Miserylab

miserylab
Origin Liverpool, England
Leeds, England
Genres Post-punk, alternative rock
Years active 1998 - present
Labels Carbon Neutral Digital
Shadowplay Release
Associated acts Rosetta Stone
Website http://www.miserylab.com
Members Porl King

Miserylab is the main music project of Porl King, formed in the late nineties after the disbanding of Rosetta Stone in 1998.

History

Miserylab was originally conceived as a moniker for remix and production purposes, such as work done for My Vitriol and the Mercury Music Award winning Elbow. The name was originally spelt "misery:lab" – but King chose to remove the colon in order to make it easier to find in Internet search engines. The name can be seen as both a serious comment on animal experimentation, and a self-deprecating comment on himself and his musical output. A number of tracks were written in 2000, but were not released whilst production work remained the priority.[1][2]

Music

Early years and first releases (2005–2009)

Early physical releases from miserylab: Function Creep, miserylab T-shirt, A Death That We Can Cure, Freedom is Work, Lab Samples.

In 2005 King created a profile on MySpace, reworking and uploading some of his early miserylab material. In 2007 four of these tracks were made available as a free download, complete with downloadable artwork, known as the "Vaporware EP".[1][3][4]

Enthused by a positive response, and the successful relocation of his home studio to Leeds, King began writing the full-length Function Creep in November 2007. Released in April 2008 as both a download and limited edition CD, it had a more guitar-driven, post-punk feel than the previous EP. King had a preference for download-only releases, only making Function Creep available as a CD following requests for physical version. Function Creep was immediately followed by a downloadable single, an extended version of the track "Be There Tomorrow".

A second album, A Death That We Can Cure, was released on 5 November 2008. (It was consciously released on the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot). The unusual title is a Bushism.[5] A graph on the back cover shows, somewhat bluntly, that many more people die of starvation than as a result of terrorism.

A third album, Freedom is Work, was released in May 2009.[6] Around the same time King was approached by a Russian record label, which resulted in a compilation becoming available in Russia in August that year. Lab Samples compiled a selection of tracks from the first two albums, plus ‘No Cure For Life’ from the "Vaporware EP".

From Which No Light Escapes and Void of Life (2010–2011)

From Which No Light Escapes, the fourth album, was released in February 2011.[7][8] During its creation many of the lyrics were scrapped and replaced to better reflect the events of 2010. The album title also changed.[9] The track Downplay was made available for preview via the miserylab Facebook page.[10] An additional three tracks from the album's recording session – "Futile", "Machines" and "Heart" – were posted two months later on the audio distribution site SoundCloud, under the name From Which No Light Out-Takes.[11][12] The Terrorizer Magazine supplement Dominion gave the album a positive review, comparing the sound to Joy Division and early Killing Joke.[13] Glass Magazine described it as eloquent and dark, with a "defined maturity in the songs". They also suggested a stronger new wave influence than early miserylab albums, and discussed the social commentary of the album.[14]

On 18 May 2011 miserylab's single "Appeal To Fears" was made available for preview via Soundcloud. The track includes Kathryn Woolley as back-up vocalist.[15][16] It was officially released to the public via miserylab's official website on 19 May 2011.[17][18]

7 June 2011 saw the release "Gods Amongst Your Friends", a track that Porl has decided to not include in the fifth album. The track also includes back-up vocals by Kathryn Woolley.[19][20]

The first track Children Of The Poor from miserylab's fifth album was released on 21 July 2011 as a free digital download. An accompanying video was also released on YouTube.[21][22][23] Describing a disenfrachised youth ignored by a political elite, the song preceded the 2011 England riots by a matter of weeks. The track was also used by footwear retailer Schuh in their 30th anniversary advertising campaign, which began on 22 August the same year.[24][25][26]

The limited edition Void of Life album became available for order between 9 and 15 October, and was manufactured and shipped by the end of the month.[27] An extended remix of "Children of the Poor" was made available for download with all orders, and the album was preceded by a promotional video for a new track, "People".[28][29]

