These Are Powers

These Are Powers
Company type	Experimental music ensemble
Industry	Music
Founded	2006
Headquarters	Brooklyn, New York and Chicago, Illinois, United States
Products	Experimental music albums and singles

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article These Are Powers, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 30 November 2025

These Are Powers was an experimental music ensemble originating from Brooklyn, New York, and Chicago, Illinois. Their sound fused polyrhythmic patterns with samples, electronic elements, and noise rock influences.

History

Established in 2006 by vocalist and guitarist Anna Barie alongside bassist Pat Noecker (also known for his work with Liars) in Brooklyn, These Are Powers emerged as an avant-garde noise dance collective.

2006-2008

Along with drummer Ted McGrath, the group produced the Silver Lung 7" under Elsie and Jack Recordings and the Terrific Seasons LP released via HOSS Records, which was subsequently reissued by Dead Oceans. Their initial compositions incorporated African polyrhythms, inspirations from John Cage and Pandit Pran Nath, helping to pioneer the Ghost Punk style. Critics often likened them to experimental pioneers such as Sonic Youth and Throbbing Gristle. Their live performances were known for intense psychedelic energy and lengthy improvisational segments.

2008-2011

With Bill Salas (known as Brenmar) stepping in as drummer, the band transitioned from traditional electro-acoustic drum setups to electronic production techniques. During various DIY tours across North America, they composed the Taro Tarot EP and All Aboard Future album in Salas’ hometown of Chicago. Their musical palette broadened to include influences from mainstream American hip hop, UK dubstep, 1990s house music, and New Age genres. The group evolved into more of a collaborative collective, engaging with dancers, visual artists, designers, and other musicians.

Renowned for their dynamic live performances often staged in unconventional locations, These Are Powers toured extensively throughout Europe and performed at numerous museums and galleries. In 2009, they participated in an artist residency in China and completed a national tour alongside Beijing’s Maybe Mars label and promoters Split Works. Their final release was the CANDYMAN 12" on RVNG Intl., featuring cover art by Kevin O’Neil influenced by the fetish culture of sploshing.

The band officially disbanded in early 2011 during a memorial event at Death By Audio.

Pat Noecker developed a unique prepared bass technique involving a wooden dowel acting as a third bridge to modify string scale lengths and fret positions. This innovation inspired Dutch luthier Yuri Landman to create the custom "Burner Bass," which Noecker now employs in his solo project RAFT.

Following the group's dissolution, Anna Barie relocated to France where she formed the experimental electronic duo DUBAI with producer Johannes Buff. Pat Noecker revived RAFT towards the end of 2011, while Bill Salas continues his career producing music and DJing under the name BRENMAR.

Albums

Terrific Seasons (2007) HOSS Records, reissued in 2008 by Dead Oceans Records
Taro Tarot (2008) HOSS Records, also re-released by Dead Oceans Records in 2008
Taro Tarot (2008) Deleted Art (vinyl edition)
All Aboard Future (2009) Dead Oceans
"CANDYMAN" 12" (2010) RVNG Intl.

7"

Silver Lung b/w Funeral Xylophone (2007) Elsie and Jack Recordings

Splits

Cockles 7" split with The Creeping Nobodies (2008) Army of Bad Luck

Compilations

Love And Circuits featured on Cardboard Records compilation (2007)

Additional Releases

The South Angel Remixes CD-R (2006)
These Are Powers Self-titled CD-R and Cassette (2006)

References

External links