Controller.Controller

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Nirmala Basnayake - Vocals Colwyn Llewellyn-Thomas - Guitar Ronnie Morris - Bass Scott Kaija - Guitar Jeff Scheven - Drums

'History' - CD Mini Album Released 21st February 2005 - SASR#15 Controller.Controller came together in the fall of 2002 in their home city of Toronto, when then-guitarist Ronnie Morris put out a call. Colwyn Llewellyn-Thomas heard first; then came drummer Jeff Scheven. After deciding to add a second guitarist, Morris moved to bass to make room for longtime friend Scott Kaija. The final piece of the puzzle tumbled into place with the addition of frontwoman Nirmala Basnayake. Basnayake was a friend of Llewellyn-Thomas’ who hung around during early Controller.Controller jam sessions before stepping to the mic. Hardly romantic; hardly mysterious. Pretty real. The band played their first shows in the early months of 2003. Despite this humble beginning, C.C did something few manage; they got a Toronto audience to dance. Controller.Controller’s sound is an energetic, rhythmic post-punk rock, taking a cue from late 70's/early 80's bands like P.I.L., The Slits and Joy Division, but departing significantly from there. It's about tension and opposition, juxtaposing discordant and jagged rhythms with disarmingly pretty melody and counter-melody. They wed propulsive, angular rock structures with minimalist death-disco accents and grooves that seductively embrace sometimes sweet and sometimes barking vocals. Their famed live shows in off-the-radar venues, often lit by a dark red backlight earned the band much critical acclaim in Canada, prompting acclaimed indie upstart label Paper Bag Records to step in and offer Controller.Controller a deal. Paper Bag has been the launch pad for the likes of Broken Social Scene, Stars and Matthew Barber. ‘History’ was released in Canada, and then the US earlier this year. Now the record finally gets a UK release via Bristol indie Sink and Stove. Controller.Controller will be coming to the UK in the near future, and the band will be playing at CMJ in New York in October. Not much of a mystery, only History now. This is Controller.Controller.