hey now, here is the latest edition of the MAIN discography. as always, any information, additions, or corrections are always welcome. M A I N ------------- DISCOGRAPHY Edited and Compiled by: this is version 1.1.9 last modified: 29 September, 1996 ......................................................................... MAIN is currently the solo project of Robert Hampson, from the now-defunct band Loop. the sounds of MAIN can be best described as a layered tapestry of electric guitar textures, ranging from drones and soundscrapes to looped guitar sounds and radio-wave static. ......................................................................... many thanks to: Joe Weil <weilj@ecn.purdue.edu> John Exby <jexby@unidata.com> Andrew Shires <andrews@harlequin.com> Jon Litchfield <jlitchfi@undergrad.math.uwaterloo.ca> Brian Duguid <bd1@mm-croy.mottmac.co.uk> THE BLACK SUN <TGYB60B@prodigy.com> Dave Steinhart <angst@psych.colorado.edu> Jon Abbey <jonabbey@aol.com> J. K. Brook <joannab@cogs.susx.ac.uk> Gregory Taylor <gtaylor@msn.fullfeed.com> Andrew Norman <nja@leicester.ac.uk> Ed Klein <eklein@kzsu.Stanford.EDU> Patrick Carey <pmcarey@students.wisc.edu> Sasha Yamane <alexa5@ix.netcom.com> Le Moon Unit <moonunit@eden.com> Jonas Laster <no_one@primenet.com> Seth Tissue <s-tisue@nwu.edu> Darren Boss <umboss@electra.cc.umanitoba.ca> Rob Young <the_wire@ukonline.co.uk> Matt Waldron please send all edits and/or corrections to the above address. ......................................................................... MAIN information: 7 purbeck close long eaton nottingham ng10 4pf england ......................................................................... [ other related contact sources ] Beggars Banquet http://www.beggars.com The Wire Magazine: 45-46 Poland Street London W1V 3DF UK http://www.sat.dundee.ac.uk/~arb/music/wire.html EST Magazine: 41A Bedford Hill Balham London SW12 9EY UK http://www.hyperreal.com/zines/est Wire Mail Order UK: PO Box 54 Hitchin Herts SG4 7TQ UK Wire Mail Order US: PO Box 322 Alta Loma CA 91701-0322 USA http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/wmo Syntactic Records: c/o Walter Robotka PO Box 41 1124 Wien AUSTRIA Touch Recordings: 13 Osward Road London SW17 7SS UK http://www.hyperreal.com/music/kudos/touch/touch2.htm Ash International: 13 Osward Road London SW17 7SS UK http://www.hyperreal.com/music/kudos/touch/ashint.htm Mute Records: 429 Harrow Road London W10 4RE UK http://www.mutelibtech.com/mute Sub Rosa: PO Box 808 CM 1000 Brussels BELGIUM http://www.dutch-east.com/subrosa/subrosa.htm Matchless Recordings: 2 Shetlock's Cottages Matching Tye near Harlow Essex CM17 0QR UK http://www.hyperreal.com/zines/est/direct/dire_ko.html#matchless Virgin Records: 553-579 Harrow Road London W10 4RH UK http://www.vmg.co.uk Gonzo Circus: 46 Justus Lipsiusstraat Leuven 3000 BELGIUM http://www.he.tdl.com/~url/carvin/gonzo_eng.html Earache Records: PO Box 144 Nottingham NG3 4GE UK http://www.earache.com ......................................................................... [ background and history ] from what little is known, Robert Hampson's involvement in music began with the "seminal" UK pop-guitar band, LOOP. Loop was formed in 1986 by Hampson, along with his then wife Bex on drums. musically, Loop is most often compared to the likes of psychedelica freaks Spacemen 3, or shoe-gazing guitar-drone monsters My Bloody Valentine. they were touted as aggressive and hypnotic, with an angular guitar edge. a stripped-down post-punk ethic fused with healthy references to psych and krautrock. the band was in constant flux, most likely as Hampson worked to refine the focus of his musical goals. to that end, the band also saw a number of line-up changes over the years. with each subsequent release, the credits on the albums gradually became so arcane until nearly impossible to determine who really was involved with the music. it is conjectured that as members slowly drifted away, the lineup shaped up to being just Hampson in the end. MAIN came into being around during the time Loop was winding down. their final album, A Guilded Eternity, was released in 1990. certain aspects of the album bear insight into the new direction Hampson was clearly heading toward. in fact, Hampson had already begun working to realize his ideas with the help of fellow Loop bandmate, Scott Dawson. in 1991, Loop did a tour of