Melancholic experimentalism - where the violence of industrial electronica meets the torn fragility of dark ambient soundscapes.

9 MP3 Songs
ELECTRONIC: Experimental, ELECTRONIC: Ambient



Details:
The music of this Scottish based duo of Michael Begg and Deryk Thomas has been described as âArvo Part conducting Metal Machine Musicâ. The contrary coupling of austere, devotional minimalism with unhinged, often savage sonic assault is strangely apt.

Begg was a writer of National repute in his native Scotland who "fell out with words" during a time spent living in Morocco.

Upon returning to the UK, Begg â still maintaining an awkward balance between words and sounds - obtained several theatre commissions and collaborations with, among others, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (Nightlight) before being joined by Deryk Thomas, already a visual artist of some repute (his "burning bunnies" became an iconic emblem for Michael Gira's Swans).

The name Human Greed arose from a theatre commission of the same name during which Begg and Thomas elected to drop words altogether and move directly and solely into sound generation. In 2001, the work of Human Greed caught the attention of Siouxsie & the Bansheesâ Steven Severin, which lead to the release of their first formal album, Consolation in 2001, on his RE: label.

Reviews for Human Greedâs Consolationâ¦

A Fear filled symphony of terrors... that gradually entwines your imagination in its numerous sonic tentacles and refuses to relinquish its grip.
The Wire

...a dark delight full of Stygian soundscapes"
Mojo

Disquieting as it is exceptional⦠Brutally honest, enlightening and remarkable
Dark Star

Secures a place for Human Greed in the echelons of melancholic experimentalism.
Absorb

Requires the patience of a saint
Kerrang!

Human Greedâs 2nd album, PILGRIM: New World Homestead, was just reaching completion when the RE: Group ceased trading. Begg looked at the landscape, considered it to be an impossible proposal for anyone else to take up the task of pushing the project and quietly allowed Human Greed to slip into the background â surfacing only for occasional DJ sets. Recording continued but both Begg and Thomas considered that the work would remain a private project.

Times moved on, however, and the trickle of interest that had always remained, began to gather force in 2005. This interest, along with the possibilities afforded by new technologies and techniques, encouraged Begg to set up his Omnempathy label.

Omnempathy first acquired sale and distribution rights back to Consolation, then set about re-recording and revamping the original PILGRIM: New World Homestead sessions.

PILGRIM was released in the UK in June 2006.

Reviews for Human Greedâs PILGRIM: New World Homestead

Showcases Human Greedâs skill at producing and delivering wonderfully engulfing ambient-esque music of the very highest quality by showcasing a set of recordings what grows with each listen and entices the listener deeper and deeper into its compositions at the same time - a wonderfully absorbing listen.
Judas Kiss

Taking atmospheric, menacing ambience to heady new depths to create an atmosphere which could enswathe the grimmest of David Lynchâs filmic output... if you harbour a dark spot for Coil or their contemporaries then you should definitely give Pilgrim a look.
Boomkatâ¨â¨This is night music, which ripples with your deepest and darkest doubts. Human Greed have managed to conjure up a chilling collection of audio nightmares that calls the listener back again and again to discover more layers of sonic creepiness.
Rock a Rolla

Serious and Overwhelming
Trinta De Fevereiro

As fitting a drama of nervous exploration and discovery, there is wonder and dread in equal measure here: Part dream, part nightmare, Pilgrimâs hypnotic call inevitably lures the listener into treacherous waters before plunging them into fatal depths
Rough Trade