Leæther Strip

Infobox musical artist
Name = Leæther Strip


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Origin = Denmark
Genre = electro-industrial
electronic body music
Years_active = 1988 – 2001
2005 – present
Label = Zoth Ommog, Cleopatra Records, Metropolis Records, Bloodline Records, Alfa Matrix
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Current_members = Claus Larsen
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Leæther Strip is a Danish musical project founded on January 13, 1988 by Claus Larsen. Its influence has been most felt in the electronic body music and electro-industrial genres. Perhaps to a certain extent, it may have influenced various film score productions. Leæther Strip was one of the earliest and most prominent acts on Germany's now defunct Zoth Ommog record label. For distribution outside of Europe, the music has been licensed to the U.S. labels Cleopatra Records and Metropolis Records. After the demise of Zoth Ommog in 1999, Larsen signed to its unofficial successor Bloodline Records, which only released a single before also going out of business. Since 2005, Leæther Strip is signed with the Belgian Alfa Matrix label.

History

According to founder Claus Larsen, Leæther Strip is, and always will be, only him. Larsen was born on November 13 1967 in Aalborg, Denmark. He first released music under the name of Leæther Strip in 1989. However, his 1995 release G.A.W.M.U.S. included two early demos from 1982 and 1984, with the latter forming the unknown beginning of the band according to an interview conducted with Claus Larsen. In 1991, Larsen created a side-project called Klute in which he also remained the sole member.

It can be argued, and is by many, that the sound of Leæther Strip throughout the early 1990s helped define what is today known as electro-industrial. In 1994, Claus Larsen drastically changed the sound of Leæther Strip, with the release of a synthesized semi classical album. Conceived as a soundtrack to a fictional film, it was named Serenade for the Dead. The releases since then have reincorporated electronic dance elements, and have redefined Leæther Strip into what Larsen calls, "symphonic electro".

Leæther Strip remained silent for several years after the release of the single Carry Me in 2000 and the official band website, which once contained a wealth of information regarding the project, was taken offline . In foreshadowing the return of his band, Larsen's remix of the band KiEw's song "Graograman" on the "Diskette" EP (2003) states at the beginning of the song, in a sing-song computer-generated voice, "Leæther Strip will return for more electronic mayhem". In an interview conducted late 2005, Larsen revealed that label issues, as well as personal concerns, have caused the dormancy of the band during the 2000 - 2005 period. [ [http://www.side-line.com/interviews_comments.php?id=9554_0_16_0_C Comeback Interview 2005] ]

October 28, 2005, has marked the official return of Leæther Strip with the EP release Suicide Bombers on the Alfa Matrix label. Claus Larsen has opened a blog to inform fans of his current activities and progress on the project. A string of releases followed including the 2-CD album After the Devastation, and the 2006 EP releases Walking on Volcanos and Fætish. Also in 2006, Claus Larsen released a free song via his MySpace page, a remix of "Frank Tovey taught me things". The song was subsequently downloaded over 10.000 times.

On April 13 2007, Leæther Strip released the album The Giant Minutes to the Dawn. It has been made available in several editions, including a special limited edition box-set which includes the band's first DVD release. According to various reviewers, the album constitutes the "true" return of the band to classic Leæther Strip form. [ [http://www.alfa-matrix.com/news_comments.php?id=1316_0_2_0_C The 'true' comeback album for Leæther Strip] ]

In a recent interview conducted by the German "Uselinks" magazine, Larsen talked about the possibilities of doing a live show. Although his physical health doesn't allow for a very energetic performance, he indicated a show is feasible if his fans are content with just seeing him perform behind a keyboard. [ [http://www.uselinks.de/articles,id625,2,leather_strip.html Uselinks Interview 28-02-2007] ]

Via a video teaser on YouTube [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gVr2Qs0l-I YouTube video Leaether Strip] ] Claus Larsen announced that the first Leaether Strip album The Pleasure Of Penetration would be re-released as a remastered double CD set on November 13th 2007, Claus Larsen's birthday, under the title Retention n°1 [ [http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=25780_0_2_0_C Entire Leaether Strip back catalogue to be reissued as 2CD sets - first volume now available for ordering] ] . The release is part of an ongoing box series through which Claus Larsen will re-release his complete back-catalogue via the Belgian label Alfa Matrix. Each re-release will have both the fully remastered version of the original album on disc 1 and on the second disc, a totally re-written and reinterpretation of some selected songs from the original album by Leaether Strip himself re-recorded with current technologies. Note that the original track-list on disc 1 has been extended to 15 tracks with the addition of early 12" tracks and other rarities of the period.

