Add N to (X)

The three humans behind the suggestive sound barrage of UK band Add N To (X) - Barry 7, Ann Shenton, Andrew Aveling (1994-1996) & Steven Claydon (1997 - 2003) -- plugged in their equipment in 1993 with the intention of creating music that would be highly unconventional, profoundly evocative, and open to wild ideas. With what amounted to a political will to oppose dull and predictable use of machine as well as organic instruments, and a revulsion at the rise of coffee table electronic music, they were bound to be intriguing. What they achieved in just over half a decade, however, demolished all expectations and built a purposefully deranged sonic edifice on top, visible from all corners of the planet.

Over five albums and a multitude of accompanying singles, videos and world tours, they established a body of work that was edgier, ruder, more extrovert and coherently schizoid than any other functioning band. Their dirty and joyful beat noise, sinister analog-ola and robo-dada diskorganisation excavated an underground city of possibilities. On and off record they proved themselves to be the least culturally pre-set of all bands with an inspired co-mingling of dildos and theremins, kick drums and punch ups, triggering finches and speaker distending dissension, achieving a modest commercial success before splitting in 2003