Fueled by a rabid desire to explore primal rhythmic concepts, innovative older music concepts (odd timings, non-modal scales), & explosive new musical ideas (symmetrical harmonies & rhythmic esoterica); To cast off dusty ideas of accepted practice & procedure; To dream the bizarre into sonic reality...all draped in a primordial & sexual sense of groove, Aur'a-Sen became an underground sensation, performing throughout the southern US (1989-1991). While their penchant for tribal grooves, feedback-drenched guitars, odd musical ideas, & passionate delivery had no serious impact on the larger music scene, their small legions of extremely hard-core fans snatched up the guerrilla release of "Innova Mode" (only 2000-odd back-room cassette dupes), spammed radio stations with play requests, grafitti-ed everything paint would stick to, and raised absolute hell at every live performance.....and this page is in honor of them!
"Innova Mode"
..... 
Aurora-Sen (shortened to "Aur'a-Sen") released only one official album: 1991's "Innova Mode". There were several unofficial releases (including the "Mode Demos" and "Live!", which were reserved for fan club members only and are no longer in print), but "Innova Mode" stands as the singular collection of their work.
Inner Sleeve: "We
strive beyond the electric voodoo, the cybered punk/metal, the ethnic &
the folk, the cultural & the cultured, the ritual dance & the primal
future... the anger & the rage & the love of hate... beyond mere
FUSION, & toward a new FORM.
This music is about dance,
sex, & sound; the flesh; the spirit; the violence & the expression
of aural ecstasy.
You are the FUTURE, &
WE are the NOW... May we die together...."
Says David: "Working with Glenn, Howard, & Mike in one line-up was one of the most satisfying times of my life. Everything was SO intense - the music, the performances, even the way we composed...which was really more akin to spontaneous composition or structured improvisation than anything else. We were digging deeply into our minds & spirits & fusing bold new ideas with bold old ideas & pumped it all up with fanatical enthusiasm & adrenaline & a cartoon attention span (hahaha!). It was fun & dangerous & totally on the edge, & I think the music reflects that: With one foot firmly planted in old forms & one foot in new territory, it gives the music a magic & a certain timeless quality. Upon listening, you can't tell if it's 15 minutes old or 15 years old - it just rocks! I'm very proud of what we did."
Line-up:
Glenn Smith (vox)
Howard Horn (bass)
Mike Froedge (drums)
David M. McLean (guitar,
vox)
"Innova Mode" has been re-mastered at Skinny Devil Music Lab. We are attempting to make the entire work (cover art, liner notes, music, etc.) available as a FREE DOWNLOAD. See sound clips and cover art below, & stay tuned for further details. If you'd like had-copy before we work out download details, please e-mail the webmaster.
Below are 3 soundclips, or you can visit Skinny Devil Radio to listen to over 10 clips (plus music from current projects by David) on the Aur'a-Sen Flash Player! We also hope to post the live video footage of both "Rites of Evil" and "Budapest".
soundclips:
"BackStep"
"Temporarily Blinded"
track listing:
"Backstep", "Kiss of Xen (1)", "Temporarily Blinded", "Cat Hair (1)", "Budapest", "Sarah", "Kiss of Xen (2)/Rites of Evil", "Cat Hair (2)", "D.I./Foxfire/Cybersonic Messiah in Em", "Random Access", "Blinded (reprise)", "Choice of Fools"
Mike Froedge (drums, percussion), Howard Horn (bass), David McLean (guitars, keys, percussion, FX, vox), Glenn Smith (lead vox, harmonica, sax) Lead vox on "Random Access" & "Cat Hair (2)" & all "choir" vox on "Choice of Fools" by David McLean. Special appearances by Diane Timmons & Christy Ramsey (female vocals) and Dr. Rick Johnson (keys on "Backstep").
David will make several "Innova Mode" lessons available FREE on the Skinny Devil "Lessons" page soon. The lessons include a Swiss Paradiddle drum lesson written by Mike (re: opening of "Backstep"), a transcription of the acoustic guitar solo "D.I.", chordal outline of "Temporarily Blinded" & "Sarah", & an electric guitar examination of "Backstep". For a brief understanding of the whole-tone concepts used in the composition of "Random Access", go to the "Insane Guitar Lesson Index" and see "Bridge to Esoterica (part 2)".
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