The release exhibited higher production values than the original, pared back sound of early albums. Brutal Resonance e-zine gave the album a rating of 9/10, complimenting regimented guitar arrangements and the "unpleasant observations" within the lyrics. They also give high praise to the final track, ‘Last Day,’ commenting, "Not since The Cure did the song ‘The Top’ has a musical outing ever left me feeling so drained."[30] Dominion Magazine ranked it as the second best album of 2011, awarding the number one spot instead to Esben and the Witch.[31]

2011 ended with the release of two further tracks, "five:one one" and "Fear For the Future".[32][33][34]

Somewhere Between and Documentary (2012–present)

The New Year saw Children Of The Poor and People rereleased as a seven-inch vinyl single. Limited to just 120 copies, it could be ordered in combination with a new download known as the Somewhere Between EP.[35][36]

A second miserylab compilation became available in September 2012. Documentary was a combined CD and seven-inch vinyl release, held within a single gatefold sleeve. Available via the Paris-based D-monic label, it included tracks from Freedom is Work onwards. 17 tracks were included on the CD, four of which were also present in vinyl form.

Personal life

King Suffers from a form of social anxiety, glossophobia; and has stated on numerous occasions that Miserylab will never perform live; quoted as saying "I have no urge… to posture to crowds of people. I avoid the music scene politics and social networks with respect to other bands and their inevitable gossip."[3][37]

Discography

Title Format Label Date
Vaporware EP download EP Carbon Neutral Digital 2007-07
Function Creep download album / CD Carbon Neutral Digital 2008-04
Be There Tomorrow (Extended Version) download single Carbon Neutral Digital 2008-05
Will We Ever Learn download single Carbon Neutral Digital 2008-07
Up In Arms download single Carbon Neutral Digital 2008-10
A Death That We Can Cure download album / CD Carbon Neutral Digital 2008-11
Making a Bomb download single Carbon Neutral Digital 2008-12
In the Line of Fire (Extended Remix) download single Carbon Neutral Digital 2008-12
Freedom is Work download album / CD Carbon Neutral Digital 2009-05
Lab Samples (Compilation) download album / CD Shadowplay Records 2009-08
Dystopian / The Skin Thing download EP Carbon Neutral Digital 2009-09
From Which No Light Escapes download album / CD Carbon Neutral Digital 2011-02
Lab Samples (Compilation, re-release) download album / CD Carbon Neutral Digital 2011-03 [38]
From Which No Light Out-Takes download EP Carbon Neutral Digital 2011-04-15 [11][12]
Appeal To Fears download single Carbon Neutral Digital 2011-05-19 [17][18]
Gods Amongst Your Friends download single Carbon Neutral Digital 2011-06-07 [19][20]
Cut : To Bits [Extended Remix] download single Carbon Neutral Digital 2011-07-07 [39][40]
Children Of The Poor download single Carbon Neutral Digital 2011-07-21 [21][22]
Void of Life download album / CD Carbon Neutral Digital 2011-10-26
five:one one download single Carbon Neutral Digital 2011-11-04 [32][33]
Fear For the Future download single Carbon Neutral Digital 2011-11-19 [34]
Tomorrow For Us download single Carbon Neutral Digital 2012-06-06 [41]
Documentary (Compilation) double gatefold CD + 7" vinyl D-Monic Records 2012-09-15

Remixes

Artist Title Label Number Date
Mellow Shinda Shima Atmospheriques ATM24016 2001 [1]
Nylon Pylon Sister Siam Booneytunes BOONCD1 2001
Elbow Coming Second V2 Records VVR5018708 2002
My Vitriol The Gentle Art Of Choking Infectious Records INFEC 107CDSX 2002
Mellow Take Me Higher Rivolizione Sessantanove Atmospheriques B00008LOLM 2003
New Skin Sweettalk Cleopatra Records CLP 1630-2 2006