the UK with GODFLESH. around the same time, a 12" by MAIN titled Hydra was also released. shortly after the tour, Loop split up. at the same time, Paul Neville left Godflesh to work on his own project, CABLE REGIME, full time. with Neville's departure, Hampson breifly joined to fill the vacancy. they recorded Pure, which is Godflesh's most metallic album to date. after a 1992 European tour, Hampson then left Godflesh in order to concentrate on MAIN. he was also burnt out after years of touring. in the wake of Loop's demise, bassist Neil MacKay and drummer John Wills started up the Hair and Skin Trading Company. Since 1992, MAIN was a duo of Hampson and Dawson with occaisional help from G.C. Green of Godflesh. However, Dawson parted ways with Hampson during a recent European tour. ......................................................................... [ releases ] 1991 HYDRA (12" only) Situation Two: SIT 83T --------------------------------------- flametracer time over (dub) suspension NOTES: dedicated to Stockhausen ......................................................................... 1992 CALM (12" EP only) Situation Two: SIT 89T --------------------------------------- there is only light remain feed the collapse sever NOTES: dedicated to the memory of Michael "Spike" Hall. came with a thick plastic "Hydra-Calm" sleeve in order to store both singles, making it a double package. ......................................................................... 1992 HYDRA-CALM (CD only) Situation Two: SITL 39 CD --------------------------------------- flametracer time over (dub) suspension there is only light remain feed the collapse sever thirst* NOTES: words by R. Hampson, sounds by Main. the track "thirst" is exclusive to the CD release. tracks 1 - 3 from HYDRA, published 1991. tracks 4 - 7 from CALM, published 1992. ......................................................................... 1993 DRY STONE FEED (12" EP) Beggars Banquet: BBQM 18 T --------------------------------------- SIDE A: cypher above axis blown SIDE B: pulled from the water dry stone feed NOTES: endless thanks to Roland Speckle, Ekko, Thomas Koener and Ben Unwin. dedicated to Mr. Re - rest in space. ......................................................................... 1993 DRY STONE FEED (CD) Beggars Banquet: BBQ 18 CD --------------------------------------- cypher above axis blown pulled from the water dry stone feed NOTES: endless thanks to Roland Speckle, Ekko, Thomas Koener and Ben Unwin. dedicated to Mr. Re - rest in space. ......................................................................... 1993 FIRMAMENT (CD EP) Beggars Banquet: BBQ 19 CD --------------------------------------- I II III IV NOTES: ......................................................................... 1994 MOTION POOL (3xLP) Beggars Banquet: BBQ T 148 --------------------------------------- SIDE A: VII rail SIDE B: crater scar SIDE C: core spectra decay SIDE D: rotary eclipse reformation SIDE E: heat relm SIDE F: VIII liquid reflective NOTES: tracks 2 - 7 sounds: Main, words: R.Hampson. tracks 1, 8 - 10 sounds: Main. endless thanks to: Helen G, Helen C, Ben, Kevin and Christa, Geoff, Touch, Jim O'Rourke and Beggars. as always to Tom and Kevin. "...drumless space" ......................................................................... 1994 CORE (7") Beggars Banquet: BBQ ?? --------------------------------------- SIDE A: core (organic) SIDE B: liquid reflective (kling klang) NOTES: limited edition of 200 copies. these two tracks were originally only available on the U.S. release of "Motion Pool". initial pressings of the UK 3 LP set came with a coupon which had to be sent back in order to redeem a copy of this 7". ......................................................................... 1994 MOTION POOL (CD) Beggars Banquet: BBQ CD 148 Atlantic Recordings: 92382-2 --------------------------------------- VII rail crater scar core spectra decay rotary eclipse reformation heat relm VIII liquid reflective core (organic) * liquid reflective (kling klang) * NOTES: tracks 2 - 7, 11 sounds: Main, words: R.Hampson. tracks 1, 8 - 10, 12 sounds: Main. tracks 11 and 12 are available on the Atlantic US CD release. endless thanks to: Helen G, Helen C, Ben, Kevin and Christa, Geoff, Touch, Jim O'Rourke and Beggars. as always to Tom and Kevin. "...drumless space" ......................................................................... 