Art of Noise

Art of Noise
Company type	Music group
Industry	Music
Founded	1983
Founder	Gary Langan, J. J. Jeczalik, Anne Dudley, Trevor Horn, Paul Morley
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Electronic music, sound collages, sampled music

Art of Noise (also referred to as the Art of Noise) was an innovative British electronic ensemble established in early 1983. The founding members included engineer and producer Gary Langan, programmer J. J. Jeczalik, keyboardist and arranger Anne Dudley, producer Trevor Horn, and music journalist Paul Morley. The group gained international acclaim with Top 20 charting hits such as their rendition of "Kiss" featuring Tom Jones and the instrumental track "Peter Gunn", which earned a 1986 Grammy Award.

Their largely instrumental works were groundbreaking sound collages that utilized emerging digital sampler technology. Drawing inspiration from early 20th-century musical innovations, Art of Noise initially presented themselves as an anonymous, anti- or non-traditional collective, deliberately obscuring distinctions between the creators and their art. They are acknowledged as pioneers in integrating electronics, computing, and sampling techniques within popular music.

Origins

Central to The Art of Noise’s sound was the Fairlight CMI sampler, a device enabling brief digital sound snippets called samples to be triggered via a keyboard, with a computer processor modifying characteristics such as pitch and timbre. Producer Trevor Horn was among the first to exploit this technology, envisioning entire compositions created through sampling rather than mere embellishments.

By 1981, Horn’s production team comprised programmer J. J. Jeczalik, engineer Gary Langan, and keyboardist/arranger Anne Dudley. They applied the Fairlight extensively on ABC’s 1982 debut album The Lexicon of Love, enriching live elements and incorporating sound effects like a cash register bell on "Date Stamp." Dudley also co-authored one track, marking the beginning of her career in scoring. The group further contributed to Malcolm McLaren’s 1982 album Duck Rock and subsequently worked on Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Welcome to the Pleasuredome, predominantly utilizing the Fairlight sampler.

In January 1983, Horn’s team was engaged in producing the comeback album 90125 for Yes, with Horn as producer, Langan engineering, and Dudley alongside Jeczalik managing arrangements and keyboard programming. During these sessions, Jeczalik and Langan sampled a discarded drum pattern by drummer Alan White into the Fairlight using its Page R sequencer—marking the first complete drum sequence loaded into the machine. They overlaid various non-musical sounds before presenting the result to Horn. This experimentation culminated in the Red & Blue Mix of Yes’s single "Owner of a Lonely Heart", foreshadowing the distinctive sound that would define The Art of Noise.

Identifying further possibilities, Horn enlisted Jeczalik and Langan to collaborate with Dudley in February to advance the project, bringing in former NME journalist Paul Morley as conceptual architect, art director, and marketing strategist. Morley derived the group’s name from futurist Luigi Russolo’s essay "The Art of Noises", omitting the final 's' at Jeczalik’s suggestion. Morley later characterized his contribution mainly as naming the band and writing lyrics for "Moments in Love." Horn participated as production advisor and creative contributor—marking his first involvement with a group since departing The Buggles and his last chart appearance as an artist since 1979’s "Video Killed the Radio Star" (aside from songwriting credits).

Who's Afraid of the Art of Noise? (1983–1984)

The Art of Noise's initial EP, Into Battle with the Art of Noise, debuted in September 1983 under Horn's freshly established ZTT label. Several samples from 90125 were reused on this release, which swiftly climbed the US urban and alternative dance charts, propelled by the rhythmic instrumental track "Beat Box", a favorite within the body-popping community.

Their first full-length album, Who's Afraid of the Art of Noise?, was issued in 1984. The group deliberately maintained anonymity, employing masks and limiting publicity to focus attention on their music rather than individual identities.

The ten-minute instrumental "Moments in Love", featured on both Into Battle and Who's Afraid, was remixed and issued as a single in 1985. Originally achieving moderate success on the US R&B charts in 1983, it eventually gained widespread recognition—being played at Madonna’s wedding, sampled by Mýa, incorporated into films such as Pumping Iron II: The Women and Koi...Mil Gaya, cited in literary works, and frequently covered or sampled. It continues to be a mainstay on smooth jazz radio stations and chillout compilations. Numerous remixes are included in the box set And What Have You Done with My Body, God?.

An October 1984 article in Smash Hits outlined Morley and Horn’s future intentions, which involved covering "Video Killed the Radio Star" (originally by The Buggles), creating an album titled Raiding the 20th Century utilizing sound samples spanning the entire century, composing the score for the film The Living End, and writing music for ballet productions.

Released in October 1984, "Close (to the Edit)" became Art of Noise’s breakthrough UK hit, peaking at number eight on the UK Singles Chart by November.

Division of original members (1985)

In 1985, Dudley, Jeczalik, and Langan parted ways contentiously from Morley and Horn as well as from ZTT Records.

Following this split, Jeczalik expressed in a Melody Maker interview that he found Morley’s songwriting pretentious and minimized Morley and Horn’s role in creating Who's Afraid, claiming their input was limited. Dudley also voiced reservations about certain aspects of that album.

