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Algiers (band)

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Algiers
Franklin James Fisher performing with Algiers in London in 2015
Franklin James Fisher performing with Algiers in London in 2015
Background information
OriginAtlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Years active2012–present
LabelsMatador
Members
  • Franklin James Fisher
  • Ryan Mahan
  • Lee Tesche
  • Matt Tong
Websitealgierstheband.com

Algiers is an American-English post-punk band from Atlanta, Georgia, United States, formed in 2012. The band consists of multi-instrumentalists Franklin James Fisher, Ryan Mahan, Lee Tesche, and Matt Tong.[2] Algiers pulls from a divergent number of musical (and nonmusical) influences; the most notable of which being post-punk, hip-hop, Southern Gothic literature, and the concept of the Other. Their sound has been described as dystopian soul due to its somber mood, afrofolk inspired vocal approach, and heavy emphasis on atonal textures.[3]

History

[edit]

Fisher, Mahan, and Tesche (of the experimental band Lyonnais) met and grew up playing music together in Atlanta, Georgia, but officially formed in London in 2012 with the release of their first single.[4] They chose the name Algiers in reference to Gillo Pontecorvo's 1966 film, The Battle of Algiers,[4] and a key historical site of anti-colonial struggle, symbolizing a contested space where violence, racism, resistance, and religion commingle.[2]

Their live show has been described as "recalling at various points PIL's dub-style expansions, Afrobeat, industrial, no wave, free jazz, Suicide, the XTC of "Travels in Nihilon," Nick Cave's fire and brimstone, and musique concrète."[5]

2012–2016: Formation and debut album

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The group released their first single "Blood" in January 2012 via Atlanta based label Double Phantom. Byron Coley for The Wire wrote: "Although the fusion may have been touched upon in recordings related to both The Birthday Party and The Gun Club, Algiers are dedicated to grafting gospel music onto post-punk guitar-scuzz...this record is mesmerising and really sucks you in with its weird power."[6]

The band's self-titled debut album was released through Matador on June 2, 2015.[7] Ahead of their eponymous release, the band opened for Interpol, during their North American Tour.[8] Matt Tong, formerly of Bloc Party, began playing drums for Algiers at this time.[8]

In the spring of the following year, the band premiered and toured the Eastern US screening the sixth installment of Brendan Canty of Fugazi and Christoph Green's Burn to Shine film series.[9] Burn to Shine Atlanta was curated by Lee Tesche of Algiers and filmed in the summer of 2007.[10] This was followed by a live installation with renowned Japanese flower artist Makoto Azuma that saw the band performing in the Californian desert underneath a palm tree suspended in mid air.[11]

2017–2021: The Underside of Power, There Is No Year and collaborations

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On June 23, 2017, Algiers released their second studio album, The Underside of Power, to universal critical acclaim.[12] The album was produced by Adrian Utley of Portishead and Ali Chant and mixed by Randall Dunn. This coincided with a European stadium tour that found the band opening up for Depeche Mode[13] and remixing the lead single from their Spirit album.[14] At the same time, it was revealed that Algiers had also been working in the studio with Massive Attack[15] and were releasing an experimental tape and zine series.[16] Much of 2018 saw the band on the road with Young Fathers,[17] a DIY tour with Downtown Boys, and a special set at the Black Cat 25th anniversary party.[18]

In the lead up to their next album, the band released the critically acclaimed, explosive, free jazz single, "Can the Sub_Bass Speak?"[19] Their third full-length album for Matador, There Is No Year, followed on January 17, 2020. On February 1, the band made their network television debut performing "Dispossession" on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[20]

