Negativland

"PIECE A PIE? PIECE A PIE BUD?"
"No!"

In their words:

Seelard Records 021 (not a Negativland release)

Negativmailorderland has discovered what can only be described as the ultimate "reissue" of the music that made Negativland so (in)famous: the two track EP originally released by SST Records featuring cover versions of a Very Famous Irish Rock Band's hit song. If you've gotten this far you undoubtedly know what we're talking about so we won't bore you with the details...

Several "bootleg" versions of our banned EP have appeared over the past decade, including some forgeries that are so well-designed that it's hard to tell them apart from the original (see our discography for details), but none of them have come even close to encapsulating the bloody history of that old release as this brand-new CD on the suspicious "Seelard Records" label. We don't even know where this "label" is located, but we were so impressed with their efforts that we've decided to distribute a bunch of copies of it ourselves.

THESE GUYS ARE FROM ENGLAND AND WHO GIVES A SHIT is an album-length collection of just about every darn gasp uttered by Negativland which relates to the notorious and banned EP, from early run-thrus of the material (taped from our weekly radio show, OVER THE EDGE), to live versions both pre-lawsuit and post, and to the actual single itself. We are amazed at the extremely high-fidelity and professional presentation of this material, which even includes the only top-notch recordings available from our "Music For Lawyers" tour of 1993 (several lawsuit-related compositions which never saw the light of day on any other "legitimate" Negativland album).
Complete track listing:

1. OVER THE EDGE 12/31/89 (excerpts) 7:59
2. Long Distance Dedication #1 (live) 6:19
3. 1991 A Cappella Mix - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For 7:15
4. Special Edit Radio Mix - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For 5:47
5. Long Distance Dedication #2 (live) 7:03
6. Copying is a Criminal Act (live) 5:07
7. Wake Up America (live) 4:03
8. The Black Lady of Espionage (live) 5:00
9. Deliberate Sabotage (live) 2:59
10. A Cappella Version - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (live) 7:16
11. Edited Special Edit Radio Mix - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (may actually be played on the radio!!) 5:42

We are convinced that this overly attentive-to-detail release will EXHAUST your interest in this subject FOREVER and provide the Negativ-fan with legally impossible entertainment at the same time.

But I also couldn't imagine a group like Negativland coming out of, say, Canada. [Laughs.]

Um, John Oswald?

(I know, I know -- he was talking about Negativland, the "band", specifically and how they operated over the years, and not talking about classic found-sound artists in general, but those three words above came immediately to mind after that final line.)

Consolidated Works, Seattle (Fri 3/10, Sat 3/11) along with the Negativlandland art exhibit that debuted in NYC last year.

Capitol Theater, Olympia (Sun 3/12)

"It's All In Your Head" is the show.. same one as the ones in Ontario and the Bay Area last year.

Expect a more Over The Edge-y type thing and don't expect greatest hits although Richard Lyons and David Wills will likely be in attendance, so who knows what will happen.

I'll be at the Friday show fer sure.

Is Negativlandland the art exhibit then? I got confused when I saw a link to that on the site because it looked like something that had already taken place.

(Assuming I don't have other work priorities) I'm probably skipping Spank Rock Sat. night to see/hear this again...

The small David Wills installation in the back was like crumbs in front of a hungry man. My favourite part of the wall of written Wills-isms was "One thing that is very important is that you burp your Tupperware".

It did go on a bit too long I think, 3 hours, but I was also just very tired after a long workweek. Yeah I considered going again tonight too, but I've already got other plans.

Another thing is that I actually got lost on the way there and ended up stopping right in front of a church a couple of blocks away that had physical features of both Christianity and those funny shaped things you see on the top of mosques. Very odd.

You can! This show was the debut of the "Hey, we have 'It's All In Your Head' for sale at the merch booth" show... they're selling the limited edition double-CDs for $12 each I believe. I picked one up last night. You can also order them only via negativland.com, and those are the ONLY two ways you can get this. I picked one up, but -- after seeing this show -- will probably actually listen to it a week later, just because, well, my brain is already saturated with It's All In Your Head as it is. :D

That was the first song I ever heard of New Order ever when I knew I had fallen in love with New Order.

if it's the track I'm thinking of (simple 2/4 plonky stomp), that's a sample of the first track on Moebius & Renziehausen's Ersatz

"Pump gag"

http://blogs.citypages.com/ctg/2006/05/art_party_negat.asp

Negativland is doing their "It's All In Your Head FM" tour near me next month...anyone know anything about it?

I've seen it an it's freaking great. It will make you think, (especially if you are an atheist like me). You must go. Negativland are very dear to my heart, though I only really think about them intensely about once a year.

I've heard that Mark Hosler from Negativland will do a lecture at the ZXZW festival in Holland. Which already has a killer line-up.
www.zxzw.nl

Bimble, I'm impressed.

