Senser

Senser
Origin	London, England
Genres	Rap rock Industrial hip hop Rapcore Alternative rock Rap metal
Years active	Late 1980s – present
Labels	Ultimate, A&M, One Little Indian, Imprint Music
Website	www.senser.co.uk
Members	Heitham Al-Sayed Erika Footman Nick Michaelson James Barrett John Morgan Andy "Awe" Clinton
Past members	Kerstin Haigh Paul Soden Alan 'Hagos/Haggis' Haggarty Richard Ford Timothy Morton

Senser, a politically charged rap rock UK band, originally formed in South West London from a group of friends in the late 1980s. The initial line-up comprised Nick Michaelson (guitar), Heitham Al-Sayed (vocals), Kerstin Haigh (vocals), John Morgan (drums), James Barrett (bass) and Alan "Hagos/Haggis" Haggarty (engineer, producer, programmer) and in 1992 they were joined by Spiral Tribe D.J, Andy Clinton.^[1] The band toured in support of psychedelic rockers the Ozric Tentacles in 1992.^[1] In 1993 the band were signed to Ultimate Records.

History

In 1993 Senser released two indie singles on Ultimate — "Eject" and "The Key".

In March 1994 Senser released their third single, "Switch", which entered the UK Singles Chart at number 39. Senser's first album, Stacked Up, was released in May 1994, and entered the UK Albums Chart at number 4.

At the beginning of 1995 Senser toured the UK supported by Skunk Anansie before setting off to tour the United States with Moby. It was during this tour that the band decided to split over musical differences. Al-Sayed and Morgan left to form a new band with Haggis called Lodestar.^[1] The remaining members of Senser found a new drummer, Paul Soden, and set about writing Senser's second album.

During the spring of 1997 they recorded the second album. And in the summer of 1997 De-Senser released "Om".

In the summer of 1998 Kerstin was able to tour and the band released the second album, Asylum. Once again musical differences became apparent and in February 1999 the band decided to split.

The band, now with the original line-up in place, recorded and released their third studio album SCHEMAtic.

In 2009, they released How To Do Battle.^[2]

In 2013, they released their fifth album To the Capsules via Pledgemusic and toured with Erika Footman on vocals in place of Kerstin Haigh.^[3]

Soundtracks to films

Senser's song "States of Mind", from Stacked Up was used as the soundtrack to the well-known demoscene production State of Mind by Bomb.^[4]

In 2012 one of their songs was also used in the soundtrack to the film "Learning Hebrew: A Gothsploitation Movie".^[5]

Discography

Albums

Stacked Up (1994) Ultimate/A&M UK No. 4^[1]

1. States of Mind
2. The Key
3. Switch
4. Age of Panic
5. What's Going On
6. One Touch One Bounce
7. Stubborn
8. Door Game
9. Peanut Head
10. Peace
11. Eject
12. No Comply
13. Worth

Asylum (1998) Ultimate UK No. 73^[1]

1. Book of Flies
2. Charming Demons
3. Adrenaline
4. Strange Asylum
5. Burn Out
6. Desensitised
7. Breed
8. Lizard
9. Oyster
10. Weatherman

Asylum (Limited Edition) (1998) "Senser Vs. De:Senser"

1. Charming Demons (DJ "Awe" mix)
2. Eye Kaleid
3. Tried and Tested
4. Om (Harry Hogg mix)
5. Rows of People
6. Gabba Man

Parallel Charge (2001) Strike Back

1. Age Of Panic
2. Charming Demons
3. States Of Mind
4. Strange Asylum
5. Switch
6. Breed
7. The Key
8. Adrenalin
9. Eject
10. Lizard
11. Stubborn
12. Book Of Flies
13. No Comply
14. Desensitized

SCHEMAtic (2004) One Little Indian

1. Silent By
2. 101 Infoburner
3. Bulletproof
4. Formula Milk
5. Crucible
6. Return to Zombie Island
7. An Astounding Spectacle
8. Photographed Files
9. Bomb Factories
10. A Conscious War
11. The Brunt

How To Do Battle (2009) Imprint

1. Wake Up, You’re On Fire
2. Resistance Now
3. Brightest Rays
4. 2 3 Clear
5. Dictator Bling
6. End Of The World Show
7. Smoking Paranoia
8. Sandhurst in Zero G
9. So Refined
10. Hex
11. Fairytale
12. Lights Out
13. Arturo
14. Blind (iTunes Bonus Track)

To The Capsules (2013)

1. DEVOID
2. TIME TRAVEL SCRATCH
3. WITCH VILLAGE
4. WOUNDED SPECTRE
5. BREAK THE ORDER
6. ALPHA OMEGA
7. LIQUIDITY
8. ECHELON
9. CHEMTRAILS
10. LET THERE BE WAR

DVD/Video

• States of Mind (1995), Ultimate (VHS)
• Live at the Underworld (2006), Ignite (DVD/CD)

Singles

• Eject (1993), Ultimate
• The Key (1993), Ultimate - UK # 47^[1]
• Switch (1994), Ultimate - UK No. 39^[1]
• Age of Panic (1994), Ultimate - UK No. 52^[1]
• Charming Demons (1996), Ultimate - UK No. 42^[1]
• Adrenalin (1998), Ultimate
• Breed (1998), Ultimate
• Weatherman, Ultimate - promo only
• De:Senser EP (1998), Ultimate
• The Brunt (2004), One Little Indian
• Bulletproof / "Crucible" (2004), One Little Indian
• Resistance Now (2009), Imprint
• Biting Rhymes EP (2011), Imprint - features hiphop covers^[6]

Members

Current members

• Heitham Al-Sayed (Rap (Lead Vocalist) /Percussion, 1992–1995, 1999– present)
• Nick Michaelson (Guitar, 1992–present)
• James Barrett (Bass, 1992–present)
• John Morgan (Drums, 1992–1995, 1999–present)
• Andy "Awe" Clinton (DJ, 1992–present)
• Erika Footman (Vocals, 2013–present)

Former members

• Alan "Hagos/Haggis" Haggarty (Sound Engineer/Programmer/Producer, 1992–1994, 1999–2004)
• Paul Soden (Drums, 1995–1999)
• Kerstin Haigh (Vocals and Flute, 1992–2013)

References

1. Strong, Martin C. (1999) The Great Alternative & Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 0-86241-913-1, p. 551
2. "Senser – How To Do Battle « Bring the Noise UK". Bringthenoiseuk.com. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
3. Wincott, Mark. "SENSER – To The Capsules". MetalMouth.Net. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
4. "State Of Mind by Bomb :: pouët.net". Pouet.net. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
5. "Learning Hebrew: A Gothsploitation Movie". Learninghebrew.wibbell.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
6. "Senser – Biting Rhymes". Discogs. Retrieved 17 April 2015.

External links

• Official website