Difference between revisions of "Luna spark"

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[[image:C2m.gif|right|thumb|Countdown To Meltdown - 2006]]
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:luna spark}}
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'''luna spark''' (always spelt in all lower or all upper case) is an indietronic group/solo project originally based in Hamilton, New Zealand. The 'group' was formed in late 2000 by [[Dan Duran]], going under the pseudonym [[tracey exenola]] (once again, always lower/upper case).<br>
+
[[image:scudcover.jpg|right|thumb|Scud Of Freedom - July 2007]]
 +
==Bio==
 +
'''luna spark''' (always spelt in all lower or all upper case) was an indietronic group/solo project originally based in Hamilton, New Zealand. The 'group' was formed in late 2000 by [[Dan Duran]], going under the pseudonym [[tracey exenola]] (once again, always lower/upper case).<br>
  
−
The project grew out of a previous group called [[Planet Claire]] with [[R William Murphy|rop movie]] and Scott Howard (later of [[the Natalies]]). They only played only one gig, at the [[UFM]] [[Battle of The Bands]] in 2000, and broke up on its completion. The group's sound was unique to the competition, utilising a drum machine and no live drummer or bass player. Later that year, still without a band, using a similar setup, the recordings that would become the first luna spark EP began to take form.<br>
+
The project grew out of a previous group called [[Planet Claire]] with [[R William Murphy|rop movie]] and Scott Howard (later of [[the Natalies]]). They only played only one gig, at the [[UFM]] [[Battle of the Bands]] in 2000, and broke up on its completion. The group's sound was unique to the competition, utilising a drum machine and no live drummer or bass player. Later that year, still without a band, using a similar setup, the recordings that would become the first luna spark EP began to take form.<br>
  
−
Recorded over the summer in the front room at his mum's place, and finished off in one of the Collingwood apartments in town, luna spark's first recording came out in early 2001, and was an EP called ''[[Sarah]]''. Some basic mastering had been provided by Fran from the group [[Tweeter]], who was living in the same building at the time (Tweeter also then featured [[Datsuns]] guitarist [[Christian Livingstone]]). Consisting of six short, sharp lo-fi synth songs, the internet and limited CD release scored luna spark a few fans from around the world, in as far flung places as Scotland and Hillcrest, Hamilton. It almost got a song onto [[UFM]] too, but was turned down for sounding like 'the band takes way too many drugs, and the singer needs lessons.'<br>
+
[[image:Pc021.jpg|left|thumb|Flyer handed out at the only Planet Claire gig, 2000]]
  
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The second EP, ''[[Media]]'', came out in May 2002. Two others appeared on this release, [[R William Murphy|rop movie]] and the 'Catatonic Spacette'. Better produced, boasting more guitars and a smoother drum machine, the six track EP spawned a minor local radio 'hit' in ''Over the Rainbow'', a quirky and offbeat rendition of the Wizard of Oz classic from decades back (complete with a rap from [[R William Murphy|rop movie]]). The song also eventually found its way onto the [[Zeropointone]] compilation CD. Original song ''State of Mind'' also got airplay. The EP also took luna spark to the top of the official Australian Digital Music Indie charts a second time, and eventually easily outdid ''Sarah'' for downloads, on [http://mp3.com.au/lunaspark mp3.com.au].<br>
+
luna spark's first recording, an EP called ''[[Sarah]]'', came out in early 2001. Some basic mastering had been provided by Fran from the group [[Tweeter]], who was living in the same building at the time.  
−
[[image:Paniccover.jpg|right|thumb|Panic - July 2003]]
+
−
The debut full length album ''[[Panic]]'' followed in July 2003; it featured a re-recorded version of ''[[Media]]'s'' ''Moving Target'' and songs previously played live suck as ''Still'' and ''129 Die'' (featuring [[R William Murphy|rop movie]] on guitar), and expanded upon the sound developed over the initial EPs. <br>
+
  