1994 LIGATURE (12" EP) Beggars Banquet: BBQ 43 T --------------------------------------- SIDE A: cypher (pentode) firmament (cloudscape) heat realm (short wave) SIDE B: suspension (hyaline) code rays (codex dub) NOTES: this is a limited edition release. track 1 remixed by Paul Kendall track 2 remixed by Main track 3 remixed by Paul Schutze track 4 remixed by Jim O'Rourke track 5 remixed by Main sound: Main. remixed thanks and soundwaves to: P.K., Paul, Jim, Daren and Mark, Robin and Helaire, Tony Morley, Ron Decker, G. C. Green and David Baker. belated nautical bass action thanks to Andrew. "....heliocentric space" ......................................................................... 1994 FIRMAMENT II (CD) Beggars Banquet: BBQ CD 168 --------------------------------------- IX X NOTES: ......................................................................... 1995 CODERAYS (7" only) Syntactic Records: MZKA 07 --------------------------------------- coderays NOTES: limited to 100 copies. one-sided, pressed on clear vinyl. ......................................................................... 1995 CORONA (CD EP) Beggars Banquet: HERTZ 1 --------------------------------------- part I part II NOTES: the first installment of a six EP series called HERTZ. sound: Main. words: R. Hampson. saxophone by Joe Gardiner. dedicated to Alan Splet. ......................................................................... 1995 TERMINUS (CD EP) Beggars Banquet: HERTZ 2 --------------------------------------- part I part II part III NOTES: the second installment of a six EP series called HERTZ. sound: Main. ......................................................................... 1995 MASER (CD EP) Beggars Banquet: HERTZ 3 --------------------------------------- part I part II part III part IV NOTES: the third installment of a six EP series called HERTZ. sound: Main. words: R. Hampson. ......................................................................... 1995 HALOFORM (CD EP) Beggars Banquet: HERTZ 4 --------------------------------------- part I part II part III NOTES: the fourth installment of a six EP series called HERTZ. sound: Main. ......................................................................... 1995 LIGATURE (CD) Beggars Banquet: BBQM 43 CD --------------------------------------- cypher (pentode) firmament (cloudscape) heat realm (short wave) suspension (hyaline) code rays (codex dub) core (organic) * liquid reflective (kling klang) * reformation (expansive) * NOTES: sound: Main. track 1 remixed by Paul Kendall track 2 remixed by Main track 3 remixed by Paul Schutze track 4 remixed by Jim O'Rourke track 5 remixed by Main tracks 6 - 8 remixed by Main and are exclusive to the CD release. remixed thanks and soundwaves to: P.K., Paul, Jim, Daren and Mark, Robin and Helaire, Tony Morley, Ron Decker, G. C. Green and David Baker. belated nautical bass action thanks to Andrew. without whom: Tom, Kevin, the 3 Hels, Steve and Deb, Graham, Ben, Geoff and Rob. "....heliocentric space" ......................................................................... 1995 KAON (CD EP) Beggars Banquet: HERTZ 5 --------------------------------------- part I part II part III part IV part V NOTES: the fifth installment of a six EP series called HERTZ. sound: Main. recorded live to 2-track at Thirst. dedicated to John Gilmore. ......................................................................... 1995 NEPER (CD EP) Beggars Banquet: HERTZ 6 --------------------------------------- part I part II part III NOTES: the sixth and final installment of a six EP series called HERTZ. sound: Main. words: R.Hampson. comes with a stout grey cardboard box able to hold all six singles. includes a booklet with many more pictures of lichen and metamorphic rocks, as well as the name of each single spelled out in a semaphore-style code. thanks and soundwaves to: Joe, OYC, Paul Schuetze, Unkle Tim, Miles, Andrew and Howard @ These. "... stellar evolution" ......................................................................... 