GASP
IN DISBELIEF
as Techno Wizards ZORCH Travel Through TIME...
Basil Brooks
Mirana
Gwyo Zepix
1973
- 2007 : 'Probably' the first ever ..
ambient techno rave all synthesizer band in the world
Long before the days of Tangerine
Dream, Kraaftwerk and Jean Michelle Jarre, and almost
20 years before the onset of ambient trance techno rave
music - all Synthesizer band ZORCH were playing 5 hour
sets through the night to astonished audiences at Windsor
Free Festival in 1973, with A Phantasy
Circus often providing the warm-up acoustic slot.
The world
simply wasn’t ready for them.
ZORCH were
England's first totally electronic band, pioneering integrated
performances of synthesizers and lightshow. By 1975 Zorch (originally
a four piece band) were performing as a duo, Basil Brooks and
Gwyo Zepix, playing three EMS analogue synthesizers, accompanied
by Silver the dancer and a full psychedelic lightshow. With
their electronic melodies and sequencer bass lines, they created
a unique musical style. In the days before digital synthesizers
and personal computers, Zorch took their music, visuals and
audience into uncharted territory.
1974 Gig Poster
My personal
links with ZORCH go back a long way to the early 70s. Their
part in the WINED UP CD project will become clear if you read
the website. Zorch reformed in Y2K and have played several gigs
including with GONG. Gwyo Zepix has now officially joined GONG
on keyboards and guitar
