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Kirk

Real Name:
Richard Harold Kirk
Profile:
Born in Sheffield, former Cabaret Voltaire member Richard H. Kirk is widely regarded as contemporary techno's busiest man, a distinction he's picked up through a release schedule that keeps discographers sweating and diehard fans near bankruptcy. Kirk released his first album "Disposable Half-Truths" in 1980, and since then he developed a solo career parallel to the band until its dissolution in 1994, featuring a fusion of diverse styles music genres from dance-orientated Techno and House to Experimental Electronica and Ambient. His stylistic palette have pegged Kirk as an evangelist of "intelligent techno", but his affection for African and tribal percussion and thematics connect his various works in obvious ways.
Sites:
richardhkirk.com, geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Stage/8891
Aliases:
Agents With False Memories, Al Jabr, Anarchia, Biochemical Dread, Bit Crackle, Blacworld, Chemical Agent, Cold Warrior, Dark Magus, Destructive Impact, Digital Terrestrial, Dollars And Cents, Dr. Xavier, Electronic Eye, Extended Family (2), Frightgod, Future Cop Movies, International Organisation, King Of Kings, Multiple Transmission, Nine Mile Dub, Nitrogen (2), Orchestra Terrestrial, Outland Assasin, Papadoctrine, Pat Riot (2), Port Au Prince, PSI Punky Dread Allstars, Reflexiv, Revolutionary Army (Of The Infant Jesus), The, Robots + Humanoids, Sandoz, Signals Intelligence, Silent Age, The, Third Man, The (3), Trafficante, Ubermenschlich, Ubu Rahmen, Vasco De Mento, Wicky Wacky
In Groups:
Acid Horse, Cabaret Voltaire, Citrus (2), Peter Hope & Richard H. Kirk, Pressure Company, The, Sweet Exorcist, Technocrats, The, XON
Variations:
All | Richard H. Kirk | Kirk | Kirk Richard H. | R H Kirk | R. H. Kirk | R. Kirk | R. Kirke | R.H. Kirk | R.H.Kirk | RH Kirk | RHKirk | Richard | Richard "Bourbon" Kirk | Richard H Kirk | Richard Kirk
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Discography

Remixes:
Just Fascination / Sex, Money, Freaks (12", Ltd) Just Fascination (R.H.... Virgin, Virgin 2001
Nag Nag Nag (Maxi) ◄ (2 versions) Nag Nag Nag (R H Kirk ... NovaMute ... 2002
Production:
Mighty Reel (Cass, Album) Loosen The Clamp New Musical Express 1982
Compulsion (12") Pulsations 1 (Human Ru... Some Bizzare, Some Bizzare 1983
Testone (12")   Warp Records, Outer Rhythm 1990
Testone Remixes ◄ (2 versions)   Warp Records 1990
Beating The Retreat (CD, Album, Dig) Pulsations 1, Pulsatio... Some Bizzare 2008
Appears On:
Live At The YMCA 27.10.79 (Album) ◄ (4 versions)   The Grey Area ... 1980
The Voice Of America (Album) ◄ (6 versions)   Rough Trade (UK) ... 1980
Eddie's Out / Walls Of Jericho (12")   Rough Trade (UK) 1981
Jazz The Glass (7", Ltd)   Rough Trade (UK) 1981
Red Mecca (Album) ◄ (6 versions)   Rough Trade (UK) ... 1981
Seconds Too Late (7")   GAP Records 1981
2X45 (Album) ◄ (4 versions)   Rough Trade (UK) ... 1982
Gut Level (Flexi, S/Sided)   Masterbag 1982
Clear Cut 5 (LP) Burnt To The Ground Japan Records Inc. 1983
Crackdown / Just Fascination ◄ (2 versions)   Virgin ... 1983
Fools Game / Gut Level (12")   Base Record 1983
Just Fascination (7")   Virgin 1983
The Crackdown (Album, EP) ◄ (7 versions)   Virgin ... 1983
The Dream Ticket ◄ (3 versions)   Virgin ... 1983
Yashar (Remixes) ◄ (2 versions) Yashar (Man From Basra... NovaMute ... 1983