References

  1. 1 2 3 King, Porl. "synopsis/discography:self important version". miserylab.com. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
  2. ↑ Side-Line (8 July 2011). "Miserylab - 'This project is completely reliant on social media'". Side-Line. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
  3. 1 2 Julie Johnson (2006-03-07). "Interview – miserylab". Grave Concerns Ezine. Retrieved 2011-01-01. … 2006 … for me – it’s a year of considerable change I suppose … I mean six months ago I wasn’t even contemplating any sort of recording project … I was still following the path of production and remixing … and – I was also recently diagnosed as suffering from a form of social anxiety and depression (I’m officially a tortured artist!)…
  4. ↑ Phil (2009-06-15). "Porl King (ex-Rosetta Stone, Miserylab founder) – Interview". Gothic Rock Russia. Retrieved 2011-01-01. … There wasn’t a real intention at first to start Miserylab as a writing project. Initially the name was used for my remixing – production work that I did after Rosetta Stone disbanded. I kind of got the urge around 2000 to write a bulk of songs just to see what the results would be like. I didn’t really do anything with the songs for a number of years. It wasn't until sometime in 2005 that I decided to approach things more seriously – I created a MySpace and put some of my tracks up – and the concept grew from there…
  5. ↑ "President Bush Meets with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia". U.S. Department of State. 2007-10-18. Archived from the original on 2008-07-12. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
  6. ↑ Zenon Gradkowski (2009). "Miserylab – 'Freedom Is Work' CD Download (Carbon Neutral Digital)". JudasKiss. Retrieved 2011-01-01. … Freedom is Work is what bands call the difficult third album. Freedom… is a lot darker than the last two albums, bares none of the debut’s quirks, is repetitive in sound, but its success as an album lies in how it has really heightened what I have always seen as Miserylabs consistent sonic struggles… Simultaneously bleak yet uprising music… and the grim political situations presented are always underlain with hope beyond the present…
  7. ↑ Porl King. "Miserylab.com". Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  8. ↑ From Which No Light Escapes, on Discogs, retrieved 13 May 2011
  9. ↑ Porl King (2010-12-02). "the new album - due for release next year - has been retitled - from which no light escapes ...". Facebook. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  10. ↑ Porl King (2010-12-29). "one for the goths ... brand new track from the forthcoming album - from which no light escapes ...". Facebook. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  11. 1 2 From Which No Light Out-Takes, on Soundcloud, retrieved 15 April 2011
  12. 1 2 Porl King (2011-04-17). "for those who may have missed this - THREE FREE DOWNLOADS". Facebook. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  13. ↑ Sean Palfrey (2011-02-09). "Review: Miserylab – 'From Which No Light Escapes'". Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  14. ↑ Riley (2011-02-10). "Black Holes and Aspirations". Retrieved 2011-02-11. … One band kicking against the aspirational prick is Miserylab. We’ve seen them smashing reflective surfaces against western society’s vapid vanity and swindled self-importance before but this time there’s an eloquence that’s taken the metaphor further by internalising the hurt. Lead singer Porl’s giving us his version of, ‘The world’s a bad place but it’s worse when you see it through my eyes.’ … ‘From Which No Light Escapes’ is the name of the new album. And we can see that, with a start from a dark launch-pad, we’re being invited to listen to a black hole…
  15. ↑ Porl King (2011-05-18). "first mix - sneak". on Facebook. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  16. ↑ Porl King (2011-05-19), Appeal To Fears, on Soundcloud, retrieved 19 May 2011
  17. 1 2 Porl King (2011-05-19). "available to download NOW FOR FREE". on Facebook. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  18. 1 2 Porl King (2011-05-19), Appeal To Fears, miserylab.com, retrieved 19 May 2011
