Musick that Needed Work - O: ONO

The avant-gospel collective ONO have been around since 1980, pioneering/re-defining "noise".  Blending the slightest apparitions of jazz & funk with a primordial deluge of discordant sonic emanations driven by a poetic cadence of sing-speak-scream vocals exhuming our deepest, darkest thoughts, fused to the tempestuous now-you-hear-it-now-you-don't rhythmic arrangement. It is noise, but it is also dizzying, ponderous, profound, & so much more. 

 

Constant members are: travis (Travis Dobbs) - vocals & lap steel guitat; P. Michael - bass, keyboards, & electronics; & Shannon Rose Riley - vocals, keyboards, & horns along with an ever-changing cast of musical collaborators.

Village Voice-over sez:
     "über-legendary Chicago avant-everything cult freakazoids ONO are one of those radical groups who've earned that tag as 'one of the most influential bands you've never heard of'."

     "ONO is my idea of onomatopoeia before music.",
travis sez. 

 

ONO - Machines That Kill People, Thermidor T11, 1983.
all decryption codes in comments

Side 1 -
Danger    
Machines That Kill People    
The Model Bride    
O Jackie O I    
O Jackie O II
WWV (locked groove)

Side 2 -
Pyramid of Drums    
X-Ray

 

 

 

 

The full ONO experience, however, happens in the live shows, which are tightly orchestrated, with a narrative arc & numerous costume changes. travis spits out words that weave history with personal pain, moving in & out of the crowd as he adds or subtracts a wedding gown, a headpiece, a tuxedo shirt, a lace veil. P.Michael helms the ship from behind a table covered by drum machines, samplers, & effects pedals. He crafts dense, groovy compositions that swell with travis's vocal performance.

So in case the first offering wasn't weird enough for some of you weirdos, here's a couple live shows. You kinda already know what happens New Year's Eve...

 

 

ONO - New Years Eve 1984, ONO self-released, 1985. 

ONO often performs a cover of the song "Heroin" by the Velvet Underground that is as solemn & painful as it is elegant.

P. Michael sez:
     "We've been doing it since the 80s. We knew so many people who were on heroin, so it means a whole lot to us to perform that piece. Which is why it takes so much out of travis to do, it always has to be at the end. He can't function after, because of all the folks we know and all the people who were at our shows that were doing heroin. And some of them are dead now because of that, so it's very intense."

 

 

ONO - Filmmakers2 - Heroin, ONO self released, 2007.

 

 

 

 

Enjoy,
Ø