Gauge - The Gatehouse
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artist: | Gauge |
| release: | The Gatehouse | |
| catalogue number: | PAUSE002 | |
| formats: | 12" LP | |
| availability: | in store now | |
| tracklisting: | the first touch roads run in the dark forever sevenend (first letter) the first touch (third eye foundation mix) surface (last letter) |
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| interesting features: | ||
| artwork: | Pho | |
| barcode: | none |
blurb:
After returning from Switzerland and his extensive work with distorto-rock trio 16-17 for Digital Hardcore Recordings, Damian meets Ben, and after discovering a mutual love of Rachels and Caustic Window, form Gauge. This is 1996. They need a drummer, so Ben coerces his girlfriend Flo to play. She is reluctant to leave her lap-dancing job in the Digbeth quarter of Birmingham, but does so. So it was almost by chance that these three musical super-forces were joined to form the single gauge unit. But what a lucky chance.
As a 3-piece they record 'The Self Second' EP on Billy Reeves' (founder member of theaudience, dontcha know) Bright Recordings label. Somehow inheriting a spot in the prime of the Bristol 'scene', although how is not entirely clear.. they land themselves an album deal with the seminal but virtually non-existent Planet Records (of Bristol).
This gruelling process required the trio to relocate to Bristol and record their album over a series of weeks in what they refer to as "the crappest studio in the world", although even to call this industrial lock-up and microphone setup a studio is glorifying it somewhat. However, a young Matt Elliot (Third Eye Foundation) at the controls, ensures the business. This is the basis for 'The Gatehouse' which Gauge present to PAUSE_2 after Planet Records mysteriously disbands. Even more mysteriously, the final master DATs cannot be tracked down and a hunt begins around various locations, and eventually a finished version of The Gatehouse is recovered. It is edited down, mastered, remastered, reremastered, and eventually it is ready, complete with a minimal but engaging Third Eye Foundation remix of 'The First Touch', the track which was originally due to be a single for Planet.
By this time, Ben and Flo have left the band to open a florist in Wolvey, Near Hinckley.
Damian is also currently carthage and founder of the Twin Valley Falls label, as well as bassist for 16-17. He was also previously involved in collaborations with Techno Animal.