Spoke one of the organizers. There will also the premiere of a new Neagtivland film.

I'll unite with you, reatard. Any idea what the show will be like? I'm guessing that the shows will have a similar style to the 2005 <i>It's All in Your Head FM</i> shows, but different content, right? I listen to that live release more than almost any other live release from the last five years.

Color me excited.

Saw Hosler give his lecture last night at the Knox Museum of Art. Then everybody went to Senor Taco with him. Then bowling!

Performance by Negativland + SUE-C • Tuesday, March 23rd at 9:30pm EST:
Part of the 59th Ann Arbor Film Festival. Free and open to the public.
https://www.aafilmfest.org/​

Live collage cinema and live collage sound! Legendary sound collage group Negativland teams up with legendary live cinema artist SUE-C to bring you a streaming audiovisual performance about our nervous systems, our realities, and the evolving forms of media and technology that inevitably insert themselves between them. Original music, found sounds, uniquely organic visuals, manipulated media, Boopers, and a few surprises are normal to come to your attention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKI5BYfrKyw

Great. thanks!
I covered 180 d’ Gs to the FUTURE! for the long-gone, Whiney-edited Paper Thin Walls, also had a lively phone cnversation w Hosler, lall of that archived here:

https://papercomet.blogspot.com/2020/01/negativland-reviewinterview_19.html

A year or two later, I pitched Thingmotactic: https://papercomet.blogspot.com/2020/10/negativland-pitch-see-prev.html

Thought True False was uneven, mainly wordwise, but some amazing sounds---will have to check the 2020, din't know about that!

Hosler is a very lively conversationalist!

Yeah, and I wish I could have used more of what he was saying, but he was great with what we had room for, coming across at all times as the real deal. Negativland is a way of life.

wow @ their last two albums. True False is great, World Will Decide is maybe even greater. not bad from a band I thought was done for!!

Agreed! Some of their best work yet!

yep they are great, also great live. if you get a chance to see them, go.

I love their website FAQ: "didn't like half of you die a few years ago?"

I thought Dave Wills ("The Weatherman") died a few years back, so I was thrilled to hear his voice on the second track. He's one of those guys who could make me laugh just reading the newspaper.

when I saw them he made a special live video appearance for the encore!

i didn't realize until recently that former member chris grigg was the guy behind the general midi -> YM2612 GEMS composition system for the sega genesis!

I had absolutely no idea this band was still around.

The Over the Edge archive at archive.org is overwhelming; I guess they're working directly with Joyce's assistants to eventually host every single OTE episode. Looks like they're up to 1,300 archived so far. Incredibly helpful for browsing individual series or time periods (finally having some metadata and show descriptions for all of these is amazing). Strongly recommended stuff – jaw-dropping run of great work, esp. given each episode is 3+ hrs long.

looking up Negativland stuff on YouTube I got directed to this video, where Hosler talks about the U2 lawsuit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2h1TOfeVFA

it's interesting because, during the lecture, he questions who in Athens Georgia it was who even brought the record to U2's attention, and realizes it must have had something to do with REM, particularly their manager who happens to be IN THE CROWD

the part where Casey Kasem goes "This is American Top 40, right here on the radio station you grew up with, Music 103 OH FUCK" is still incredibly funny

also reveals how they got the Casey Kasem samples in the first place: some fan gave them a tape after one of their shows

Mark is a real charming, entertaining guy IRL ... really easy to talk to. There was a slightly awkward incident in the past couple years, where one of the new members of the band was mislabeled as Mark Hosler in the caption of a promo photo on the website of a venue they were performing at ... however, they do look a bit alike.

hahaha they do

also thanks sleeve for posting this -- re: Rather Ripped records featuring pics of lil Hosler

https://devorahostrov.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-story-of-rather-ripped-records.html

i found a test pressing of 'escape from noise' in a fleamarket here last week. never owned a copy before and it's got the big thick booklet too, super happy with my find!

Good find! Did it come with the 'Car Bomb' bumper sticker? I'm pretty sure the dude in the record shop I bought it in swiped my one. I've never fully got over it.

Alas no!

I believe I might have a spare sticker ... also I think you can buy the sticker for like $3 from their mail order site? ... mail order moved from Contra Costa County to NC in the past couple years so there may have been changes.

back in the day I had that sticker on my Subaru, doesn't seem like such a good idea these days tho

thanks for sticker heads up. 35 years on it shall be mine!

x post

probably not such a good idea having it on yr car in this era, but i don't drive so shall stick it elsewhere.