James Brown ◄ (2 versions)   Virgin 1984
Micro-Phonies (Album) ◄ (5 versions)   Virgin ... 1984
Sensoria (Maxi) ◄ (4 versions)   Virgin ... 1984
Big Funk / Kino (7", Promo, W/Lbl, Ltd)   Virgin 1985
Drinking Gasoline ◄ (8 versions)   Virgin ... 1985
I Want You ◄ (3 versions)   Virgin ... 1985
The Covenant, The Sword And The Arm Of The Lord (Album) ◄ (6 versions)   Virgin ... 1985
Crépuscule Collection 2 - State Of Excitement (LP) Sluggin' Fer Jesus, Yo... Les Disques Du Crépuscule 1986
Ghosts Of Christmas Past (LP) Invocation Les Disques Du Crépuscule 1986
Spools Gold (Cass, Album) The Web (Remix) Record Mirror 1986
The Drain Train (Single) ◄ (3 versions)   Doublevision ... 1986
Code (Album) ◄ (5 versions)   Parlophone ... 1987
Don't Argue (Single) ◄ (4 versions)   Parlophone ... 1987
Here To Go ◄ (5 versions)   Parlophone ... 1987
Eight Crepuscule Tracks ◄ (2 versions)   Normal ... 1988
Hypnotised (Maxi, Single) ◄ (6 versions)   Parlophone 1989
Clonk ◄ (3 versions)   Warp Records 1990
DMC Convention Cassette (Cass, Comp, Promo) Keep On (Land Of Oz Mix) EMI Records 1990
Easy Life / Fluid / Positive ID (Single) ◄ (5 versions)   Parlophone 1990
Groovy, Laidback And Nasty (CD, Album)   Parlophone, Parlophone 1990
Keep On (Maxi) ◄ (8 versions)   Parlophone ... 1990
Let's Dance (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Keep On (Land Of Oz Mix) EMI Electrola 1990
Listen Up With Cabaret Voltaire (Comp) ◄ (2 versions)   The Grey Area 1990
Per Clonk (Remix) (12")   Warp Records 1990
Testone (12")   Warp Records, Outer Rhythm 1990
Testone Remixes ◄ (2 versions)   Warp Records 1990
The Living Legends... (Album, Comp) ◄ (5 versions)   The Grey Area ... 1990
Tricky Disco ◄ (3 versions)   Warp Records ... 1990
Body And Soul (Album) ◄ (5 versions)   Les Disques Du Crépuscule ... 1991
C.C.C.D (CD, Album)   Warp Records 1991
CC EP (EP) ◄ (2 versions)   Warp Records 1991
Colours (MiniAlbum) ◄ (5 versions)   Plastex ... 1991
Live At The Lyceum (CD, Album)   The Grey Area 1991
Pioneers Of The Hypnotic Groove (Comp) ◄ (5 versions) Test Four Warp Records ... 1991
Popcone (12")   Plastex 1991
Ruckzuck (CD, EP)   Roughmix 1991
The Drain Train / Live In Sheffield 19 Jan 82 (CD)   Elektra 1991
The Tyranny Of The Beat - Original Soundtracks From The Grey Area (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Automotivation The Grey Area ... 1991
What Is Real (Maxi) ◄ (2 versions)   Les Disques Du Crépuscule 1991
1974-76 (CD, Album)   The Grey Area 1992
I Want You / Kino - Western Reworks (Maxi) ◄ (2 versions)   Virgin 1992
New Wave Club Class•X 3 (CD) Nag Nag Nag Antler-Subway 1992
Plasticity (Album) ◄ (4 versions)   Les Disques Du Crépuscule ... 1992
Technology: Western Re-Works 1992 (Album, Comp) ◄ (6 versions)   Caroline Records ... 1992
Viva! Eight Live At The Town & Country Club September 1992 (2xCD, Album, Comp) Plasticity 6 - Invisib... New Musical Express 1992
Back In The Front Of Your Mind (12", EP, Promo)   Instinct Records 1993
Dark Continent (12")   Touch 1993
Digital Lifeforms (CD, Album)   Touch 1993
Instinct Records: The New Alternative (Promotional Sampler) (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Deep Time Instinct Records 1993
International Language (Album) ◄ (2 versions)   Plastex ... 1993
Artificial Intelligence II (Comp) ◄ (6 versions) Reality Net Warp Records ... 1994
Intensely Radioactive (CD, Album)   Touch 1994
