Modular People

When you meet Tom Ellard it's hard to ignore a resonating desire to forget about the past. His groundbreaking ideas as a musician came about from a contempt for rock 'n' roll and guitar oriented bands. It was a formula Tom had seen for years, one that felt tired and repetitive as the seventies drew to a close.

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There are many theories behind what the intentionally ambiguous acronym SPK stands for all of which have been further confused by suggestive album covers and little confirmation from the band's members. The most dominate theory remains, however, that co founders Graeme Revell and Neil Hill met while they were both working in a psychiatric hospital and became inspired reading the manifesto of a German radical Marxist group called Sozialistisches Patientenkollektiv.

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Modular presents the Podmag, a new online experience combining words, visuals and audio with the first of the series being dedicated to Circa 1979: Signal to Noise.

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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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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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