Saadi Yacef and Ryan Mahan

Post-release, members of the band traveled to Algeria for the first time and met with Algerian Independence fighter Saadi Yacef. His memoirs, Souvenirs de la Bataille d'Alger, served as the basis for Gillo Pontecorvo's film The Battle of Algiers, which Yacef helped produce, and was one of the inspirations for the band's name.[21] This marked a frenzied period of activity and collaboration for the group beginning with their featured appearance on Massive Attack's Eutopia audiovisual EP alongside Christiana Figueres;[22] the release of "Cleveland 20/20" a 50-minute expansion and re-imagining of their song "Cleveland" in the wake of the George Floyd protests;[23] Fisher's guest feature on Billy Woods and Moor Mother's BRASS album;[24] Mahan's first solo outing as Dead Meat;[25] as well as Tesche and Mahan releasing two albums as the award-winning multimedia collaboration, Nun Gun, with visual artist Brad Feuerhelm.[26] Nun Gun's debut release, Mondo Decay, pairs a book of Feuerhelm's photography with an accompanying original soundtrack cassette that features guest contributions from Mark Stewart of The Pop Group, Adrian Sherwood, ONO, Mourning [A] BLKstar, artists Luiza Prado and Farbod Kokabi, as well as authors Blake Butler, Michael Salu, and Sohail Daulatzai.[27] Nun Gun released the Mark Stewart focused LP, Stealth Empire (In Dub), in April 2021.[28] This would be one of the last recordings of Mark Stewart before his death.

2022–present: Shook vs Shook World

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On September 13, 2022, Algiers released the single "Bite Back" featuring the rappers Billy Woods and Backxwash, their first new music in over two years.[29] They quickly followed it up with the blistering single, "Irreversible Damage", which featured a rare verse from Rage Against the Machine's Zack de la Rocha, his only recorded appearance outside of Run the Jewels in over a decade. It was announced that their fourth album, Shook, would be released the following February.[30]

In January 2023, King Vision Ultra released the unannounced Algiers-hosted mixtape, Shook World,[31] which melds together samples from Algiers's Shook album with snippets from a personal archive of cassettes originally sourced from outlets like Kim's Video and Music and mixtape purveyors Tape Kingz back in the '90s, plus personal phone field recordings and voice memos.[32][33] The companion album featured guests include Elucid (Billy Woods' partner from Armand Hammer), Company Flow's Bigg Jus, Dreamcrusher, LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs, Matana Roberts, Nakama., Desde, Rena Anakwe, Marcus, Lord Kayso, Harlem Boog, DJ Haram, Dis Fig, maassai, amani, No Land, with additional field recordings courtesy of Taja Cheek (L'Rain) and Ara Kim, with Franklin James Fisher of Algiers hosting.[34] Several weeks prior, King Vision Ultra and Algiers previewed the two albums by playing them live as part of a sound clash at Brooklyn's National Sawdust, billed as "Shook vs Shook World". The all-star lineup of special guests included amani, Big Rube, Billy Woods, DeForrest Brown Jr., Desde, Dreamcrusher, Elucid, Fatboi Sharif, King Vision Ultra, Latoya Kent, maassai, Mark Cisneros, and Patrick Shiroishi.[35]

On February 24, 2023, Algiers released their fourth studio album, Shook.[36] It was preceded by the single "I Can’t Stand It!" featuring Samuel T. Herring from Future Islands and Jae Matthews from Boy Harsher.[37] Dante Foley began playing drums on a second drum set for Algiers live sets during this time.[38]

Members

[edit]

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
Heat
[42] 		GER
[43] 		SWI
[44]
Algiers 14 — —
The Underside of Power
  • Released: June 23, 2017[46]
  • Label: Matador
 16 — 69
There Is No Year
  • Released: January 17, 2020[47]
  • Label: Matador
 — 85 —
Shook
  • Released: February 24, 2023[48]
  • Label: Matador
 — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Mixtapes, EPs and Miscellaneous

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Year Title Label Notes Source
2015 Mute Studio Sessions Matador Digital only release of stripped-down alternate versions of singles from their first album [49]
2017 September 2017 Algiers Recordings Tour only cassette [50]
2018 1st November 1954 Algiers Recordings Tour only cassette [51]
2023 Shook World (hosted by Algiers) PTP Mixtape by King Vision Ultra [52]

