Craig Leon – Nommos (1981)
Music is a fascinating beast. Twisting and turning, contorting when you least expect. And the changes, the innovations are going to happen when very few are looking. And just when you think it’s all been said and done. It bites back and something new comes form seemingly nowhere.
Since making his mark on popular music, Producer Craig Leon has done his share of biting back. For example, focusing almost exclusively on classical music since 1998. He follows his own voice. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t left his mark on some of the most innovative and important modern music created in this century.
If he was known for nothing else, Craig Leon’s (and Marty Thau) production of Suicide’ landmark 1977 debut would have rightfully secured his place in music history. Recorded in just four days, Suicide’s cold, hard, urban electronic -dub sound demanded that the world stepped up and pay attention. The record is the rarest of occasions; a sound that actually speaks with a new voice.
Craig Leon went on to work with many great artists after Suicide. Including Blondie, The Ramones, Talking Heads and Richard Hell. While there so fine, fine music in Leon’s background, none of those albums (after Suicide) were as remarkable as his own 1981 masterpiece, Nommos. Haven’t heard of it?
“Ahead of its time” is the most overused phrase in modern music. And falsely attributing “ reatness” to mediocre albums (insert the title of any Nick Cave album here) is a symptom of our mediocre age. With little respect for boldness of action or radical thinking. Instead we reward the copy, the timid and the mild. Suicide was none of those, nor is Craig Leon’s Nommos.
Nommos is the exceptional.
Incorporating the minimalist production of Suicide, hypnotic-primitive drone and electronic dance music, Leon creates an album that is exciting, raw and still inviting – melodic and warm. Nommos is an album that demand we look forward in much the same way as Manuel Göttsching’s proto-techno album E2-E4 from the same year. Pointing the way towards the techno, industrial and house music from Detroit – Chicago – London – Cologne. Its influences are everywhere.
Nommos is no history lesson. Its rich, thick synthesizers are creating a lush, beautiful analog sound, a three-dimensional listening experience that surrounds the listener with urban rhythms and experimental beats. And don’t overlook the beauty within the hypnotic repetition here, with each track pulsating with the minimal dance music of your dreams.
by Shawn Ciavattone
[…] you share with us the reported concept behind your solo album, Nommos (1981)? Your album shares some of the same sound elements; urban, primitive and electronic. The music was […]
Shawn,
I appreciate that you have once again shared an album with me that I have not heard of. Manuel Göttsching’s E2-E4 is one of my favorites of the 1980s–electronic and innovative. Looking forward to listening.
Manuel Göttsching’s E2-E4 Absolutely cry’s out for a review on VW. So much House and Techno music that would happen in the 80/90 came directly from that masterpiece. Thank you, Mark.
Your first paragraph is great, beautiful opening. Craig has a lot of influences, never heard about him before. He has worked with absolutely game-changers in music!. “Nommos” seems like a very interesting blend… On the first tracks I can hear some early shoegaze, drone, minimal techno, the repetition of krautrock and a bit of new wave…Fantastic.
Thanks, Shawn!.
That 80s New Wave sound is all over the album. It’s that brilliant Suicide that is so influential. Craig Leon just finds that amazing “grooves” to lay that sound into. It’s almost, but not quite, funky. I love you that I struggle to describe. 👍. Thank you!
I always thought that he made just one album?
I believe the second album was originally a private pressing. It has since been reissued. Well worth your time. Thank you.
Great album, oscillates between drones and repetitive sounds, between electronics and contemporary meditation. Unique.
Unique is the right word. Thought, ambitious and innovative. Nommos, is primitive electronic music that is worth coupling with his 1982 sequel, Visiting. Check it out! .
Love a the names and bands he has worked with, so I was a bit shocked that I had never heard of him and this album. Awesome record, a hidden gem indeed. Thanks for putting this on our radar!
So many of these sounds became standard dance music in the 80s. There’s some great interviews on-line with Mr Leon. His a true musicologist. In the best sense of the word. Just a real depth and interest in all types of music from Luciano Pavarotti to suicide