Discography

; Albums

* 1990 - "The Pleasure of Penetration"
* 1990 - "Science for the Satanic Citizen"
* 1992 - "Solitary Confinement"
* 1993 - "Underneath the Laughter"
* 1994 - "Serenade for the Dead"
* 1995 - "Legacy of Hate and Lust"
* 1996 - "The Rebirth of Agony"
* 1997 - "Self-Inflicted"
* 2005 - "After the Devastation" (2 CD)
* 2007 - "The Giant Minutes to the Dawn"
* 2008 - "Civil Disobedience" (2 CD)

; EP/single releases

* 1989 - "Japanese Bodies" - 12"S
* 1990 - "Aspects of Aggression" - EP CD
* 1991 - "Object V" - EP CD
* 1991 - "Material" - EP CD
* 1994 - "Positive Depression" - EP CD
* 1997 - "" - EP CD
* 2000 - "Carry Me" - CDS
* 2005 - "Suicide Bombers" - EP CD
* 2006 - "Walking on Volcanos" - EP CD
* 2006 - "Fætish" - EP CD

; Compilations

* 1992 - "Penetrate the Satanic Citizen"
* 1993 - "Fit for Flogging"
* 1995 - "Double or Nothing" (2 CD)
* 1995 - ""
* 1996 - "Best of Leæther Strip"
* 1997 - "Retrospective"
* 2005 - "" (2 CD)

; Limited releases

* 1992 - "Yes, I'm Limited" - EP CD
* 1996 - "Yes, I'm Limited Vol. II"
* 1998 - "Yes, I'm Limited Vol. III" (2 CD)
* 2005 - "ÆFTERSHOCK" - CDS (only available with the "After the Devastation" limited box edition)
* 2006 - "Hælloween" - EP CD (only available with the "Fætish" limited box edition)
* 2007 - "The Hourglass" - EP CD (only available with the "The Giant Minutes to the Dawn" limited box edition)

; DVD releases

* 2007 - "Watch" - DVD NSTC region 0 (only available with the limited box edition "The Giant Minutes to the Dawn")

; Other releases

* 1999 - "Serenade for the Dead (re-mastered)" (2 CD)
* 2006 - "After the Devastation (Limited 3 CD Special Bag Edition)": Limited edition of the double album includes: After The Devastation" Limited Edition 3-CD Box Set, "Evacuate Or Die", Double Sided Printed T-Shirt, Poster and Deluxe Bag, Matri-X-traX Chapter I and some postcards
* 2006 - "Fætish (Limited 2 CD Box)": Limited to 2000 copies including "Hælloween" 5-track EP, some special fetish goodies (condom, button, postcards) and a booklet full of Leæther Strip fans fetish artwork.
* 2007 - "The Giant Minutes to the Dawn (2 CD+DVD fan boxset)": Limited edition including "The Hourglass" EP, "Watch" DVD, the "Trust your instinct" T-shirt and some fan goodies
* 2007 - "Retention no.1" (2CD): Reedition of first album "The Pleasure of Penetration" (re-mastered) + "The Pleasure of Reproduction" which includes 2007 re-recordings of first album.

Side projects

* Klutæ - electro-industrial side-project, formerly known as Klute

Influenced

* Cenobita
* Dunkelwerk
* Hocico
* Suicide Commando
* Wumpscut
* Xenocanon

External links

* [http://www.alfa-matrix.com/bio_leaetherstrip.php Official Label webpage] at Alfa Matrix
* [http://www.myspace.com/leaetherstrip Leæther Strip blog] at MySpace
*
* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Le%C3%A6ther+Strip Discography of Leæther Strip] at Discogs
* [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:cpeb97l7krdt~T2 Discography of Leæther Strip] at AMG
* [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:7udsyl26xp9b~T2 Discography of "Lea ther Strip"] (typo and missing album) at AMG
* [http://www.chaindlk.com/interviews/index.php?interview=LeaetherStrip Interview at Chain D.L.K.]

References