  19. 1 2 Porl King (2011-06-07). "FREE DOWNLOAD: new track : gods amongst your friends ..". on Facebook. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  20. 1 2 Porl King (2011-06-07), Gods Amongst Your Friends, miserylab.com, retrieved 2011-06-07
  21. 1 2 Porl King (2011-07-21), preview track from new album free download, Miserylab on WordPress, retrieved 2011-07-21
  22. 1 2 Porl King (2011-07-21), children of the poor, miserylab.com, retrieved 2011-07-21
  23. ↑ King, Porl (2011-07-21). "miserylab : children of the poor". miserylab on YouTube. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
  24. ↑ Porl King (2011-08-02). "in the dark corner .. representing dark youth culture .. we have miserylab – or – 'corporate whore' depending on your viewpoint". miserylab. Retrieved 2011-08-22. … the retail company schuh are launching an advertising campaign on 22nd august .. featuring four genres of youth subculture .. including dark/gothic subculture … miserylab amongst others submitted tracks for consideration .. miserylabs children of the poor was considered to be the most appropriate track and has been confirmed to appear in the advertising campaign…
  25. ↑ Porl King (2011-08-22). "Schuh aw11 campaign launch .. featuring miserylab : children of the poor ..". miserylab. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
  26. ↑ "Schuh AW11 Film". SchuhTV on YouTube. 2011-08-22. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
  27. ↑ Porl King (2011-09-26), void of life : pre-order info, Miserylab on WordPress, retrieved 2011-10-30
  28. ↑ Porl King (2011-10-05), children of the poor extended remix video, Miserylab on WordPress, retrieved 2011-10-30
  29. ↑ Porl King (2011-09-22), new song : people : video, Miserylab on WordPress, retrieved 2011-10-30
  30. ↑ Peter Marks (2011-10-06), Void of Life (2011) – Miserylab, Brutal Resonance, retrieved 2011-10-30, … Intensity sears at the end of this album with a track I would not have suspected could make it out of the lab: the gut-wrenching epic ‘Last Day’. Not since The Cure did the song ‘The Top’ has a musical outing ever left me feeling so drained. By the end of it, you'll find yourself lying on the floor wondering just what the hell is the point of anything anymore. It is impossible to play something after this record has ended, the tone demands a couple hours of silence to take in what you've just heard…
  31. ↑ Miranda Yardley (2012-01-17), Dominion Top 20 Albums of 2011, Dominion Magazine, retrieved 2012-02-09
  32. 1 2 Porl King (2011-11-04), 5th november – void of life – digital edition available and free download, Miserylab on WordPress, retrieved 2011-12-29
  33. 1 2 "deleted track : five:one one .. an out-take from void of life". miserylab on YouTube. 2011-11-04. Retrieved 2011-12-29.
  34. 1 2 Porl King (2011-11-19), free download : new single : fear for the future, Miserylab on WordPress, retrieved 2011-12-29
  35. ↑ Porl King (2012-01-15), new video : new digital EP and collectors vinyl package, Miserylab on WordPress, retrieved 2012-01-21
  36. ↑ Porl King (2012-01-17), collectors package : release date : 21.1.12, Miserylab on WordPress, retrieved 2012-01-21
  37. ↑ Phil (2009-06-15). "Porl King (ex-Rosetta Stone, Miserylab founder) – Interview". Gothic Rock Russia. Retrieved 2011-01-01. … It’s very unlikely that I will perform live. I’m diagnosed with social phobia. It’s something I’ve struggled with for years but never knew. I’m not a fan of traveling and I certainly don’t like flying. So it doesn’t bode well for anyone assuming I will tour…
  38. ↑ Porl King (2011-03-10). "FOR THE RECENTLY CONVERTED". on Facebook. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  39. ↑ Porl King (2011-07-21), free download remix, Miserylab on WordPress, retrieved 2011-07-21
  40. ↑ Porl King (2011-07-07), Miserylab Free Downloads, miserylab.com, retrieved 2011-07-21
  41. ↑ King, Porl (6 June 2012). "tomorrow for us : the new single : free download". Official miserylab on WordPress. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
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