1995 Hz (3xLP) Beggars Banquet: HERTZ 16 LP --------------------------------------- SIDE A: corona SIDE B: terminus SIDE C: maser SIDE D: haloform SIDE E: kaon SIDE F: neper NOTES: the entire EP series called HERTZ. sound: Main. words: R.Hampson. includes an LP-sized booklet with many more pictures of lichen and metamorphic rocks, as well as the name of each single spelled out in a semaphore-style code. CORONA dedicated to Alan Splet. saxaphone by Joe Gardiner. KAON dedicated to Jon Gilmone. recorded live to 2-track at Thirst. produced by Main Recorded and mixed at Thirst. thanks and soundwaves to: Joe, OYC, Paul Schuetze, Unkle Tim, Miles, Andrew and Howard at These. "... stellar evolution" ......................................................................... 1996 Hz (2xCD) Beggars Banquet: HERTZ 16 CD --------------------------------------- DISC I: corona terminus maser DISC II: haloform kaon neper NOTES: the entire EP series called HERTZ. sound: Main. words: R.Hampson. includes a booklet with many more pictures of lichen and metamorphic rocks, as well as the name of each single spelled out in a semaphore-style code. CORONA dedicated to Alan Splet. saxaphone by Joe Gardiner. KAON dedicated to Jon Gilmone. recorded live to 2-track at Thirst. produced by Main Recorded and mixed at Thirst. thanks and soundwaves to: Joe, OYC, Paul Schuetze, Unkle Tim, Miles, Andrew and Howard at These. "... stellar evolution" ......................................................................... [ tracks on compilations ] 1993 DEAFENING DIVINITIES (with Aural Affinities) (CD) Beggars Banquet: BBQ CD 4.99 track: blown (flight mix) 1993 Music From the Empty Quarter: GHAFRAN (CD) T.E.Q Music?: MFTEQ 93/1 track: clear 1994 Ambient 4: ISOLATIONISM (2xCD) Virgin Records: AMBT4 track: crater scar (adrenocrhome) 1995 MIND THE GAP VOLUME 3 (CD) Gonzo Circus: GC 009 track: heat relm (live) 1995 FOLDS AND RHIZOMES (CD) Sub Rosa/Utopian Diaries: SR99 track: occlusion ......................................................................... [ miscellaneous and related projects ] 1992 Godflesh - PURE (LP / CD) Earache: MOSH 32 Earache: MOSH 32CD Relativity: 88561-1087-2 --------------------------------------- spite mothra i wasn't born to follow predominance pure monotremata baby blue eyes don't bring me flowers love, hate (slugbaiting) * pure II * NOTES: recorded in September/October 1991. the track "pure II" is a bonus on the CD release. track 9 is available on the Relativity CD release. Robert Hampson plays guitar on tracks 1, 3, 4 & 8. a limited number of LPs came with a poster. ......................................................................... 1992 Godflesh - COLD WORLD (12" / CD) Earache: MOSH 56 Earache: MOSH 56CD Relativity: 88561-1153-2 --------------------------------------- cold world nihil nihil (total belief mix) nihil (no belief mix) NOTES: recorded during the PURE session. Robert Hampson plays guitar on track 1. ......................................................................... 1994 Godflesh - MERCILESS (12" / CD EP) Earache: MOSH 116 Earache: MOSH 116CD --------------------------------------- merciless blind unworthy flowers NOTES: recorded in December 1993 and mixed in January 1994, except for track 4 which is a remix of "don't bring me flowers" from the PURE album. Robert Hampson appears on tracks 3 and 4. ......................................................................... 1994 Organum - VEIL OF TEARS (CD) Matchless Recordings: MRCD24 --------------------------------------- veil of tears (part 1) delta obon lamentations veil of tears (part 2) NOTES: tracks 1 & 5 recorded 1992 with Michael Prime, Dinah Jane Rowe and David Jackman. track 2 recorded live at Recommended Records, London 1990 with Roger Sutherland, Michael Prime, Dinah Jane Rowe and David Jackman. track 3 recorded 1985 all sounds by David Jackman remixed 1994 by Robert Hampson and Jim O'Rourke. track 4 recorded 1994 with Robert Hampson, David Jackman and with archive sound from 1985 by Philip and Richard Rupenus. ......................................................................... 1995 Organum - KANROKU (12" only) Aeroplane Records: AR17 --------------------------------------- kanroku NOTES: limited to 111 signed and numbered copies. now out of print. single-sided record in shiny, black die-cut disco sleeve. plain white inner sleeve is signed and numbered in silver ink, with rubber stamp of a fried egg (yolk is hand coloured in yellow) with words "ORGANUM KANROKU" stamped above the record number. electronics and microphone feedback by David Jackman. produced and mixed by Robert Hampson with David Jackman. this release was intended for export-only. around 50 copies were sent to Japan. some of the sounds appearing were sourced from two copies of the very first Organum release, the PULP casette single. "kanroku" is a Japanese word for "dignity and presence". ......................................................................... 