−
[[R William Murphy|rop movie]] played guitar on 129 Die, a song he and [[Dan Duran]] had originally written way back in 1997. <br>
+
luna spark's second EP, ''[[Media]]'', came out in May 2002. Two others appeared on this release, [[R William Murphy|rop movie]] and the 'Catatonic Spacette'. The six track EP spawned a minor local radio 'hit' in ''Over the Rainbow'', a quirky and offbeat rendition of the Wizard of Oz classic (complete with a rap from [[R William Murphy|rop movie]]), which eventually found its way onto the [[Zeropointone]] compilation CD.<br>
 +
[[image:Danx.jpg|right|thumb|Dan Duran c.2003]]
 +
luna spark's debut full length album ''[[Panic]]'' followed in July 2003; it featured a re-recorded version of ''[[Media]]'s'' ''Moving Target'' and songs previously played live such as ''Still'' and ''129 Die'', expanding on the sound developed over the initial EPs. [[R William Murphy|rop movie]] played guitar on ''129 Die'', a song he and [[Dan Duran]] had originally written way back in 1997. <br>
  
−
The next luna spark move would be the album ''[[Simcerity]]'', released in October 2004. A dramatic shift from the previous releases, ''[[Simcerity]]'' was covered in acoustic guitars and live keyboards, and half the album was sung by [[Roz]], who even contributed musically to a couple of the tracks (most notably ''Get Off Of My Case''). The standout track from the album, ''Sleepless'', recieved airplay on the Generator and several podcasts, and even a spot on a tsunami charity album, ''Reconstruction.'' There were even reports of electro-punk-noise band the Clerics covering it at the first annual [[Circle Jerk]]. ''Repair'' and ''Get Off Of My Case'' also got some airplay locally.<br>
+
The next luna spark move would be the album ''[[Simcerity]]'', released in October 2004. A dramatic shift from the previous releases, ''[[Simcerity]]'' was covered in acoustic guitars and live keyboards, and half the album was sung by [[Roz Case|Roz]], who also contributed musically to a couple of the tracks (most notably ''Get Off Of My Case''). The standout track from the album, ''Sleepless'', received airplay on the [[Generator]] and several podcasts, and even a spot on a tsunami charity album, [[Reconstruction]]. Electro-punk-noise band [[the Clerics]] covered it at the first annual [[Circle Jerk]] in 2005. ''Repair'' and ''Get Off Of My Case'' also got some airplay locally.<br>
 +
[[image:C2m.gif|right|thumb|Countdown To Meltdown - 2006]]
 +
Next, the album ''[[Countdown To Meltdown]]'' was written and recorded, inside three weeks, as part of the [http://fawm.org February Album Writing Month], and released in March 2006.<br>
  
−
[[Dan Duran]] began work on the next luna spark release immediately; entitled ''Inepticity,'' it was going to be an EP of remixes from the Simcerity album... it never eventuated, though there are mp3s of the remixed ''Media Whore'' and ''Repair'' out there. The proposed concept album, ''The Siren'', was also left incomplete. Instead, luna spark released two cover versions - one of the Human League, another of Pink Floyd - the only releases for 2005.<br>
+
In February 2007, the albums ''[[The Siren]]'' and ''[[Trigger Happy Little Finger]]'' were released simultaneously. [[Roz Case|lulu]] returned to do vocals on the largely acoustic ''Trigger...'', while ''The Siren'', two years in the making, was an indietronic concept album detailing the story of a young boy who found success in the political arena as a result of his technological enhancements.<br>
−
[[image:Danx.jpg|right|thumb|Dan Duran c.2003]]
+
−
Instead, an entire album, ''[[Countdown To Meltdown]]'', was written and recorded inside three weeks, as part of the [http://fawm.org February Album Writing Month], and released in March 2006. Intended as a stop-gap release, wildly inconsistent and varied, the album met with a muted reception.<br>
+
  
−
'''luna spark''' have announced there will be two, three, perhaps even four more albums this year, depending on how the recordings go, including perhaps the long-lost concept album, ''The Siren''.
+
July of the same year saw ''[[Scud Of Freedom]]'',  a loud, shiny 'rock' oriented album layered in guitars and lasting just under half an hour. The Waikato Times gave the album 3 1/2 stars, commenting "synth and drum programming are mixed brilliantly with ferociously driven guitars".
 +
 
