Position Normal are an English musical duo, formed in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

in 1986, consisting of Chris Bailiff and John Cushway. Their music is

sample Sample or samples may refer to: Base meaning * Sample (statistics), a subset of a population – complete data set * Sample (signal), a digital discrete sample of a continuous analog signal * Sample (material), a specimen or small quantity of s ...

-based, incorporating existing music and found sound from unusual vintage sources (purchased second hand or previously owned by Bailiff's father) into

collage Collage (, from the french: coller, "to glue" or "to stick together";) is a technique of art creation, primarily used in the visual arts, but in music too, by which art results from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole. ...

-like tracks.

History

The two members began working together in 1986, using

sampler Sampler may refer to: * Sampler (signal), a digital signal processing device that converts a continuous signal to a discrete signal * Sampler (needlework), a handstitched piece of embroidery used to demonstrate skill in needlework * Sampler (surna ...

s and tape loops to fashion collagistic psychedelic pop. The duo originally worked as Buggersod, supplementing their music with video projections as well as "mashed potato flung into the audience and socks hanging from the ceiling," according to writer David Stubbs. Bailiff and Cushway's first release as Position Normal was the twelve-inch single "Part of the Bugger Sod Empire" (1998). In 1999, they released their debut album '' Stop Your Nonsense'' in Britain through Mind Horizon. The record combined samples from

children's music Children's music or kids' music is music composed and performed for children. In European-influenced contexts this means music, usually songs, written specifically for a juvenile audience. The composers are usually adults. Children's music has hi ...

with

psychedelic Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips").Pollan, Michael (2018). ''How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of ...

guitar work and unusual percussion, and was critically acclaimed, later ranking on several critics' year-end best albums lists. The band followed with ''Goodly Time'' (1999). In a review for ''

Uncut Uncut may refer to: * ''Uncut'' (film), a 1997 Canadian docudrama film by John Greyson about censorship * ''Uncut'' (magazine), a monthly British magazine with a focus on music, which began publishing in May 1997 * '' BET: Uncut'', a Black Enter ...

'', Stubbs credited the album with "uncover ngold cardboard boxes of stuff that, even in this supposed era of kitsch, have remained repressed and untouched." Following a decade-long hiatus, follow-up ''Position Normal'' was released in 2009, originally only on cassette, It was ranked as one of the best albums of 2009 by '' The Wire''. The group also played rare live performances in London, including at the Exotic Pylon in 2010.

Influence

The group were a primary influence on artists like Moon Wiring Club and

The Focus Group The Focus Group is a project of experimental electronic musician and graphic designer Julian House. The Focus Group's sound is a blend of influences ranging from old library music sounds produced in the 1970s, 1960s-inspired pastiches, public ...

. In his book '' Retromania'',

Simon Reynolds Simon Reynolds (born 19 June 1963) is an English music journalist and author who began his professional career on the staff of ''Melody Maker'' in the mid-1980s. He has since gone on to freelance and publish a number of full-length books on music ...

describes Position Normal as a progenitor of the 2000s

hauntology Hauntology (a portmanteau of ''haunting'' and ''ontology'') is a range of ideas referring to the return or persistence of elements from the social or cultural past, as in the manner of a ghost. The term is a neologism first introduced by French ...

genre, which is concerned with "lost futures" and abandoned cultural material. Writer Joseph Stannard, who helped popularise the term "hauntology", included Position Normal on a 2013

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

based on his Brighton club night The Outer Church.

Discography

*'' Stop Your Nonsense'' (1999) *''Goodly Time'' (1999) *''Position Normal'' (2009)

References

{{Authority control English art rock groups Psychedelic pop music groups Pop music groups from London Masked musicians