Modular People

Jaimie Leonarder is an Australian musician, archivist, social worker, film critic, radio announcer and DJ. In the 1980s, Leonarder formed an experimental noise rock band called The Mu-Mesons, and he now works as a DJ for the monthly "The Sounds of Seduction" night club.

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A day of free talks exploring early experimentation in music, film and video and the cultural influences surrounding one of the most creative periods in Australia's music history.

Key panelists including Tom Ellard (Severed Heads), Andrew Penhallow (Volition Records), Stephen Mallinder (Cabaret Voltaire) and Roger Grierson (Thought Criminals) share their works, insights and experiences from the underground of Australian music.

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The Makers of the Dead Travel Fast were one of the first bands to have LPs recorded and released by the quintessential underground of label of the time, M Squared. Their aquatically inspired melodies radically broadened pre-conceptions of where music and noise overlapped.

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We recently had the opportunity to speak to Michael Tee, co-founder of seminal post punk label M Squared and asked him about what it meant to be an independent record label, then and now.

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Sydney, circa 1979. A thriving underground music scene existed where nothing was concrete and the status of a band's line up was more than fluid. Whether or not one had mastered an instrument meant nothing, nor was it important. You had a different role in another band, and that was that. Bands would last years, or weeks. Nothing was concrete.

Over the coming weeks we will be re-introducing you to various artists from this exciting period in our music history.

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Modular is proud to announce a very special event as part of the 2010 Sydney Festival, Circa 1979: Signal to Noise, a celebration of the unique and influential period of Australian music between 1979 - 1985; the avant garde, post-punk, new wave and early electronic styles of music that cultivated the thriving underground Sydney scene. This flurry of creative activity remains one of the most poorly documented of Australia's music history just as it was the most exciting.

The Circa 1979: Signal to Noise experience will be presented across a series of events, concerts and an exhibition - all of which can be found on the Sydney Festival website.

In addition to special guest panelists talking at the Signal to Noise Sessions and the Signal to Noise at the Sound Lounge exhibition, we're delighted to announce that the legendary John Cale will be performing in concert at the Enmore theatre and presenting a keynote address at the York Theatre. This very special event will feature his video and audio-visual works from collaborations with Andy Warhol and others. As a founding member of the Velvet Underground, Cale's career spans over 4 decades and in more recent years Cale has worked with such artists as LCD Soundsystem and producer Danger Mouse.

Seminal Sydney electronic and multimedia pioneers Severed Heads will playing at the Beck's Festival Bar. Recently Severed Heads regained attention overseas when internationally renowned DJ, DJ Harvey discovered their music and included tracks in his Sarcastic Disco mix. Playing alongside the Heads' are celebrated Australian new wave band, The Reels. Their highly acclaimed single, "Quasimodo's Dream" was recognised by APRA in 2001 as one of the top 10 Australian songs of all time. Closing the night is a DJ Set by very special guest, Steve Mallinder, founding member of prolific experimental, electronic band Cabaret Voltaire.

Circa 1979: Signal to Noise is the brainchild of Modular and we're extremely ecstatic to have had to the pleasure to curate what we believe will be a truly enriching and educational event. We've worked very hard for the past six months to make Circa 1979 a reality and we're thrilled to be sharing the experience with you.

Circa 1979: Signal to Noise
14 Jan, Becks Festival Bar Severed Heads, The Reels, Stephen Mallinder (Cabaret Voltaire) DJ set
15 Jan, Seymour Centre John Cale Keynote and Opening Party including the opening of the Signal to Noise exhibition
16 Jan, Seymour Centre Signal to Noise Sessions - a day of talks with panelists including Julian Knowles, Tom Ellard (Severed Heads), Roger Grierson (Thought Criminals), Jaimie Leonarder, Stephen Mallinder (Cabaret Voltaire) and many more
16 Jan, Enmore Theatre John Cale and his band

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