 +
To date there have only been three live luna spark performances - one at the [[Band Experiments]] in mid 2002, one at [[Soundproof]] in late 2002 (a show which included a cover of the Talking Heads' ''Road To Nowhere'', and the [[Circle Jerk]] 2006 (performing songs by [[Stadium]] and [[Rose Petals and Confetti]]).<br>
 +
 
 +
In early 2008 luna spark began releasing re-recordings of the ''[[Panic]]'' tracks, one song per month, beginning with ''Spin, Crash & Burn''. Four tracks were released before a robbery left Dan without the complex musical notation that was the backbone of the next track due, 'Patterns'. As a result, the re-recording project was canned, and a short EP of largely acoustic material, ''[[Steady State EP]]'', was released instead.
 +
 
 +
In March 2009 Dan retired the luna spark moniker, saying he wanted to give his new material (recorded under the alias [[Radio Over Moscow]]) a fresh, baggage-free start. A [[luna spark - The Best Of 2001-2008|best of]] collection was prepared and released via zip file and torrent.
  
 
==Releases==
 
==Releases==
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*[[Simcerity]] (LP) - 2004
 
*[[Simcerity]] (LP) - 2004
 
*[[Countdown To Meltdown]] (LP) - 2006
 
*[[Countdown To Meltdown]] (LP) - 2006
 +
*[[Trigger Happy Little Finger]] (LP) - 2007
 +
*[[The Siren]] (LP) - 2007
 +
*[[Scud Of Freedom]] (LP) - 2007
 +
*[[Steady State EP]] (EP) - 2008
 +
*[[luna spark - The Best Of 2001-2008]] (LP - zip/torrent) - 2009
 +
*[[luna spark - The Second Best Of and Bits & Pieces 1998-2008]] (zip) - 2009
  
 
'''MP3 singles only'''
 
'''MP3 singles only'''
Line 36: Line 50:
 
*Sound of the Crowd (Human League cover) - 2005
 
*Sound of the Crowd (Human League cover) - 2005
 
*Run Like Hell (Pink Floyd cover) - 2005
 
*Run Like Hell (Pink Floyd cover) - 2005
 +
*Scully's Theme - 2008
 +
*David Watts - 2008
 +
*Copywrong (remix feat. Disasteradio and Mike Corb) - 2009
  
−
==External links==
+
'''Miscellaneous'''
 +
*''Over the Rainbow'' appeared on the compilation ''[[Zeropointone]]''
 +
*''All Your Rights Are Belong To Us'' appeared on the compilation ''[[Area 07]]''
 +
*''Sleepless'' appeared on the compilation ''[[Reconstruction]]''
 +
*''Copywrong'', an mp3-only release in early 2009 was a remix of a track put together by Disasteradio and Mike Corb
  
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*[http://lunaspark.muzic.net.nz luna spark official website]
+
==Members==
−
*[http://myspace.com/lunaspark luna spark at myspace]
+
 
 +
*tracey exenola/[[Dan Duran]] - guitar, bass, keys, programming, vocals, songwriting
 +
 
 +
with:
 +
 
 +
*[[Roz Case|lulu]] - vocals
 +
*[[R William Murphy|rop movie]] - guitar, bass, rap
 +
*[[catatonic spacette]] - vocals
 +
*camille - vocals
 +
 
 +
==See also==
 +
 
 +
*[[Vetox]]
 +
*[[Big Elephants]]
 +
*[[R William Murphy]]
 +
*[[Roz Case]]
 +
 
 +
==External links==
  
 +
*[http://lunaspark.net luna spark official website]
 +
*[http://myspace.com/lunaspark luna spark in outer myspace]
 +
*[http://www.last.fm/music/Luna+Spark luna spark on last fm]
 +
*[http://virb.com/lunaspark luna spark on virb]
  
 
[[Category:bands]]
 
[[Category:bands]]

Latest revision as of 23:52, 14 February 2013

Scud Of Freedom - July 2007

Bio

luna spark (always spelt in all lower or all upper case) was an indietronic group/solo project originally based in Hamilton, New Zealand. The 'group' was formed in late 2000 by Dan Duran, going under the pseudonym tracey exenola (once again, always lower/upper case).