Singles

[edit]
  • "Blood" / "Black Eunuch" (2012, Double Phantom Records)[53]
  • "Walk Like A Panther / Walk Like A Panther (Uniform Remix)" (2017, Matador)[54]
  • "Blood" / "Black Eunuch" (2017, Geographic North)[55]
  • "Can The Sub_Bass Speak?" (2019, Matador)[56]
  • "Void" (2019, Adult Swim Singles Club).[57]
  • "Can the Sub_Bass Speak? b/w It All Comes Around Again" (2020)[58]
  • "Bite Back" (featuring Billy Woods and Backxwash) (2022, Matador)[59]
  • "Irreversible Damage" (featuring Zack de la Rocha) (2022, Matador)[48]

Remixes

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  • Liars – "Black Eunuch (Liars Remix)" (2015, Matador)[60]
  • Uniform – "Walk Like A Panther (Uniform Remix)" (2017, Matador)[61]
  • Gaika – "Cleveland (Gaika Remix / Spectacular Empire Dub)" (2017, Matador)[62]
  • Depeche Mode – "Where's The Revolution (Algiers Remix)" & "Where's The Revolution (Algiers Click Farm Remix)" from Spirit (Remixes) (2017, Columbia)[63]
  • Prurient – "Death March (Prurient Remix)" (2017, Matador)[64]
  • Soviet Soviet – "Ghost (Algiers Remix)" from Ghost (EP) (2020, Copyu Records)[65]
  • Kaufmann Frust – "Armee mit tausend Köpfen (Algiers Remix)"[66]
  • Ganser – "Told You So (Algiers Remix)" from Look At The Sun

Music videos

[edit]
List of music videos, showing year released and directors
Title Year Director(s)
"Blood"[67] 2015 Lee Tesche
"Irony. Utility. Pretext."[68] Lee Tesche & Sam Campbell Archived January 5, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
"Black Eunuch"[69]
"And When You Fall"[70] Sam Campbell
"Walk Like a Panther" 2017 Sam Campbell Archived January 5, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
"The Underside of Power"[71] Henry Busby & Marcus Tortorici
"Cleveland"[71] Franklin Fisher
"Can the Sub_Bass Speak?"[72] 2019 Sam Campbell Archived January 5, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
"Dispossession[73] Sohail Daulatzai
"Void"[74] Ian Cone
"We Can't Be Found"[75] 2020
"Dispossession" Stripped Down: Live In Conklin Metals"[76]
"Liberation" OutKast Cover, Live in ConKlin Metals"[77]
"Bite Back" (feat. Billy Woods and Backxwash)[78] 2022 Murat Gökmen
"Irreversible Damage" (feat. Zack De La Rocha)[79] Lee Tesche & Ian Cone
"I Can't Stand It!" (featuring Samuel T. Herring and Jae Matthews)[80] 2023 Lee Tesche
"73%" (Visualizer)[81] Franklin James Fisher

