Androids of Mu
| Androids of Mu | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Frestonia, West London, England |
| Genres |
Anarcho-punk Post-punk |
| Years active | 1980-1983 |
| Labels | F*** Off Records |
| Associated acts |
Planet Gong Here & Now |
| Past members |
Suze da Blooze Corrina Cozmic Bess |
Androids of Mu was an all-female anarcho-punk/post-punk band based in London, active from 1980 to 1983. They were part of a West London squatland scene, alongside bands such as the Poison Girls, Zounds, The Mob and The Astronauts.
Line-up
The band's line-up was: Suze da Blooze (vocals), Corrina (guitar, vocals), Cozmic (drums, synth, vocals) and Bess (bass, vocals). The second incarnation featured drummer Graham Cronin and guitarist Deborah Thomas.
History
Emerging from associations with the hippy-orientated Here & Now, Nik Turner, Gong's Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth, the Androids of Mu gathered together under the apron of the Frestonia squatter community in Notting Dale, West London, notable in its time for producing non-conformist music.
So near to the Westway, the Androids picked up those ideals which became not so different, ironically, from the hippy ethic after all. They played for the sheer hell of it, screaming and hollering with the mispitched intensity of early Raincoats over music performed with limited but inventive ability, with gleefully chaotic results.
The band's driving force was vocalist Suze da Blooze (b. 11 February 1950; d. 19 August 2007). Suze shared lead vocals with Corrina, and wrote much of the band's material. The Androids were well received by the music press of the day. They released one album, Blood Robots, recorded by label-head Keith Dobson Kif Kif Le Batter in his Street Level studio.
Blood Robots displayed the same musical devotion, relevant thinking, and love of over-the-top, crash-bang-wallop effects as Mikey Dread. Robbi Millar in Sounds described the album as "Android genius", observing the band was "like The Slits were before they discovered the wonders of the weed."[1]
Crass invited the Androids to record for their label on condition that they recruited a "proper" drummer; the band declined the invitation.[2]
Suze da Blooze lived in London's Shepherd's Bush from the mid-1970s until around 2000, when she moved to Devon for a year, then Tottenham in North London, and latterly in Leominster and Hammersmith. She died on 19 August 2007, surrounded by family and friends.[3]
Discography
Album
- Blood Robots (1980, F*** Off Records FLP 001 [LP])[4]
- Suze da Blooze features on Floating Anarchy Live 1977, a live album by Planet Gong (1978, Celluloid LTM 1002 [LP])[5]
Compilation tracks
- "Who Cares?" / "Atomic Explosion" / "White City" / "Seven Cities" / "Bored Housewives" / "Android Jam" on A Tribute to Bert Weedon by Various Artists (1982, Weird Tales [cassette])[6]