The project grew out of a previous group called Planet Claire with rop movie and Scott Howard (later of the Natalies). They only played only one gig, at the UFM Battle of the Bands in 2000, and broke up on its completion. The group's sound was unique to the competition, utilising a drum machine and no live drummer or bass player. Later that year, still without a band, using a similar setup, the recordings that would become the first luna spark EP began to take form.

Flyer handed out at the only Planet Claire gig, 2000

luna spark's first recording, an EP called Sarah, came out in early 2001. Some basic mastering had been provided by Fran from the group Tweeter, who was living in the same building at the time.

luna spark's second EP, Media, came out in May 2002. Two others appeared on this release, rop movie and the 'Catatonic Spacette'. The six track EP spawned a minor local radio 'hit' in Over the Rainbow, a quirky and offbeat rendition of the Wizard of Oz classic (complete with a rap from rop movie), which eventually found its way onto the Zeropointone compilation CD.

Dan Duran c.2003

luna spark's debut full length album Panic followed in July 2003; it featured a re-recorded version of Media's Moving Target and songs previously played live such as Still and 129 Die, expanding on the sound developed over the initial EPs. rop movie played guitar on 129 Die, a song he and Dan Duran had originally written way back in 1997.

The next luna spark move would be the album Simcerity, released in October 2004. A dramatic shift from the previous releases, Simcerity was covered in acoustic guitars and live keyboards, and half the album was sung by Roz, who also contributed musically to a couple of the tracks (most notably Get Off Of My Case). The standout track from the album, Sleepless, received airplay on the Generator and several podcasts, and even a spot on a tsunami charity album, Reconstruction. Electro-punk-noise band the Clerics covered it at the first annual Circle Jerk in 2005. Repair and Get Off Of My Case also got some airplay locally.

Countdown To Meltdown - 2006

Next, the album Countdown To Meltdown was written and recorded, inside three weeks, as part of the February Album Writing Month, and released in March 2006.

In February 2007, the albums The Siren and Trigger Happy Little Finger were released simultaneously. lulu returned to do vocals on the largely acoustic Trigger..., while The Siren, two years in the making, was an indietronic concept album detailing the story of a young boy who found success in the political arena as a result of his technological enhancements.

July of the same year saw Scud Of Freedom, a loud, shiny 'rock' oriented album layered in guitars and lasting just under half an hour. The Waikato Times gave the album 3 1/2 stars, commenting "synth and drum programming are mixed brilliantly with ferociously driven guitars".

To date there have only been three live luna spark performances - one at the Band Experiments in mid 2002, one at Soundproof in late 2002 (a show which included a cover of the Talking Heads' Road To Nowhere, and the Circle Jerk 2006 (performing songs by Stadium and Rose Petals and Confetti).

In early 2008 luna spark began releasing re-recordings of the Panic tracks, one song per month, beginning with Spin, Crash & Burn. Four tracks were released before a robbery left Dan without the complex musical notation that was the backbone of the next track due, 'Patterns'. As a result, the re-recording project was canned, and a short EP of largely acoustic material, Steady State EP, was released instead.

In March 2009 Dan retired the luna spark moniker, saying he wanted to give his new material (recorded under the alias Radio Over Moscow) a fresh, baggage-free start. A best of collection was prepared and released via zip file and torrent.

Releases

Albums/EPs

MP3 singles only

  • Guns Of Brixton (Clash cover) - 2003
  • Sleepless (demo) - 2004
  • Repair (remix) - 2004
  • Media Whore (remix) - 2004
  • Sound of the Crowd (Human League cover) - 2005
  • Run Like Hell (Pink Floyd cover) - 2005
  • Scully's Theme - 2008
  • David Watts - 2008
  • Copywrong (remix feat. Disasteradio and Mike Corb) - 2009

Miscellaneous

  • Over the Rainbow appeared on the compilation Zeropointone
  • All Your Rights Are Belong To Us appeared on the compilation Area 07
  • Sleepless appeared on the compilation Reconstruction
  • Copywrong, an mp3-only release in early 2009 was a remix of a track put together by Disasteradio and Mike Corb

Members

  • tracey exenola/Dan Duran - guitar, bass, keys, programming, vocals, songwriting

with:

See also

External links

Retrieved from "http://expdev.net/htownwiki/index.php?title=Luna_spark&oldid=22202"