| IAMX | |
|---|---|
Chris Corner photograhed by live keyboardist Janine Gezang in 2009 |
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Genres | Indietronica |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | Major, 61 Seconds, Fiction/NoCarbon/Genepool, Metropolis, SubSpace Communications |
| Associated acts | Robots in Disguise Sneaker Pimps Imogen Heap |
| Website | iamx.eu |
IAMX is the solo musical project of Chris Corner, formerly of Sneaker Pimps. The lyrics are primarily concerned with subjects such as sex, sexuality, death, emotions, narcotic intoxication, decadence, religion, alienation and allusions to politics. Corner currently lives in Berlin, where he has found "the spirit to care less about the music industry and take an independent route."[1]
Contents |
Consisting of 1980s-influenced electro, the debut album, Kiss + Swallow, was released in 2004. However, many of the tracks were originally recorded for a shelved Sneaker Pimps album, dubbed by fans as SP4. Bootleg copies of the original recordings are still available online. On June 17, 2008 Kiss + Swallow was re-released in the US. The album included the previously unreleased track "I-Polaroids" and a remix of "Kiss and Swallow". This release also carries an alternative cover.
IAMX's second album, The Alternative was released in April 2006 in Europe, October 2007 (digitally) and November 2007 (physically) in the UK and Ireland, and May 2008 on Metropolis Records in the US. UK and US versions feature a slightly different cover with black tape rather than yellow tape. In addition to variant cover artwork, UK and US versions also feature alternate versions of several tracks with re-recorded backing vocals from Janine Gezang as well as a hidden instrumental string version of Spit It Out. The album is generally viewed as an underground classic of its genre by many music critics and the fans[2]
A live album, Live in Warsaw, was released on November 14, 2008. The performance was recorded in front of a live audience for Polskie Radio Program III and later mixed in Berlin at IAMX2 studios.
The third IAMX album, Kingdom of Welcome Addiction, was released on May 19, 2009.[3] A new track entitled "Think of England" was made available for free download on November 7, 2008.[4] A remixed and reworked version of the album entitled Dogmatic Infidel Comedown OK was released on March 19, 2010.
On April 14, 2010, Chris announced on the official IAMX Twitter page that he was working on his fourth studio album, which he referred to as IAMX4.[5] On October 19, 2010, it was announced on the official IAMX Facebook page that IAMX4 was now identified as Volatile Times. The album was released in Europe on March 18, 2011. It peaked at #68 in the German Media Control Charts.[6] New songs from the album that were performed on October 22, 2010 at the Prague show at Meet Factory included "Fire and Whispers", "Bernadette", "Oh Beautiful Town", "Music People", "Cold Red Light", keeping alive the cabaret-esque and dark electronic sound Chris Corner has become known for. About a week before the album's release, the track "Fire and Whispers" was made available for free download from the IAMX website.
All albums are performed, produced, mixed and mastered by Corner himself.[7][8][9]
Early live incarnations of IAMX had consisted of a revolving cast of players including Sue Denim and Dee Plume of Robots in Disguise, Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt of The Mighty Boosh, James Cook of Nemo and Julia Davis.
From late 2006 IAMX Live consisted of Chris on vocals, keyboards/synths and guitars; Dean Rosenzweig on guitars and bass, Tom Marsh on drums and Janine Gezang on keyboards/synths, vocals, guitars and bass.
In early 2010 the live band was announced to be Janine Gezang on keyboards/synths, vocals, guitars and bass; Alberto Álvarez on guitars, vocals, drums and bass and Jon Harper on drums.[10] However on August 3, 2010, Jon had been officially replaced by MAX, the drum machine. On Fire & Whispers Tour 2011, IAMX was joined by the drummer/percussionist, Caroline Weber.
| Year | Release | Label | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | "Your Joy Is My Low" | Recall | Kiss + Swallow |
| "Kiss and Swallow" | Tennis Schallplatten / Metropolis Records | ||
| 2005 | "Missile" | Tennis Schallplatten | |
| 2006 | "Spit It Out" | 61seconds / Major Records | The Alternative |
| "President" / "Spit It Out" | 61seconds / Major Records | ||
| "The Alternative" | Major Records | ||
| 2007 | "Nightlife" | 61seconds / Major Records | |
| 2008 | "The Alternative" | Fiction / No Carbon / Genepool (UK only) | |
| "President" | Fiction / No Carbon / Genepool (UK only) | ||
| "Spit It Out" | Metropolis Records (US only), Fiction / No Carbon / Genepool (UK only) | ||
| "Song of Imaginary Beings" | Metropolis Records (US only) | ||
| "President" | Metropolis Records (US only) | ||
| "Think of England" | 61seconds (Free Download)[4] / Metropolis Records | Kingdom of Welcome Addiction | |
| 2009 | "The Great Shipwreck of Life" | 61seconds | |
| "Tear Garden" | 61seconds / Metropolis Records | ||
| "My Secret Friend" (with Imogen Heap) | 61seconds / Metropolis Records | ||
| 2011 | "Ghosts of Utopia" | BMG / Rough Trade | Volatile Times |
| "Bernadette" | |||
| "Volatile Times" |
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