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V/Vm
Birth nameLeyland James Kirby
Also known asBilly Ray Cyrix, Butcher Claus, Butcher Claws, The Caretaker, CV[ev], Dr. Fred, The Edgeley Musher, Leyland Kirby, Leon and Hits, MC V/Vm, The Notorious P.I.G., Pole (disputed), The Stranger, V/Vm Allstar Marching Band, V/Vm and the Hog Chorus, V/Vm with Garry's Glitter, Alien Porno Midgets
Born (1974-05-09) 9 May 1974 (age 50)
OriginStockport, England
Genres
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Computer, sampler, turntable
Years active1996–2008, 2016-2017
LabelsV/Vm Test Records, History Always Favours The Winners
WebsiteOfficial website

V/Vm was an alias of English musician Leyland James Kirby, used for producing experimental music. Although starting out mainly in the style of noise music, most releases under the V/Vm alias were plunderphonics, with some original compositions. Most, but not all, of V/Vm's music was released under the V/Vm Test Records label. Alongside the work of the V/Vm project, Kirby also recorded as The Caretaker. He currently resides in Kraków.

History

[edit]

Leyland Kirby began producing music under the V/Vm alias in 1996, mostly under his own label, V/Vm Test Records. Early releases were electronic in nature, including a split 12" release on Fat Cat Records.[1] In 1999, V/Vm released the EP Pig,[2] consisting mostly of the sound of pigs feeding, which some critics mistook as the sound of pigs dying.

In 1998, V/Vm appeared on the cover of The Wire (October 1998, issue 176).[3] Under the banner "Harder! Faster! Louder!". The article explored a developing scene which also included Alec Empire, DJ Speedranch, Diskono, and Fat Cat Records.

The late 1990s saw V/Vm begin to produce music under the genre of plunderphonics, which was released in a manner which ignored copyright. At this time, V/Vm was in conversation with the artists spearheading the bootleg, plunderphonics, and mashup (a.k.a. bastard pop) genres. In 2000, V/Vm's plunderphonics song, The Lady in Red (Is Dancing With Meat), which sampled The Lady in Red, achieved Single of the Week in the NME[4]. The Lady In Red (Is Dancing With Meat) later appeared on V/Vm's 2000 album Sick-Love[5].

In 2003, V/Vm received legal threats after he re-released "Relax", the seminal 1983 hit by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. In a reproduction of the original release, a double LP, a 7-inch picture disc, and a CD single were released, each featuring numerous remixes of "Relax." Within weeks of the release, V/Vm received legal threats, causing V/Vm to withdraw the release.[6]

V/Vm Test Records

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From 1996 to 2008, Kirby ran the V/Vm Test Records label, which released records from About This Product, Goodiepal, Jansky Noise, and Fast Lady, among many other experimental musicians. The label used to give away free audio[7] via the V/Vm Test Records website.[8] [9]

Later projects

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In 2005, V/Vm recorded a remix of the Alphaville song Forever Young, which was going to be used in an advertisement by Sony for the PlayStation. While the advertisement was recorded, it never aired, due to a dispute with TBWA Worldwide.[citation needed] Although it never aired, the advertisement was leaked and uploaded to YouTube.[10][11]

In 2006, V/Vm produced V/Vm 365, which he spent the whole year on. V/Vm described V/Vm 365 as "The idea is basically to create and upload free audio for one whole year and leave a massive big mess behind, warts and all, for you to digest as you see fit." When it was finished, V/Vm 365 contained 603 audio tracks and six video tracks, with a total running time of 52 hours, 3 minutes and 57 seconds.[12] Each day one or more audio pieces were uploaded along with text and a picture for the day.