Stoked for this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM20UEek7IY

the video projections were a nice addition to the performance ... though at various points the music felt a bit anemic in comparison. It's nice to see Mark still going though. A friend told me, "they should just retire already," but sometimes there are still things you want to say/do even if you're old? There were some great parts in the set (not counting the joys of the Weatherman at the end, which was like, the "playing the hits" encore), but other parts where I was like, "uhhhhh idk what you're trying to say here? I kinda get it, but that's maybe not what I would see as the most salient aspect of what I think you are trying to say?" ... there were also a few samples that I felt like didn't really "work" for me, but they were used frequently so I felt like they were "supposed to work" but maybe it's just me. The audience seemed happy, which was nice.

the video projections were a nice addition to the performance ... though at various points the music felt a bit anemic in comparison. It's nice to see Mark still going though. A friend told me, "they should just retire already,"

― sarahell

seriously, at this point they're just cashing in, who's gonna pay $300 a ticket for a seat in the nosebleeds

the show I saw in Eugene last year was great, fwiw (I do think the live video element added something)

seriously, at this point they're just cashing in, who's gonna pay $300 a ticket for a seat in the nosebleeds

Huh? Negativland is a $22.50 ticket here at LA Arts&Archive.

/sarcasm

(I assume)

Then I can't wait until Negativland goes back to basics on their next album.

aren't they playing some spot with numbers in the name that is kinda DIY and very much not up to code and probably shouldn't be promoting shows as much as they do if they don't want to get busted, though maybe LA is nicer about that shit than some cities?

not to be a dick about it, just like, if they get busted, and you know the people running it (because it looks like they are cool), give them my contact info lol.

/sarcasm

(I assume)

― sleeve

yeah just like. sure. negativland are going to "retire" on the massive income from their phenomenally successful recording career. because "retire" is what people do, not "get too sick to work and die".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWYVxDmdrfg

on tour as well!

I missed their dc area show but heard good things about it.

Upcoming PNW tour has the documentary supporting at all shows.

Saw the film, live Q & A, and live show combo platter a few weeks ago and it was fantastic. Don't miss it. Allow a lot of time to peruse the extensive merch too.

I haven't seen the doc yet so this clip might be in it.

The actual copy of Negativland's U2 that started the whole thing was sold at an Athens record store. Hosler later surmised that possibly someone connected to R.E.M. was the one who ratted them out to U2 or Island Records and at this 2004 Duke Law conference, he confronts REM manager Bertis Downs about it and Downs admits it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2h1TOfeVFA

seeing them tonight!

Snitchy Happy People

sheesh, I totally missed that frogbs posted the clip earlier

saw them in Vancouver last night, film plus show. mind-blowing! dragged along two people who'd never heard of them and they were converted to the beauty

Good news from yesterday about various reissues and things coming together per posts on their official FB/Bluesky feeds:

NEGATIVLAND’S SECOND ALBUM, “POINTS,” IS NOW ON BANDCAMP, AND OUR FIRST ALBUM RE-ISSUE IS… ALMOST HERE!!

It's taken us an embarrassingly long forever to get here, but here we are - after endless delays and loop delays and loop delays and loop delays (deaths, health issues, floods, paralyzing levels of depression, etc.), we are (deep breath!) finally a month away from announcing FOR REAL the pre-sale of the vinyl re-issue of our first album, with handmade one-of-kind album covers, and a bunch of surprise bonus stuff that we think (we hope!) you will really appreciate. So stay tuned for that.

In the meantime, thanks to the incredible efforts of Negativland archivist Taylor Jessen, we are also going to sloooooowly (as in “one-at-a-time-over-the-next-year-or-so") put all of our studio albums and Over The Edge CD releases, from 1980 to 2014, onto Bandcamp, with pdfs to go with all the audio. We’ll be doing this in chronological order, so look in the comments below for a link to our second album, 1981’s “POINTS,” which is on there as of today. If owning actual “things” is no longer how you consume media, please consider supporting us via Bandcamp!

And speaking of “things,” while the remastered physical re-issue of our first album will not be cheap (and will be limited to 1000 copies), and the CD version will only come when you get the vinyl (we'll explain why that is the case in the announcement), it will also be on Bandcamp for you to hear for free, or to buy for $10. Join our mailing list (link in comments) to know when we announce this, as the endless AI slop on social media might never show it to you!

wonder if they're going to put out any new music to go along with it, feel like they could put out something real interesting in this era

I guess it's been a while since the No Brain single! I love True/False and The World Will Decide

honestly I think it's probably their two best. not just because the music sounds more interesting to me than what they've done in the past but also because they genuinely creep me out.

cadillac
cadillac
cadillac-a-lac

Attention radio broadcasters and those who play them on TV — The Avant Radio Fest (ARF) is coming to WFMU this November, and you're invited! WFMU, Wave Farm, and ARTxFM are teaming up to bring you ARF — a weekend focused on the creative and experimental nature of radio. When: Friday Nov. 13 – Sunday Nov. 15, 2026 Where: Jersey City, New Jersey at WFMU’s Monty Hall & Art House What: Panels on Radio Theater, Transmission Art, LPFMs, a Theremin playing workshop, a live performance from Negativland and so much more!

Deets: https://mailchi.mp/wfmu/arf