Senser are an English
rap rock band, originally formed in South West London.
History
Senser were formed in 1991.
In 1992, they were joined by
Spiral Tribe
Spiral Tribe is an arts collective and free party Sound system (DJ), sound system formed in 1990. It organised free party, free parties, festivals and raves in the UK and later Europe in the 1990s. Spiral Tribe was involved in the Castlemorton ...
D.J, Andy Clinton.
[Strong, Martin C. (1999) ''The Great Alternative & Indie Discography'', Canongate, , p. 551] The band toured in support of psychedelic rockers the
Ozric Tentacles in 1992.
In 1993, the band were signed to Ultimate Records.
In 1993, Senser released two indie singles on Ultimate – "Eject" and "The Key".
The latter would appear on
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...
Singles of the Week 1993 album.
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
The Official Albums Chart is the United Kingdom's industry-recognised national record chart for album, albums. Entries are ranked by sales and audio streaming. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the O ...
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
Richard Melville Hall (September 11, 1965), known professionally as Moby, is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, disc jockey, and animal rights activist. He has sold 20 million records worldwide. AllMusic considers him to be "amo ...
. 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.
The remaining members of Senser found a new drummer, Paul Soden, and set about writing Senser's second album.
In the summer of 1998, Haigh was able to tour and the band released the second album, ''Asylum''.
Once again musical differences became apparent and by February 1999 the band decided to split.
In 2003, the original line-up reunited originally to perform for one show, but decided to re-form and record again. They released their third studio album ''SCHEMAtic'' in 2004.
In 2009, they released ''How To Do Battle''.
In 2013, they released their fifth album ''To the Capsules'' via
Pledgemusic and toured with Erika Footman on vocals in place of Kerstin Haigh.
In 2014, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut ''Stacked Up'', the band re-released the album in expanded edition with a remastered version of the original tracks on the first CD, and bonus tracks from the era (remixes and previously unreleased songs) on the second disc.
Although Senser have not released new music since 2014, as of 2024 the band still perform live shows.
Soundtracks to films
"The Key" was used as part of the cult extreme 1990s ski film, ''The Tribe''.
Senser's song "States of Mind" from ''
Stacked Up'', was used as the soundtrack to the well-known
demoscene
The demoscene () is an international computer art subculture focused on producing demos: self-contained, sometimes extremely small, computer programs that produce audiovisual presentations. The purpose of a demo is to show off computer programmi ...
production, ''State of Mind'', by Bomb.
In 2012, one of their songs was also used in the soundtrack to the film ''Learning Hebrew: A Gothsploitation Movie''.
Discography
Albums
''
Stacked Up'' (1994) Ultimate/
A&M
UK No. 4
:# States of Mind
:# The Key
:# Switch
:# Age of Panic
:# What's Going On
:# One Touch One Bounce
:# Stubborn
:# Door Game
:# Peanut Head
:# Peace
:# Eject
:# No Comply
:# Worth
''Asylum'' (1998) Ultimate
UK No. 73
:# Book of Flies
:# Charming Demons
:# Adrenaline
:# Strange Asylum
:# Burn Out
:# Desensitised
:# Breed
:# Lizard
:# Oyster
:# Weatherman
''Asylum'' (Limited Edition) (1998) "Senser Vs. De:Senser"
:# Charming Demons (DJ "Awe" mix)
:# Eye Kaleid
:# Tried & Untested
:# Om (Harry Hogg mix)
:# Rows of People
:# Gabba Man
''Parallel Charge'' (2001) Strike Back
:# Age Of Panic
:# Charming Demons
:# States Of Mind
:# Strange Asylum
:# Switch
:# Breed
:# The Key
:# Adrenalin
:# Eject
:# Lizard
:# Stubborn
:# Book of Flies
:# No Comply
:# Desensitized
''SCHEMAtic'' (2004) One Little Indian
:# Silent By
:# 101 Infoburner
:# Bulletproof
:# Formula Milk
:# Crucible
:# Return to Zombie Island
:# An Astounding Spectacle
:# Photographed Files
:# Bomb Factories
:# A Conscious War
:# The Brunt
''How To Do Battle'' (2009) Imprint
:# Wake Up, You're On Fire
:# Resistance Now
:# Brightest Rays
:# 2 3 Clear
:# Dictator Bling
:# End Of The World Show
:# Smoking Paranoia
:# Sandhurst in Zero G
:# So Refined
:# Hex
:# Fairytale
:# Lights Out
:# Arturo
:# Blind (iTunes Bonus Track)
''To The Capsules'' (2013)
:# Devoid
:# Time Travel Scratch
:# Witch Village
:# Wounded Spectre
:# Break The Order
:# Alpha Omega
:# Liquidity
:# Echelon
:# Chemtrails
:# Let There Be War
Singles
*"Eject" (1993), Ultimate
*"The Key" (1993), Ultimate –
UK #47
*"Switch" (1994), Ultimate – UK #39
*"Age of Panic" (1994), Ultimate – UK #52
*"Charming Demons" (1996), Ultimate – UK #42
*"Adrenalin" (1998), Ultimate - UK #85.
#14 UK Independent Single Chart
*"Breed" (1998), Ultimate - UK #76.
#9 UK Independent Singles Chart
*"Weatherman", Ultimate – promo only
*''De:Senser'' EP (1998), Ultimate
*"The Brunt" (2004), One Little Indian - #33 UK Independent Singles Chart
*"Bulletproof" / "Crucible" (2004), One Little Indian
*"Resistance Now" (2009), Imprint
*''Biting Rhymes'' EP (2011), Imprint – features hiphop covers
Videos/DVDs
*''States of Mind'' (1995), Ultimate (VHS)
*''Live at the Underworld'' (2006), Ignite (DVD/CD)
Members
Current
* Heitham Al-Sayed (b. 27 February 1971) (vocals/percussion, 1992–1995, 1999–present) He is of Saudi and English parentage; also associated with Fiend and (previously)
Lodestar.
* James Barrett (bass, 1990–present)
* Kerstin Haigh (vocals/flute, 1991–2011, 2013-present)
* Nick Michaelson (guitar, 1990–present)
* John Morgan (drums, 1992–1995, 1999–present)
Former
* Steve Morton (song writing, drummer)
* Alan "Hagos/Haggis" Haggarty (sound engineering/programming/producer, 1992–1994, 1999–2004)
* Andy "Awe" Clinton (turntables, 1992–2017)
* Paul Soden (drums, 1995–1999)
* Erika Footman (vocals, 2013)
References
Bibliography
In Performance(New York Times)
Rolling Stone Magazine - Transglobal Underground review
External links
*
{{Authority control
English hip-hop groups
Rock music groups from London
Rapcore groups
English rap rock groups
Rap metal musical groups