After leaving, Morley criticized The Art of Noise’s subsequent musical direction, labeling the remaining ensemble as a novelty act mainly recognized for their collaborations with Tom Jones. His critical views appeared in various texts, including liner notes for the 1986 compilation Daft and an article published in 2002 by the Observer.

In Visible Silence (1986)

Post-split, Dudley, Jeczalik, and Langan signed with China Records based in the UK while continuing under The Art of Noise name. Their sophomore album, In Visible Silence, retained elements of their earlier visual style and philosophy. It featured their Grammy-winning rendition of the Peter Gunn theme alongside Duane Eddy, which climbed to number two on Billboard’s dance charts. The video for this track starred comedian Rik Mayall spoofing detective films. This piece was later adopted as theme music for the 2008 BBC series Bill Oddie's Wild Side.

The album also presented "Legs," a minor club hit reminiscent of "Beat Box," alongside "Paranoimia," which achieved popularity through a remix featuring vocal contributions by Matt Frewer portraying Max Headroom. Frewer appeared as Max Headroom in its accompanying music video.

By 1986, both Jeczalik and Dudley began appearing unmasked in promotional photos, signaling a departure from Morley’s "art for art's sake" concept. This transition marked The Art of Noise’s shift toward embracing a more mainstream pop band image.

In No Sense? Nonsense!, Below the Waste, and the group's dissolution (1987–1990)

By 1987, The Art of Noise had been pared down to just J.J. Jeczalik and Anne Dudley. They released the album In No Sense? Nonsense!, which showcased Jeczalik's intricate rhythmic sampling, rich string orchestrations, choral boy vocals, and Dudley's distinctive keyboard work. Although it did not produce any major chart-topping singles, remixed versions of "Dragnet" managed to reach number 60 on the UK Singles Chart through targeted promotion in dance venues.

That same year, the group contributed to the soundtracks of two films, Hiding Out and Dragnet, prominently incorporating a brass-based segment from the original Dragnet theme as background music in both movies.

In 1988, a collaboration with Tom Jones covering Prince's "Kiss" reignited public attention and became their most commercially successful single. This track appeared on multiple Jones albums and was also featured on China Records' compilation The Best of The Art of Noise.

Their next album, Below the Waste (1989), failed to achieve strong sales but included the notable single "Yebo!", featuring South African vocal group Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens. The cassette and CD versions offered bonus tracks such as "Robinson Crusoe" and a rendition of the "James Bond Theme".

By 1990, Dudley and Jeczalik formally ended The Art of Noise.

Interim period: compilations, unsuccessful reunions, and solo endeavors

Following their split, Dudley and Jeczalik supported the release of a subtly reworked compilation titled The Ambient Collection (1990), tapping into the growing popularity of ambient house music. Jeczalik authorized remixed versions for 1991's The FON Mixes. Throughout the decade, China Records continued issuing various compilations—including The Drum and Bass Collection, Art Works, and re-releases omitting ZTT-era tracks—some featuring fresh remix material.

In 1991, motivated by the positive reception of The FON Mixes, Jeczalik, Dudley, and Gary Langan explored reuniting and recorded new ideas in Cuba; however, no new official recordings emerged, leaving the group inactive.

During the 1990s, Dudley established herself as a prominent composer for film and television, notably scoring The Full Monty, which earned an Academy Award for Original Music Score. She collaborated with Jaz Coleman on Songs from the Victorious City (1990) and produced songs for Deborah Harry’s 1993 album Debravation. Additionally, Dudley composed for several pop artists and produced Alison Moyet’s album Voice. The US Top 10 hit "Too Many Walls" by Cathy Dennis featured lyrics added to one of Dudley’s original compositions.

Between 1995 and 1997, Jeczalik teamed up with engineer Bob Kraushaar to create dance-focused instrumentals under the name Art of Silence, releasing material via artofsilence.co.uk. Concurrently, Jeczalik pursued a career in financial futures trading.

The Art of Noise received full songwriting credit for The Prodigy’s track "Firestarter", which samples vocal elements from "Close to the Edit". The Prodigy also contributed a remix to The FON Mixes (1991). An edited version of "Close to the Edit" was featured in the educational Amiga computer game Ready Robot Club. Additionally, the band is credited for music used in ITV’s game show series The Krypton Factor.

The reunion and release of The Seduction of Claude Debussy (1998–2000)

In 1998, Horn, Morley, and Dudley revisited the original vision of the project and its significance within 20th-century music, briefly regrouping with guitarist Lol Creme but without the involvement of J.J. Jeczalik and Gary Langan. The engineering and production duties were managed by the electronic duo Way Out West. They completed an album titled Balance – Music for the Eye, which was never officially released; however, several tracks surfaced on the 2010 compilation Influence, and the complete album was later included in the At the End of the Century box set. Instead of a full release, a single named "Dream On," containing remixed versions of "Dreaming in Colour," was distributed to club DJs in 1998.

