BIO
Andrew Lagowski (synths, guitar, and drum machines) and Stephen Jarvis (synths, bass and programming) met while attending secondary school in Ipswich, England. They bonded over a mutual love for Human League, Tubeway Army, Orchestral Manouevres in the Dark, The Cure, Joy Division, Cabaret Voltaire, Throbbing Gristle and Clock DVA. Andrew had already been playing drums in a local band, Silent Command. Their first recorded output was the Magog Universal “Erradication Time” cassette in 1981. Andrew Fleck joined for the “Shatter Days” album in 1982 after messing around with old tape machines and drum boxes. Their name comes from a character in JG Ballard‘s “Atrocity Exhibition” and their music reflects his influence and incorporates carefully chosen samples from the Challenger shuttle disaster, Gregorian chants and films including “Dawn of the Dead” and “The Omen.” Their songs were recorded onto a Ferrograph reel to reel in a small room at their parent’s house and some of the backing rhythms and sequencers were recorded first onto cassette and then the band played along live. Nagamatzu’s instrumentals combine stuttering bass, guitar bursts and funeral keyboards draped over a dragging drum machine beat, calling to mind Clock DVA, Cabaret Voltaire and early New Order or Cocteau Twins. “Sacred Islands of the Mad” was recorded between 1984-1986 after the departure of Andrew. The album is a complex, textured tapestry of sound full of dark electronics, fresh harmonies and danceable rhythms. They released one 12” single, “Space Shuttle Shuffle” in 1987 and the “Igniting The Corpse” album in 1991. Both members continue to make music in the present day, Andrew with (SETI, Legion, Terror Against Terror) and Stephen with (Pure Motorised Instinct, Terraform).
LINKS
Andrew Lagowski’s homepage
Nagamatzu on Myspace
Nagamatzu on Discogs
Nagamatzu on Facebook
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