“Communist Moon”
from the album Armed Love
2005
iTunes
Armed Love, produced by Rick Rubin, is The (International) Noise Conspiracy’s heaviest effort so far and their strongest record to date. Punk rock played like ’70s hard rock or the other way around, with lyrics straight from the heart and straight to the point. Never before has there been a band that combines well-written, catchy songs with such radical politics as T(I)NC; they unite passion and politics in a highly explosive mix of catchy songs, full volume, dancing, sexuality, fashion, street fighting, sweat and live shows that would make most bands reconsider their reason for playing music. And on Armed Love, the band has captured (for the first time) the intoxicating vibe of their live performances on a recording.
In addition to Rubin at the helm, the band was backed up by the legendary Billy Preston on organ. Songs like “Communist Moon,” offer the unique blend of symbolic lyrics alongside pop rhythms. Another track, “The Way I Feel About You,” shows the multi-faceted nature of the band, as romantic undertones accompany the anthemic rock feel. And “Like a Landslide” brings it all back home, with a catchy chorus highlighting the band’s vital message of hope and change. About the recording process and Rick Rubin, bass player Inge Johansson noted, “He recognized the potential and energy in the band, and wanted to bring out the best in us. He took us places we hadn’t been before musically. The synergy between all of us was amazing; he challenged us and helped us get to where we wanted.”
Times have changed for the worse since the last time The (International) Noise Conspiracy released a record. People all around the world are shocked by bloody wars, illegal occupations and increased everyday economic oppression. Every time one opens a newspaper, they are exposed to all the obvious wrongs with the world today, and now The (International) Noise Conspiracy calls for a change. Now is the time for questioning, organizing and action. The political left needs to take the step back into the mainstream and the open air to let people know that there’s an alternative to this barbaric state of the world today.
The (International) Noise Conspiracy formed in Sweden in late 1998. The band members all grew up with the Swedish hardcore scene, and were schooled in the radical youth movements of the ’90s. The band released a bunch of singles in 1999 and started touring, quickly earning a reputation as one of the wildest and most uncompromising live acts out there. True to their ideology, the band went to The People’s Republic Of China in May of 1999 for their first tour outside of Sweden. The symbolism of the Tianamen Square massacre was not lost as the band performed their songs in still illegal, hidden rock clubs while the Chinese police waited outside the door with guns and nightsticks.
The band’s debut album Survival Sickness was released in the spring of 2000. Heavy touring around the world followed, and in late 2000 America got their first visit by these radical Swedes with both headline dates and shows with At The Drive-In, Sunny Day Real Estate and others. Other American tours followed in 2001, including runs with Rocket from the Crypt, The Hives and Rival Schools.
While the world was changing and protests were raging, The (International) Noise Conspiracy continued to be inspired by the political climate of the world at large. The band found a movement where they felt at home and went to participate at the protest against the European Union and George Bush meeting in Gothenburg in June 2001. A free show was played for the 25.000 protestors and this embodied the idea that politics and music could be combined in a real and vital context. Inspired by this, the band recorded and released A New Morning Changing Weather in 2001. The release, lyrically inspired by the wave of protest and uprising, offered songs like “Capitalism Stole My Virginity.” Critics praised the record and called T(I)NC “rock’s most politically radical band” (Los Angeles Times).
Endless touring followed and the band played Europe, America and Australia several times. A live record was recorded at the Oslo Jazz festival 2002 Live at the Oslo Jazz festival (Moserobie) when the band performed with jazz-legends Jonas Kullhammar and Sven Eric Dahlberg. The band also released the mini album Bigger Cages, Longer Chains in 2003, which included a cover of N.E.R.D’s “Baby Doll.”
Legendary producer Rick Rubin had followed The (International) Noise Conspiracy for a while, and contacted the band directly with his desire to work with them. He signed them to his label in 2003 and together they started to work on what was to be Armed Love. The band continues their raging battle against capitalists and fascists all over the world. Times of compromising with the oppressors are now over! The (International) Noise Conspiracy is back to let you know that we’ve got nothing but our chains to lose, and a world to win.
You better get ready — this is Armed Love.