Voice Industrie

Voice Industrie (1989-2006) was an overlooked electronic dance music act hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Along with Alan Levesque (music, lyrics, electronic drums, production), VI was formed in 1989 by Alex Brodsky (keyboards), Lance White (keyboards), and later joined by Richard Abbass (electronic drums). The group performed their inaugural live show in 1992 at the Bronx in Edmonton, and went on to open for 2-Unlimited and other prominent bands of the era. White left VI in 1994 and the band continued as a three member act opening for the likes of Cassandra Complex and others. Brodsky and Abbass left VI in 2005, a mere 10 days prior to VI's "The Anatomie" scheduled CD release and opened the door for keyboardist Francis Tetrault to come in and fill the vacancy until 2005.

In 1994, VI was signed to indie label 'Factoria Records', then in 1997 to 'Interdimensional Industries'. Both labels helped the band get introduced locally and abroad, culminating in an appearance in Sideline Magazine's 'Heartbreaker Top 10' section with VI's 'Transmission' in 1997, but it wasn't until VI was signed to the A Different Drum synthpop label out of Salt Lake City that the band began receiving global attention. (VI's music is currently available through the A Different Drum label website). With pounding dance beats, driving percussion and unrelenting electronic bliss, Levesque's smooth "Gahan-esq" voice had become a trademark of the band and was touted as one of the best male voices in electronic music. They were known as one of the few electronic bands that maintained a melodic and integral vocal presence regardless of how driving or intense the music was. Several of the more prominent electronic bands of the era mentioned VI as having influenced their vocal sound in one way or another.

From the DM-like offerings of the early years (Psychotica - 1992) to a more industrial period (The Anatomie - 1995), it seemed Levesque was not content to let the music remain stagnant. It continued to evolve -- touching on pseudo-trance infused soundscapes (Transmission - 1997) eventually to find a trance synthpop flavour in the final VI offering (Power - 2003). Critics cited Power as Depeche Mode meets Underworld and one review claimed "VI makes music for the mind that shakes the behind." The 2-CD "Voice Historie" was released in 2004 and featured songs from the previous albums.

Voice Industrie performed live with the likes of KMFDM, Assemblage 23 and numerous other talented artists, released five full length albums, and numerous compilation appearances and remixes.

VI disbanded in 2005 and Levesque reportedly put VI on the shelf in 2006.

After a short stint playing kit for and producing an EP for local band "Cockatoo", Levesque is busy working on several new electronic dance-floor projects, one of those being a 'cover-band' that will see him on acoustic and electronic drums, vocals and keyboards, and a guest keyboardist/vocalist performing live covers of songs by Fluke, Underworld, Front242, Depeche Mode and others. Not much is known about Levesque's "Aktivater" project other than Todd Durrant (of "A Different Drum") and Monica Schroeder are are reported to be involved in some capacity.

External links

* [http://www.adifferentdrum.com A Different Drum]