Zorch
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Formed in 1973, Zorch was England's first totally electronic band, pioneering integrated performances of synthesizers and lightshow. Originally a four-piece, by 1975 Zorch were performing as a duo: Basil Brooks and Gwyo Zepix played just three monophonic EMS analogue synthesizers, but were augmented by Silver (dance) and a full-on psychedelic lightshow. At times reminiscent of Tim Blake as well as Tonto's Expanding Head Band, their repetitive melodies, extended improvisation and thumping sequenced bass created a unique musical style that anticipated techno and trance. In the days before polyphonic synthesizers and personal computers, they filled out the sound using two reel-to-reel tape machines as a delay line.
The duo played at a number of 70's free festivals including Windsor '74, Meagan Fayre '75 and Stonehenge '74 & '75. Zorch were the only band ever to record in Peter Zinovieff's EMS studio in Putney - in 1975 they used the EMS Synthi 100 to record the "Ouroboros" Suite, recently been remastered for CD. Some of this music was used as the sound track for the short film "Mother Earth", with synthetic visuals from the EMS Spectron Video Synthesizer.
Zorch split up in 1976. Basil joined the Steve Hillage Band and provided the live sound effects for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy stage shows. Gwyo Zepix joined Bristol jazzrock band Skywhale before moving to Germany in 1979. In a fit of nostalgia, Gwyo returned to the UK in 2000 to join the classic Gong line-up on keyboards and guitar. Zorch also reformed at this time, and have since played a few UK gigs including The Garage with Daevid Allen on guitar, and Hackney Empire supporting Gong. In 2001, they played at the Assembly Rooms in Glastonbury and recorded a live album of this event (Glastonbury Live). Most recently Zorch took part in the 3-day 2006 Gong Unconvention at the Melkweg, Amsterdam.
