Escape From Noise

Escape From Noise (1987; see also 1987 in music) marked Negativland's first break on a "name-brand" independent record label, SST Records. On this album, they continued to develop their experimental, surrealist style, this time throwing some pop sensibilities into the mix (with shorter tracks and more conventional melodies). "Christianity Is Stupid", a track featuring a mercilessly spliced-up evangelical sermon layered over a buzzing and droning hard rock groove, would prove to be an enduring signature song (and would later be further expanded and parodied on Helter Stupid).

Track listing

1. "Announcement"
2. "Quiet Please"
3. "Michael Jackson"
4. "Escape From Noise"
5. "The Playboy Channel"
6. "Stress In Marriage"
7. "Nesbitt's Lime Soda Song"
8. "Over The Hiccups"
9. "Sycamore"
10. "Car Bomb"
11. "Methods of Torture"
12. "Yellow Black and Rectangular"
13. "Backstage Pass"
14. "Christianity Is Stupid"
15. "Time Zones"
16. "You Don't Even Live Here"
17. "The Way Of It"
18. "Endscape"

Personnel

• Mark Hosler: Singing, synthesizers, guitars, voice tapes, percussions, rhythm loops, bomb parts, David manipulation, tiny metal banjo, recorder, lots of other noises, mix
• Don Joyce: Yelling, talking tapes, electric tympani, synthesizer, lyrics, singing, Booper bee, bomb parts and assembly, noises everywhere, mix
• Chris Grigg: Drums, synthesizer, singing, computer & software, field recordings, mix
• David Wills: Talking, shortwave, family tape, bomb parts, regular Booper
• Richard Lyons: Singing, lyrics, voice

With Contributions From:

• Ian Allen: Helicopter (9), Rhythm Loop (10), Bell (15)
• Jello Biafra c/o Dead Kennedys: Toilet Flushing (5)
• Das c/o Big City Orchestra: Voice Tapes (2)
• Dina Emerson: Wordless Vocals (16)
• Steve Fisk: Optigan and Voice Tapes (3)
• Tera Freedman: Voice Tape (13)
• Phil Freihofner: Bomb Parts (10)
• Ed Markmann: Paid Voice
• Fred Frith: Urban Drum and Halfspeed Violin (3)
• Jerry Garcia c/o Grateful Dead: Mouth Sounds and Chimes (13)
• Alexander Hacke c/o Einsturzende Neubauten: Metal Noises (14)
• Mickey Hart c/o Grateful Dead: Percussion and Processed Animals (13)
• Tom Herman c/o Tripod Jimmie: Torture Guitars (11)
• Henry Kaiser: Doublespeed Disco Guitars (2)
• Louisa Michaels c/o Step One Nursery School: Singing (8)
• Mark Mothersbaugh c/o Devo: Jazz Bass, Jimi Hendrix, E-cussion, Saxophone and Noises (5)
• The Residents Hoots and Clanging (16)
• Rev. Ivan Stang c/o The Church of the SubGenius: Larynx (14)
• Rand Weatherwax c/o CBS: Orchestra Hits and E-cussion (2)
• Rob Wortman c/o Kingshouse: Leaf blower (16)