Escape From Noise

* Original Artwork
* 1999 Artwork

***Escape from Noise*** is the fourth studio album by *Negativland*. It marked the band's first release on an established independent record label, SST Records. On the album, they continued to develop their experimental style, as well as incorporating elements of pop music with shorter tracks and more conventional melodies. "Christianity Is Stupid", a track featuring samples from the propaganda movie *If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do?,* proved to be an enduring signature song: the band and the release gained widespread attention a year later due to a SST press release falsely implying that murderer David Brom had listened to the song before killing his family members. The Residents are featured on the track 'You Don't Even Live Here'

## Background

Following the release of Negativland's third album, A Big 10-8 Place, in October of 1983, the group began to record its follow up, a concept album about noise titled *Escape From Noise*. Because the group were recording in the California area, they sought out the help of various local artists, such as The Residents, Fred Frith & Mark Mothersbaugh. In 1986 the group released an album called 'Jamcon '84' comprised of a live mashup from October 1985.

In March of 1987, Negativland had appeared on the Ralph Records compilation album 'Potatoes', submitting a track entitled '*Perfect Scrambled Eggs*'. It is unknown at what point during Escape From Noise's four year production that The Residents contributed to it, but due to Potatoes being released that same year, it is speculated that it later on during production.

On February 13th 1987, Negativland's recording studio caught alight. Band member Mark Hostler rescued the master recording for the album, as well as the original artwork, but could not save the band's equipment or archives.

The album was released November 4th 1987 and brought the group much of their first critical attention.

## Track Listing

1. Announcement (1:51)
2. Quiet Please (Ft. Das) (2:17)
3. Michael Jackson (Ft. Steve Fisk) (2:08)
4. Escape From Noise (2:36)
5. The Playboy Channel (1:32)
6. Stress In Marriage (1:35)
7. Nesbitt's Lime Soda Song (3:08)
8. Over The Hiccups (Ft. Louisa Michaels) (1:28)
9. Sycamore (2:29)
10. Car Bomb (Ft. Phil Freihofner) (2:03)
11. Methods Of Torture (Ft. Tom Herman) (1:23)
12. Yellow Black And Rectangular (2:14)
13. Backstage Pass (1:15)
14. Christianity Is Stupid (Ft. Ivan Stang) (3:55)
15. Time Zones (5:28)
16. You Don't Even Live Here (Ft. The Residents) (2:30)
17. The Way Of It (1:12)
18. Endscape (0:37)

## Credits

* Mark Hosler: Singing, Synthesizers, Guitars, Voice Tapes, Lyrics, Percussions, Rhythm Loops, Bomb Parts, David Manipulation, Tiny Metal Banjo, Recorder, Lots of Other Noises, Mix
* Don Joyce: Yelling, Talking Tapes, Electric Tympani, Synthesizer, Lyrics, Singing, Booper Bee, Bomb Parts & Assembly, Noises Everywhere, Mix
* Chris Grigg: Drums, Synthesizer, Lyrics, Singing, Computer & Software, Field Recordings, Mix
* Richard Lyons: Singing, Lyrics, Voice

***Contributions From***

* Ian Allen: Helicopter on 'Sycamore', Rhythm Loop on 'Car Bomb', Bell on 'Time Zones'
* Jello Biafra: Toilet Flushing on 'The Playboy Channel'
* Das: Voice Tapes on 'Quiet Please'
* Dina Emerson: Wordless Vocals on 'You Don't Even Live Here'
* Steve Fisk: Optigon & Voice Tapes on 'Michael Jackson'
* Tera Freedman: Voice Tape on 'Backstage Pass'
* Phil Freihofner: Bomb Parts on 'Car Bomb'
* Ed Markmann: Paid Voice
* Fred Frith: Urban Drum & HalfSpeed Violin on 'Michael Jackson'
* Jerry Garcia: Mouth Sounds & Chimes on 'Backstage Pass'
* Alexander Hacke: Metal Noises on 'Christianity Is Stupid'
* Mickey Hart: Percussion & Processed Animals on 'Backstage Pass'
* Tom Herman: Torture Guitars on 'Car Bomb'
* Henry Kaiser: DoubleSpeed Disco Guitar on 'Quiet Please'
* Louisa Michaels: Singing on 'Over The Hiccups'
* Mark Mothersbaugh: Jazz Bass, Jimi Hendrix, E-Cussion, Saxophone & Noises on 'The Playboy Channel'
* The Residents: Hoots & Clanging on 'You Don't Even Live Here'
* Rev. Ivan Stang: Larynx on 'Christianity Is Stupid'
* Rand Weatherwax: Orchestra Hits & E-Cussion 'Quiet Please'
* Rob Wortman: Leaf Bower on 'You Don't Even Live Here'
* Graphics/Art/Design by: Negativland/Peter Montgomery/Francesca Freedman
* Mastering by: George Horn

## Release History

 RecRec Music
 Penguin
 1999
 2013

## Buy Or Die

* *Escape From Noise CD at SST Superstore*
* *Escape From Noise LP at SST Superstore*

## References

1. ↑ https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/negativland/escape-from-noise/