References

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  1. ^ DeMerritt, Paul (June 2, 2015). "Algiers revive protest music". Creative Loafing. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Turner, Luke (April 22, 2015). "Escape Velocity You Have To Fight For Change: Algiers Interviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  3. ^ "10 Great Things to do in RI This Weekend". Go Local Providence. September 21, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Raggett, Ned (June 19, 2017). "A Band Apart". NPR. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  5. ^ Klein, David (June 9, 2015). "Live: Algiers win an uphill battle in Carrboro". Indy Week. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  6. ^ Coley, Byron. "Reviews", The Wire, London, October 2012.
  7. ^ Jurek, Thom (August 4, 2017). "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  8. ^ a b White, Caitlin (June 26, 2017). "Band To Watch: Algiers". Stereogum. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  9. ^ Management, The (March 2, 2016). "Algiers – New Dates With "Burn To Shine" Screenings". Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  10. ^ "Burn to Shine 6 ignites the past – Atlanta Creative Loafing". Atlanta Creative Loafing. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  11. ^ "Algiers & Azuma Makoto- "Blood" & "Black Eunuch" In The Desert". Matador Records. May 24, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  12. ^ "THE UNDERSIDE OF POWER". Metacritic. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  13. ^ "LISTEN: New Algiers". The Quietus. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  14. ^ "LISTEN: Algiers Remix Depeche Mode". The Quietus. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  15. ^ "Algiers Hit The Studio With Massive Attack". Stereogum.com. July 7, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  16. ^ "Algiers launch new tape/zine series, stream B-Side & Rarities Tour Tape". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  17. ^ Keimig, Jasmyne (November 16, 2018). "Young Fathers, Algiers". The Stranger. Archived from the original on November 16, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  18. ^ "DC club The Black Cat celebrates 25th anniversary, and shrinking in half". October 24, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  19. ^ Newington, Mark (January 17, 2020). "Algiers – There Is No Year". musicohm.com. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  20. ^ "Algiers: "Dispossession"". YouTube. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  21. ^ "Algiers' Ryan Mahan Speaks About Algiers". YouTube. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  22. ^ "Massive Attack Release New Audiovisual EP Eutopia: Watch". pitchfork.com. July 10, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  23. ^ "Algiers Expand "Cleveland" Into 50-Minute, 2-Track Single "Cleveland 20/20"". stereogum.com. October 30, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  24. ^ "Moor Mother & Billy Woods – Brass". Discogs.com. April 19, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  25. ^ "Quietus Albums Of The Year 2020 (In Association With Norman Records)". thequietus.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  26. ^ "The Wire Tapper 55". The Wire. April 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  27. ^ "Lee & Ryan Algiers As Nun Gun Unveil Video With Mark Stewart". The Quietus. February 2, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  28. ^ "Nun Gun Debut Video for Cover of Bowie's "The Supermen" Featuring Mark Stewart of The Pop Group". December 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  29. ^ "Algiers Share Video for New Song With billy woods and Backxwash: Watch". Pitchfork. September 13, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  30. ^ "Zack de la Rocha is Ready to Rage in Rare Verse on New Algiers Track 'Irreversible Damage'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  31. ^ "Listen to King Vision Ultra's "Swing!" [ft. Nakama.]: The Ones". Pitchfork. February 6, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  32. ^ "The Best Hip-Hop on Bandcamp: February 2023". Bandcamp. March 2, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  33. ^ "Algiers & King Vision Ultra Talk Collaboration & Connection". Bandcamp. March 7, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  34. ^ "King Vision Ultra ~ Shook World (hosted by Algiers)". A Closer Listen. April 14, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  35. ^ "Algiers share full video of guest-filled National Sawdust show; tour starts today at SXSW". Brooklynvegan. March 15, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  36. ^ "Shook". AllMusic. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  37. ^ "Algiers – "I Can't Stand It" (Feat. Future Islands' Samuel T. Herring & Boy Harsher's Jae Matthew)". Stereogum. January 19, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  38. ^ "Post-punk band Algiers delivers gospel-tinged fury in San Francisco". CBS News. March 17, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  39. ^ Coscarelli, Joe (May 22, 2015). "Franklin James Fisher on Protests, the South and an Algiers Album". The New York Times.
