History Psyche (band)

1 history

1.1 formation
1.2 years
1.3 crossover success
1.4 present

history
formation

psyche formed brothers darrin , stephen huss in edmonton, alberta, named after b-side of killing joke s wardance single being chosen meaning of word. band s debut performance on december 13, 1982 dwayne goettel on additional keyboards. during period, psyche known bizarre live shows wherein darrin performed nude (except being covered in shaving cream) while talk-singing , shouting on music. performance idea inspired pictures seen of fad gadget in british music magazines.

while demos recorded during period of collaboration dwayne goettel, no albums released until 1985 s insomnia theatre, after goettel s departure.

early years

after insomnia theatre achieved moderate success in europe, psyche tested waters couple single releases followed new studio album, unveiling secret, in 1986. promote record, psyche performed opening act suicide, @ Élysée montmartre in paris, headliners on own proper european tour.

after release of third studio album, mystery hotel, stephen huss forced take hiatus group due being diagnosed schizophrenia. during period darrin began collaborating david kristian, leading new album, influence, in 1989. album introduced new elements psyche s sound, samples created kristian, , being performed entirely on casio fz1. songs such misery , , haunted began new period psyche precursors of dark wave music scene.

a visit home waterloo in 1991 reunited huss brothers and, subsequent recording sessions produced 1991 s daydream avenue. though psyche returned tour europe german keyboardist johannes haeusler in support of english poetic artist anne clark, stephen huss stayed behind in canada due illness.

a follow-up wouldn t come until 1994s intimacy, produced in collaboration joseph watt (of razormaid). feeling new album lacked powerful dance numbers, psyche released private desires ep companion, featuring cover of soft cell s classic sex dwarf. while group embarked on small german tour, future of group unclear due stephen huss remaining in canada, leaving darrin find new collaborators in germany.

crossover success

after hiatus while dabbling in side projects, psyche resumed activities in 1996 per-anders kurenbach joining new member. first single release ran away cover version of goodbye horses q lazzarus b-side. cover version ended being popular ended on becoming permanent staple in psyche s live repertoire, being included on album strange romance, took musical shift toward accessible, upbeat pop sound. after playing first time in oslo, norway , return sweden, psyche released live video featuring highlights strange romance tour. 1998 saw beginning of new record label partnership, , in june of year psyche released eighth official album on strangeways label out of hamburg, germany. album love among ruined added few more experimental touches pop side of psyche s style.

at beginning of 2000, psyche signed artoffact records of toronto, canada. specially-compiled release of misguided angels contained material 1983 through 2000 re-introduction of psyche on original continent. contained last material per-anders kurenbach, , darrin rare mixes. point partnership dissolved, , darrin began next decade of music remi szyszka collaborator in psyche.

the new line-up made debut on accession records single, sanctuary, released in april 2001. after series of successful concerts in both europe , north america, ninth studio album hiding place released , well-received, charting @ fourth place in year-end top 100 of german alternative charts. capitalize on hiding place s success, remix album entitled endangered species released mid-2002. success continued 2003 string of live performances , release of babylon deluxe, found way in german alternative top ten once again.

the 11th hour, psyche s 11th album, saw return of previous collaborator per-anders kurenbach, including farewell track remi szyszka, , guest appearance christian wirsig. 11th hour released through accession records in europe, metropolis records in north america, , irond records in russia making widest release in band s history. album topped german alternative charts (dac).

in 2006, after nearing 25-year mark of psyche s existence, dvd collection documenting psyche s appearances in every incarnation 1983–2005 released. containing 23 tracks in all, @ least 1 song every album ever released, imaginary life released on may 26, 2006. contains music videos , performances covering beginning crawler on edmonton tv station in 1983 through 2005. plus audio commentary track , bonus features such darrin , stephen huss being interviewed backstage in sweden after debut concert in gothenburg in 1988.

present

following 11th hour, psyche shifted focus touring rather recording, playing shows , festivals across europe, north , south america, , south africa. during phase of psyche s career, no new studio albums released, band opting instead release remix albums (unveiling secret 2.0, until shadows, halloween ep), compilations of old , unreleased materials (re-membering dwayne, unknown treasures, brain collapses, rare mixes & b-sides), , multiple live albums. in addition, several albums received re-releases. in 2011, psyche releases cover album, unknown treasures , includes re interpretations of songs cure, doors, depeche mode or visage. in 2012, released things pass night ep included re-recorded extended version of goodbye horses on optimo label. once again solidifying success of interpretation of song enduring cult hit. in 2012 psyche released updated version of influence album on italian label final muzik. enhanced title influence (23rd anniversary edition) , included bonus interpretations of songs misery , sundial , , salvation stranger once again goodbye horses immortality mix .

2014 saw collaboration rational youth resulting in electronic interpretation of ac/dc s hit thunderstruck being released in 3 different coloured vinyl 7 singles on artoffact records

another collaboration time belgian artist luminance resulted in 2 new songs written luminance , sung darrin huss psyche on limited coloured vinyl 7 release again listed under both collaborating artists names on artoffact records in 2015.

also in same year, continuing artoffact records, psyche began re-releasing 80s material starting 30th anniversary edition of first 12 single thundershowers (in ivory towers) 1985.

in july 2016, first 3 albums insomnia theatre (1985), unveiling secret (1986/1987), , mystery hotel (1988) digitally remastered , re-released double albums including archival bonus tracks, plus related singles, , mixes.