One A.D. (Volume One Ambient Dub) (CD) Beam Waveform Records 1994
Spirit Guide To Low Tech (CD, Album)   Touch 1994
The Conversation (Album) ◄ (2 versions)   Apollo 1994
Trancefusion 2 (CD, Comp) Neuron Factory Sonic Records 1994
Dub Dope (One And Two Ambient Dub) (2xCD, Comp) Beam Blue Martin Records, Blue Martin Records, Blue Martin Records 1996
Mixmag Live! Volume 18 - Hardcore Happiness (CD) Testone DMC Publishing 1996
The History Of Mixmag Live 5 (3xCD, Box) Testone DMC Publishing, DMC Publishing, DMC Publishing, DMC Publishing 1997
Radiation (BBC Recordings 84-86) (CD, Comp)   NMC Music 1998
Was Het Nu 70 Of 80? Vol 6 (2xCD, Comp) Don't Argue EVA Belgium 1998
Dressed In Black (2xCD) Nag Nag Nag PolyGram TV 1999
Warp 10+2 Classics 89-92 (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Testone, Testfour, Clo... Warp Records 1999
Warp 10+3 Remixes (2xCD, Comp) Testone (Oily Bag Mix)... Warp Records 1999
Totally 80s Dance (CD, Comp) Keep On (Land Of Oz Mix) EMI Gold 2000
Just Fascination / Sex, Money, Freaks (12", Ltd)   Virgin, Virgin 2001
Remixed ◄ (2 versions)   EMI Records 2001
The Original Sound Of Sheffield '83 / '87. Best Of; (CD, Album, Comp)   Virgin, Virgin 2001
Live At The Hacienda '83 / '86 (2xCD)   Cherry Red 2002
Nag Nag Nag (Maxi) ◄ (3 versions)   NovaMute ... 2002
The Original Sound Of Sheffield '78 / '82. Best Of; (CD, Comp)   The Grey Area 2002
The Sound Of The Crowd (CD, Comp) Sensoria (12" Mix) Universal Music (UK) 2002
Methodology '74 / '78. Attic Tapes; (3xCD + Box, Comp)   The Grey Area 2003
[Frequencies]* (CD, Enh, Promo) Nag Nag Nag (Tiga & Zy... Dance Club 2003
Ivan Smagghe Presents Death Disco (CD, Mixed, Comp, Sli) Test Four (Black Strob... Eskimo Recordings 2004
Live At The Hacienda 11.08.83 (LP)   Get Back 2005
Optimo Present Psyche Out (CD, Sli) Mad Jack Eskimo Recordings 2005
Side Trax (CD, Album, Comp, RP, RM)   Rykodisc 2005
DJ-Kicks (CD) Kneel To The Boss Studio !K7 2006
Tracks Appear On:
Artificial Intelligence II (Comp) ◄ (6 versions) Reality Net Warp Records ... 1994
Unofficial Releases:
2X45 (CD, Album, Unofficial, Ltd)   ArsNova 2000
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Richard H. Kirk - The Number of Magic
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Review by jonathan_armstrong Apr 21, 2004
What can you say? The history of electronic music wouldn't be complete without a paragraph or two about this guy.

For any serious student of electronica, you could do a lot worse than to pick up the early Cabaret Voltaire stuff. His style is generally to build the tracks gradually, using a lot of classic Detroit-ish melodies and straightforward percussion programming, while using strange sounds and catchy hooks and vocal (often left-leaning politically) vocal samples. His seminal releases mostly occurred on the Warp label ("Reality Net" makes my personal all time Top Ten electronic tracks, which is on "Artificial Intelligence II".) Sandoz' "Digital Lifeforms" is pretty much a classic in the early 90's IDM genre, as is Cabaret Voltaire's "International Language." If you like industrial dub (think the better On-U Sound stuff) you would be remiss not to own Sandoz’ “Chant to Jah”. To be honest, I don’t think any of his releases are bad, although as stated, some are only okey-doke (e.g., Sandoz’ “Every Man Got Dreaming.”)
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