  40. ^ Rockwell, Russell (December 3, 2020). "REVIEW: Ryan Mahan (Algiers) Summons Liberation on Apocalyptic Solo Debut".
  41. ^ Crew, Hardwired (January 16, 2018). "Interview: Lee Tesche, ALGIERS". Hardwired Magazine.
  42. ^ "Algiers – Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  43. ^ "Discography Algiers". Germancharts.de. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  44. ^ "Discography Algiers". Swisscharts. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  45. ^ White, Caitlin (March 26, 2015). "Band To Watch: Algiers". Stereogum. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  46. ^ "The Underside Of Power". Matador. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  47. ^ "There Is No Year". Matador. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  48. ^ a b Jones, Abby (October 27, 2022). "Algiers Announce New Album SHOOK, Share "Irreversible Damage" with Zack de la Rocha: Stream". Consequence. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  49. ^ "Algiers - Mute Studio Sessions - Boomkat".
  50. ^ "Algiers (2) – September 2017". Discogs.com. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  51. ^ "Algiers (2) – 1st November 1954". Discogs.com. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  52. ^ "Listen to King Vision Ultra's "Swing!" [ft. Nakama.]: The Ones". Pitchfork. February 6, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  53. ^ "Blood b/w Black Eunuch, by Algiers". Bandcamp.
  54. ^ "We Won't be Led to Slaughter – Radio Kingston".
  55. ^ "Blood, by Algiers". Bandcamp.
  56. ^ "Can the Sub_Bass Speak? b/w It All Comes Around Again, by Algiers". Bandcamp.
  57. ^ "Algiers – "Void"". algiers.ffm.to.
  58. ^ "Can the Sub_Bass Speak? b/w It All Comes Around Again, by Algiers". Bandcamp. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  59. ^ "Bite Back, by Algiers feat. billy woods & Backxwash". Bandcamp. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  60. ^ "Algiers – "Black Eunuch (Liars Remix)" (Official Audio)" – via www.youtube.com.
  61. ^ "Algiers – Walk Like A Panther (Uniform Remix)" – via soundcloud.com.
  62. ^ "Gaika remixes Algiers". godisintthetv.com. November 13, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  63. ^ "Depeche-Mode-Wheres-The-Revolution-Remixes". discogs.com. March 3, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  64. ^ "Algiers – "Death March (Prurient Remix)" (Official Audio)" – via www.youtube.com.
  65. ^ "Soviet Soviet – Ghost (Algiers Remix)" – via www.youtube.com.
  66. ^ "Armee mit tausend Köpfen – Algiers Remix". January 1, 2018 – via open.spotify.com.
  67. ^ "Algiers Reclaims The Black Roots Of Rock And Protests The World's Troubles". Wbur.org. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  68. ^ "Algiers"Irony. Utility. Pretext."". Self-titledmag.com. March 24, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  69. ^ "Algiers – "Black Eunuch"". Stereogum.com. April 14, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  70. ^ Subscribe (September 29, 2015). "Algiers release 'And When You Fall' video". Diymag.com. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  71. ^ a b Boilen, Bob (April 27, 2017). "Algiers Shows Us 'The Underside Of Power'". NPR. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  72. ^ "Algiers – "Can The Sub_Bass Speak?" Video". Stereogum.com. August 27, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  73. ^ "Algiers Announce New Album, Share First Video for "Dispossession" (KEXP Premiere)". Kexp.org. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  74. ^ Roberts, Christopher. "Algiers Share Video for New Song "Void" and Announce In-Store Performances". Undertheradarmag.com. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  75. ^ "ALGIERS unveil new single and video 'We Can't Be Found,'". TotalNtertainment.com. January 8, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  76. ^ "Algiers – 'Dispossession' Stripped Down: Live In Conklin Metals". Matablog.matadorrecords.com. January 21, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  77. ^ "Algiers – "Liberation" (Outkast) Live in Conklin Metals". Matablog.matadorrecords.com. March 10, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  78. ^ Ismael Ruiz, Matthew (September 13, 2022). "Algiers Share Video for New Song With billy woods and Backxwash: Watch". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  79. ^ "Algiers- "Irreversible Damage (ft. Zack De La Rocha)" (Visualizer)" – via www.youtube.com.
  80. ^ "Algiers- "I Can't Stand It! (ft. Samuel T. Herring & Jae Matthews)" (Visualizer)" – via www.youtube.com.
  81. ^ "Algiers- "73%" (Visualizer)" – via www.youtube.com.
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