- The Normal
The Normal is the
recording artist name used by English music producer Daniel Miller, a film editor at the time, who is best known as the founder of therecord label Mute Records .Although Miller founded Mute with the intention of releasing his own music, he only released one 7" vinyl single under the name "The Normal", namely "T.V.O.D."/"
Warm Leatherette ", in 1978.Both tracks were minimalist electronic songs using a
Korg 700s [http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec98/articles/daniel.624.htm "Sound On Sound Online", "DANIEL MILLER & HIS HOME STUDIO MUTE RECORDS THE INSTRUMENT STUDIO", Paragraph 5] ]analog synthesizer and aRevox B-77 tape machine. This single was recorded in Daniel Miller's living room. Although it did not enter theUK Singles Chart , the single was influential on the post-punk/electronic music scene in the UK at the time.The lyrics for "Warm Leatherette" referenced
J.G. Ballard 's novel "Crash". The song has since been covered by artists Blok 57, Pankow,Grace Jones ,Die Tödliche Doris , Sleep Chamber,Vitalic ,Chicks on Speed /Hell on a split-7",Giddle and Boyd , Dive, and in 2006 byTrent Reznor withJeordie White and Peter Murphy. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo7ONZlN5Zg Warm Leatherette - Trent Reznor, Jeordie White, Peter Murphy] , atYouTube ] The most recent cover was performed live byDuran Duran at their run of ten concerts in New York City in November 2007, and as part of an electro medley portion of theirset list on their subsequent 2008 tour [cite web |url=http://duranduranmusic.com/newindex.php?page=pages/event272_Set%20List |title=Set List: WaMu Theater - Seattle, WA |accessdate=2008-05-07 |date=2008-04-30 |publisher=" [http://duranduranmusic.com/index.php Duran Duran Music] "] , in support of their album "Red Carpet Massacre ".A second release as "The Normal" with other Mute Records act
Robert Rental , "Live at West Runton Pavilion", wasn't well received. A strange release, it was a one sided album (side two was left blank) of improvised electronic noises, in a plain purple dust jacket. Marat Records published the same record in Germany as "Daniel Miller Robert Rental Live" with a black and white picture sleeve, catalogue no. Marat Rough 017.Miller also recorded the album "Music for Parties" under the name "
Silicon Teens ", mostly featuring sparse electronic new-wave covers of '50's and '60's pop classics such as "Sweet Little Sixteen " and "Let's Dance".Daniel Miller is also a prolific engineer and producer, producing such acts as
Depeche Mode ,Erasure , Wire, and DAF.Discography
*1978 "T.V.O.D." / "
Warm Leatherette " (7" /12" single)References
External links
* [http://www.mute.com/artists/viewArtistMain.jsp?id=27895 The Normal at Mute Records Official site]
*allmusicguide | id=11:gbfuxqwgld0e
* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Normal%2C+The The Normal Discography at discogs.com]
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