1995 Indicate - WHELM (CD) Touch Records: TO:25 --------------------------------------- 1 2 3 NOTES: all composition & production by indicate indicate are Jim O'Rourke & Robert Hampson ......................................................................... 1995 180 DEGREES - A Mute Records Compilation (CD) Mute Records: WIRE95 --------------------------------------- quad NOTES: track is by Gilbert/Hampson/Kendall. according to the sleeve: taken from the album ORR (Psst1). the compilation CD is free to UK subscribers only with October 1995 issue of The Wire magazine. ......................................................................... 1995 MESMER VARIATIONS (2xCD) Ash International: ASH 1.8CD2 --------------------------------------- electron transport chain NOTES: remixed by Robert Hampson. this two CD set features additional remixes of the "Mesmer" EP by Put Put, Drome, Bruce Gilbert, Graham Lewis, Daniel Menche, S.E.T.I. and others. ......................................................................... 1995 O Yuki Conjugate - SUNCHEMICAL (12") Staalplaat: STLP 005 --------------------------------------- SIDE A: sunchemical (sulphur) sunchemical (niobium) SIDE B: sunchemical (californium) NOTES: these remixes are from the EQUATOR album. limited to 300 copies. track 1 mix by Woodhead Gardiner track 2 mix by Robert Hampson track 3 mix by Charles Webster ......................................................................... 1996 O Yuki Conjugate - SUNCHEMICAL (CD EP) Staalplaat: STCD096 --------------------------------------- sulphur (s 8.24) niobium (nb 6.59) californium (ca 10.27) carbon (c 7.00) polonium (po 10.00) bismuth (bi 7.04) NOTES: these remixes are from the EQUATOR album. track 1 mix by Woodhead Gardiner track 2 mix by Robert Hampson track 3 mix by Charles Webster track 4 mix by Francois Tetaz track 5 mix by Robert Hampson track 6 mix by Hornberry McGeorge remixes: London & Nottingham, Aug 94 - Feb 95. Charles Webster appears courtesy of With Love From San Francisco. Thanks to: Unknown Announcer, Vredenburg, Utrecht 92, The Sons of Silence, Anne-Louise Falson. ......................................................................... 1996 Various Artists Play Wire - WHORE (CD) Wire Mail Order: WMO 2CD --------------------------------------- used to NOTES: for this release, artists were asked to reinterpret a Wire song of their choice and to treat any aspect of "tribute" with the disrespect it deserves. recorded and mixed at Thirst. produced by Main. "This has to be one of the hardest tasks for a self-confessed Wire bore like myself to do! How to try and sensibly convey the feelings I have for them without racing into hyperbolical nonsense. Well, I can't... '154' will always be one of the most perfectly made records ever! And my personal favorite. A huge godlike tome of influence, and totally untouchable. "So it was to 'Chairs Missing' we turned and we reactivated a version of 'Used To' which was due to appear on a (shelved) covers EP we were planning in 1993. "It'll never match the original in atmosphere, but we did try and take it another direction. When I work out exactly where it went I'll let you know. --Robert Hampson" ......................................................................... 1996 Gilbert/Hampson/Kendall - ORR (CD) Parallel Series: CDPSST1 --------------------------------------- minute hold source II quad achorst seven's onee us clickway source I fotala horg merne NOTES: Orr was recorded over three years ago over a three day period through guitar pick-ups. a degree of processing has occured in the interim. recorded and edited at Worldwide International Studios, London 1993-95. mastered by Dennis Blackham. all titles written by Gilbert/Hampson/Kendall. ......................................................................... 1996 SHEA>RIMBAUD>HAMPSON (CD) Sub Rosa: QUANTUM051 --------------------------------------- untitled 1 untitled 2 NOTES: limited to 2000 copies. track 1 Robin Rimbaud + David Shea track 2 David Shea + Robert Hampson recorded live at upstairs at The Garage, London, May 12, 1996. end.