In 2007, V/Vm received an honorary mention for his work as The Caretaker at the ARS Technica 2007 awards.[13] He was also included in an exhibition in Madrid entitled "Ruidos, Silencios y la Transgresion Mordaz. De Fluxus al techno-noise"; the exhibit featured V/Vm video and artwork by V/Vm, Fluxus artists (Nam June Paik, Philip Corner, Wolf Vostell), and other contemporary artists and musicians (Ultra-red).[14]

In 2008, V/Vm released the album There Was A Fish...In...The Percolator, the last album he would release under the V/Vm Test Records label.[15] Later in 2008, V/Vm Test Records would shut down.[citation needed]

Discography

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Selected releases

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  • Uplink Data Transmissions – V/Vm Test (1996)[16]
  • Machines – V/Vm Test (1997)[17]
  • Fat Cat Split 12-inch – Fat Cat Records (1997)[18]
  • Pig – V/Vm Test (1999)[19]
  • Auraloffalwaffle – V/Vm Test (1999)[20]
  • Lady in Red/All Night Long – V/Vm Test (2000)[21]
  • Sick Love – V/Vm Test (2000)[5]
  • Masters of the Absurd – V/Vm Test (2000)[22]
  • Snooker Loopy – V/Vm Test (2001)[23]
  • Helpaphextwin – V/Vm Test (2003)[24]
  • The Missing Symphony – V/Vm Test (2003)[25]
  • Stigma – V/Vm Test (2004)[26]
  • Sabam – The Sound of Belgium '89 – V/Vm Test (2006)[27]
  • White Death – V/Vm Test (2006)[28]
  • Vvmt365 – Daily Audio Downloads – V/Vm Test (2006)[12]
  • The Death of Rave – V/Vm Test (2006)[29]

Compilation appearances

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Discogs has the most comprehensive release overview of V/Vm Test Records[30] and V/Vm[31]

References

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  1. ^ FatCat Records : Releases Archived 15 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Fat-cat.co.uk (1 March 1998). Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  2. ^ "V/VM - pig - 7" - VVM". Archived from the original on 9 December 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  3. ^ "The Wire Index : Second Century". Sat.dundee.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  4. ^ Rocklist.net...NME End Of Year Lists 2000. Rocklistmusic.co.uk (9 May 1992). Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  5. ^ a b "V/Vm - sick love - CD - VVM". Archived from the original on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  6. ^ "[Rumori] [Snuggles] Fw: V/Vm :By listening and owning V/Vm you are breaking". Detritus.net. 13 March 2004. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  7. ^ "V/VM Test Records - Downloads / Free Digital Media". Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  8. ^ "VUKZID - FREE AUDIO DOWNLOADS - Powered by V/Vm Test". Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  9. ^ "V/VM - Microsites". Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  10. ^ V/vm Playstation Video. YouTube (11 August 2006). Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  11. ^ "V/VM - playstation2 war ad - Video Download". Archived from the original on 21 October 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  12. ^ a b "V/VM 365 - VVMT365 - VVM". Archived from the original on 28 November 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  13. ^ "ARS Electronica PRIX". Archived from the original on 3 November 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  14. ^ "La Casa Encendida". Archived from the original on 20 August 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  15. ^ https://www.discogs.com/master/87110-VVm-There-Was-A-FishInThe-Percolator
  16. ^ "V/VM - up-link data transmissions - 12" - VVM". Archived from the original on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  17. ^ "V/VM - machine - 7" - VVM". Archived from the original on 8 March 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  18. ^ "V/Vm / Third Eye Foundation - split series - Fat Cat Records - 12". Archived from the original on 2 June 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  19. ^ "V/VM - pig - 7" - VVM". Archived from the original on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  20. ^ "VARIOUS - auraloffalwaffle - 2CD - VVM". Archived from the original on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  21. ^ "V/VM - the lady in red / all night long - 7" - VVM". Archived from the original on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  22. ^ "V/VM - masters of the absurd - 12" - VVM". Archived from the original on 7 July 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  23. ^ "V/VM - snooker loopy - 7" - VVM". Archived from the original on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  24. ^ [1][dead link]
  25. ^ "V/VM / DIMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH - the missing symphony - CD - VVM". Archived from the original on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  26. ^ "V/VM - stigma - CD - VVM". Archived from the original on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  27. ^ "V/VM - sabam (belgian new-beat) - CD - VVM". Archived from the original on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  28. ^ "White Death | V/Vm". Vvmtest.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  29. ^ "VUKZID01 - V/VM - the death of rave (the source)". Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  30. ^ V/Vm Test Records – CDs and Vinyl at Discogs. Discogs.com. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  31. ^ V/Vm Discography at Discogs. Discogs.com (9 August 2008). Retrieved 5 August 2011.
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