Trans-X

Trans-X is a Canadian 1980s synth band formed in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are known for their hit song "Living on Video" which charted world wide.

History

Trans-X was started by Canadian musician Pascal Languirand, previously known for his albums in the Ambient, Cosmic and Space music genres. In 1982 he recruited Montreal Keyboardist /Programmer Steve Wyatt as the second half of the Trans-X duo.Together they recorded a demo that got Trans-X a recording contract for a single (Vivre sur Video). Steve Wyatt played some synthesizer and did some programming on Vivre sur Video (Living on Video),he also composed "Digital World" and played all the instruments on the track, which was on the flip side of the single,go to link to see Steve Wyatt's name on the German Polydor single http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhYn4wzu75Y. "Digital World" can also be found on the maxi-single and on the Living on Video album. Steve Wyatt left Trans-X sometime in late 1983. Pascal later recruited Montrealer Laurie Ann Gill as the second half of the Trans-X duo. Gill can be seen in the early videos where she performed backing vocals for synthpop group Nudimension. When their first song "Living on Video" was released it was an instant hit in Canada and the single later sold two million copies and reached British and European Top ten charts on its 1985 re-release.^[1]

Later in 1983, Trans-X released another song "Message on the Radio" which did not make the charts, and Trans-X ended the year with another single, "3D-Dance". "Message on the Radio" was made into a video in Toronto, Canada. The video was produced by Emil Dittrich of Toronto and Carol Linnane of Boston.

All songs were featured on the subsequent album, Living on Video.^[2][3] In 1986, Languirand decided to retire as Trans-X after his latest album Living on My Own failed to chart outside of Canada. After the album was released Languirand went silent for a few years and decided to continue his solo career with new age music, ambient, space music instead of electronica.

In 1994, Languirand returned as Trans-X performing live with Nadia Sohaei.^[4] In 1998, he released the Greatest Hits album. Later Languirand recorded a remake of his main hit under the title "Living on Video 2003" and released The Drag-Matic Album, produced by Michel Huygen of Neuronium. One more new version of this hit, "Living on Video 2k6" was released on 6 May 2006.^[5]

As of 2010, Languirand lives in Mexico and preparing a new album by Trans-X for release.

Discography

Singles

• "Living on Video" (1981)
• "Message on the Radio" (1982)
• "3-D Dance" (1983)
• "Vivre Sur Vidéo" (1983)
• "Living on Video" (1985) – remix (No. 9 UK,^[6] No. 61 U.S. Billboard Hot 100,^[7] No. 43 Sweden, No. 25 Belgium (Flanders), No. 3 Belgium (Wallonia), No. 7 Netherlands, No. 1 France)
• "Ich Liebe Dich (I Love You)" (1986)^[8]
• "Monkey Dance" (1986)
• "Maria" (1988)
• "Funkytown / Living on Video" (1991)
• "Living on Video" (1991)
• "A New Life on Video" (1995)
• "To Be... Or Not To Be" (1995)
• "Living on Video 2K6" (2006)

Albums

• Message on the Radio (1983)
• Living on Video (1983)
• On My Own (1988)
• Trans-X xcess (1995)
• 010101 (2001)^[9]
• The Drag-Matic Album (2003)
• Hi-NRG Album (2012)

Solo albums by Pascal Languirand

• Minos (1978) (LP only)
• De Harmonia Universalia (1980) (LP only)
• Vivre Ici Maintenant (1981) (LP only)
• Gregorian Waves (1991)
• Ishtar (1993)
• Renaissance (2002)
• LSD (as Cybernium; collaboration with Michel Huygen) (2003)
• Incanta (2005)

Citations

External links

• Official Myspace page by Trans-X
• Official Pascal Languirand Myspace page
• Article about Pascal Languirand
• Official site by Cybernium – collaboration project by Pascal Languirand and Michel Huygen