Prior to the 1999 concept album The Seduction of Claude Debussy on ZTT, a second single called "Metaforce," featuring rapper Rakim, was issued. This album portrayed the life and artistry of Claude Debussy and served as the foundation for a 17-minute soundtrack accompanying London's Millennium fireworks over the Thames. The display synchronized an edited version of "Seduction" with samples drawn from notable British pop, rock, and classical composers. The event was broadcast live on Capital FM and BBC London, with Trevor Horn collaborating alongside Jill Sinclair, Bob Geldof, Capital Radio executive Clive Dickens, and producer Ross Ford.

Following limited live shows in both the UK and US, the group disbanded. Subsequently, a DVD titled Into Vision and a CD called Reconstructed were released in 2002 and 2003 respectively, featuring recordings from performances in Chicago, the 1999 Coachella Festival, Shepherd's Bush Empire (2000), and Wembley’s Fountain Studios.

Later work

A partial reunion took place on 30 November 2013 during a BBC Concert Orchestra performance that was broadcast live on BBC radio. This program showcased Dudley's orchestral arrangement of Into Battle alongside a newly composed piece titled "Rhythm of a Decade," which drew inspiration from an unreleased Art of Noise project exploring rhythmic developments across different decades.

On 25 May 2017, members Langan, Dudley, and Jeczalik reunited under the name Reboot Art of Noise at Liverpool Sound City festival, supporting The Human League as part of the Pioneers of British Electronic Music event.

They appeared again as "Dudley, Jeczalik, Langan" at the British Library on 9 March 2018 during the "Season of Sound," commemorating 140 years of recorded audio history. This event featured video introductions by Paul Morley.

More recently, Jeczalik and Langan have performed sporadically as The Art of Noise/Revision/VJ Set alongside video artist Ian Peel and Chilean musician/producer Raimundo Ladrón de Guevara. Trevor Horn, Anne Dudley, and Paul Morley have contributed creatively to these endeavors.

Re-releases

In 2003, Germany saw the release of a 20th-anniversary edition of Into Battle on CD that included bonus tracks plus a DVD containing promotional videos and a discography slideshow. This edition replaced the original "Beat Box" track with its later version titled "Diversion One."

Early in 2004, Karvavena issued The Abduction of The Art of Noise, a tribute album featuring covers along with a new rendition of "Beat Box" by J.J. Jeczalik under the name Art of Silence. That same year, Dudley and Horn performed "Close (To the Edit)" at a charity event organized by The Prince's Trust.

In 2006, Lol Creme teamed up with Trevor Horn and others to form Producers, a collective comprising record producers and musicians; Gary Langan participated as their audio engineer.

On 21 August 2006, ZTT released a comprehensive 4-CD box set entitled And What Have You Done with My Body, God?, which compiled material from their ZTT period between 1983 and 1985. This collection featured more than forty previously unreleased remixes, demos, work-in-progress tracks, plus the entire vinyl version of Into Battle... sourced from original master tapes—making its CD debut. Music journalist Ian Peel curated this set and wrote an accompanying 36-page booklet containing new interviews with original band members.

Continuing his archival efforts in April 2011, Peel launched the Element Series with a Deluxe Edition reissue of Into Battle with the Art of Noise. This marked the beginning of a chronological remastering project that included extended versions and previously unavailable recordings. Following this was a Deluxe Edition release of Who's Afraid of the Art of Noise?, often considered their first definitive album, on 19 September 2011.

In May 2017, a two-disc deluxe edition of In Visible Silence was issued featuring a remastered version of the album along with remixes and B-sides from earlier singles—many appearing on CD for the first time—as well as outtakes and unreleased tracks from their China Records era. A comparable deluxe edition for In No Sense? Nonsense! was released shortly thereafter.

Additional Contributions

The Art of Noise crafted the signature theme for the UK television quiz show The Krypton Factor, which aired from 1986 through 1993. They also composed brief musical motifs corresponding to each individual round. Moreover, they were responsible for the opening theme of the third season of The Max Headroom Show. This piece, titled "Happy Harry's High Club," appears on their album In Visible Silence.

Albums

Who's Afraid of the Art of Noise? (1984)
In Visible Silence (1986)
In No Sense? Nonsense! (1987)
Below the Waste (1989)
The Seduction of Claude Debussy (1999)

Video and DVD Releases

"The Art of Noise in: Visible Silence" (1986) – a live performance recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon on August 15, 1986.
The Art of Noise: "Into Vision" (2002) – a compilation featuring four concerts performed between 1999 and 2000 at venues including Chicago; Coachella, California; Shepherd's Bush, London; and Wembley, London.

Members of the Band

Official line-ups of The Art of Noise
1983–1985	Anne Dudley J. J. Jeczalik Gary Langan Trevor Horn Paul Morley
1985–1987	Anne Dudley J.J. Jeczalik Gary Langan
1987–1990	Anne Dudley J.J. Jeczalik
1998–2000	Anne Dudley Trevor Horn Paul Morley Lol Creme
2017	Anne Dudley J.J. Jeczalik Gary Langan

External links

Official website