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Information Society

Information Society returns with new album' '_hello world'

by jmaloni

Submitted

Tue, Jul 1st 2014 02:15 pm

"This album is both a birth and a rebirth," explains Paul Robb of one of electronic music's most influential bands, Information Society, about the new album "_hello world." "It's been so long since we've made new music together it almost seems like a whole new thing, and yet anybody who has ever listened to one of our records will immediately recognize our style."

Set for release Sept. 23 via HAKATAK International/MVD, the album marks the reunion of the original founding members of the band, Robb (synths), Kurt Larson (vocals) and James Cassidy (bass, keyboards), following the release of their single "Land of the Blind," which was released earlier this year.

" '_hello world' is our way of re-introducing ourselves to our old fans, and hopefully making the acquaintance of some new fans," Robb says.

Originally forming in 1982 within the synthpop and new wave world, Information Society (AKA"INSOC") has always been three steps ahead of the musical curve. Among the many instances of the band's stylistic trailblazing was its 1985 dance smash "Running," which became a Top 10 Billboard dance chart hit. The single helped break open the freestyle dance craze that bubbled up through the underground Latin community. With the new album "_hello world," INSOC is once again leading the charge through the musical landscape.

When asked about the band's new material, Robb says, "We've perhaps matured a bit, and that has enabled us to express some more nuanced emotions in our songs than we may have done earlier."

With songs like the anthemic "The Prize," with its retro voice emulator intro, to the deep house-inflected "Get Back," to the vogue-worthy "Dancing with Strangers," to the mid-tempo anthem of "Above and Below," "_hello world" propels INSOC into the current mainstream while hearkening back to their seminal roots. The closer, "Tomorrow the World," is a tender ballad that might have sounded out of place on earlier records, but on this album, it sounded comfortable and 'right'.

"We have traditionally not been a 'love song' kind of band," Robb says of the track. "In fact, most of our songs explore what happens when things do not work out so well, but this is a song both Kurt and I had been wanting to explore for a while. It was a situation where we said, 'We'll include it if it works, and leave it off if it doesn't.' Obviously, we thought it worked!"

Another throwback brought into the "now," the band has recorded a cover of Devo's "Beautiful World," featuring none other than Devo vocalist and founding member Gerald V Casale.

"We'd been toying around with doing covers of songs by some of our influences," Robb says. "Devo was hugely important to us when we were young, so of course we had to do a Devo cover. We had already decided on 'Beautiful World' when management reached out to and asked if he wanted to participate. When he said 'Yes', it only made us more excited about recording the track. Turns out he and I live about a mile from each other!"

A band whose influence stretches decades, Information Society has enjoyed multiple Top 40 hits, including the No. 1 smash "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)," "Walking Away," "Think" and "Peace & Love, Inc."

Their infectious appeal translated the world over with Japan, Spain, Mexico and their native U.S. leading the charge. Brazil, especially, became one of their continued main markets, where they are signed to the major label LAB344.

With the upcoming release of "_hello world," Information Society has returned to form.

A national tour is in the works.

.Information Society (photo by Wil Foster) 

Information Society (photo by Wil Foster/rockcandyphoto.com)

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