Terminal Power Company
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 in Birmingham, England |
| Founder | Paul Aspel, John Roome |
| Headquarters | Birmingham , England |
| Products | Alternative music albums and singles |
Terminal Power Company was a British band specializing in alternative music.
History
Established in 1989 in Birmingham, England, by Paul Aspel and John Roome, the group was envisioned as a "cyberpunk band" drawing from a wide array of visual inspirations such as William Gibson, John Shirley, the film Blade Runner, Aliens, Spaghetti Westerns, and Film Noir. Their objective centered on crafting virtual soundtracks influenced by these sources. Initial demo recordings received favorable reactions, which led to their 1990 contract with Situation Two and the debut release of the single "Wired" (SIT 80).
After releasing "Wired," the band secured a contract for three albums with Beggars Banquet Records. Their first album, Run Silent, Run Deep, was tracked over a two-week period in November 1990 and launched in early 1991 to critical acclaim. Subsequent singles included "The Hunger, The Heat" and a remixed version of "Salvation," the latter featuring drummer and guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite, noted for his association with The Mission.
Following the recording sessions, Aspel and Roome expanded their lineup from a trio supplemented by backing tapes to a four-member ensemble to improve live show dynamics. Bassist Dave Askey, formerly part of Goth rock group Dawn after Dark, joined through tour manager John Adkins. After rehearsals and live performances, the band proceeded to record their sophomore album, Red Skin Eclipse, in November 1992 at Rich Bitch studio in Birmingham. The four-week production was co-produced by Justin Broadrick of Godflesh.
Ahead of the album's release, Stourbridge drummer Lee Haggerty became part of the group. Although initially slated for March 1993, the label postponed Red Skin Eclipse until October. During that summer, several tracks were remixed alongside ON-U Sound producer Adrian Sherwood at Roundhouse studio, featuring guitar contributions from Tackhead's Skip McDonald. The tracklist was modified to incorporate the remixed "Juggernaut," which subsequently became their fourth single.
The band maintained an active touring schedule but were dropped by Beggars Banquet in March 1994, after which they signed with Stay Free Records based in Leicester.
Their final release, Cyclops, issued in summer 1995, included guest performances by Shane Embury of Napalm Death on two tracks. Despite this collaboration, the album did not achieve commercial success, resulting in the group's disbandment in November 1995.
Albums
- Run Silent, Run Deep (SITU 38) (1991)
- Red Skin Eclipse (BBQ CD 139) (1993)
- Cyclops (STAY009 CD) (1995)
Singles
- "Wired" (SIT 80) (1991)
- "The Hunger, the Heat" (SIT 92) (1992)
- "Salvation" (SIT 98) (1992)
- "Juggernaut" (BBQ 17CD) (1993)
Other appearances
- Deafening Divinities with Aural Affinities - The Beggars Banquet Collection - "Splinterpsyche" (Beggars Banquet, 1993)
- The Beggars Banquet Collection - "Splinterpsyche" (Tokuma Japan Communications, 1993)
- New Releases Autumn 1991 - "Wired" (SPV Recordings, 1991)
- Gothic Rock - "Burning Chrome (Mk I)" (Jungle Records, 1992)
- Music from the Empty Quarter: Ghafran - "Automek" (T.E.Q. Music, 1993)
- F**kin' Hardfloor Volumes 1 & 2 - "Into Two" (Atomic Magazine, 1995)
Other information
- Television shows such as MTV Europe featured music videos for "The Hunger the Heat" and "Salvation."