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by Kim Lakin-Smith
While continuing to pay homage to its literary origins, noughties’
Steampunk has evolved into a veritable subculture in its own
right. Dark aesthetics, combined with a flare for antique
fashion, laboratorial curiosities, cybernetics, and the reengineering
of all manner of rogue mechanicals, were always destined to
appeal to the goth, punk, cyber and industrial contingent.
But Steampunk has also cast a wider net; its ‘period’-feel
seducing anyone with a soft spot for Victoriana and alternative
histories.
Fans have now come to embrace Steampunk, or ‘Steam’
as it is sometimes known, as a culture, a community and a
lifestyle. ‘Neo-Victorianism’ infiltrates every
aspect of their lives, from fashion to interior design to
transport to music.
However, while it is fairly easy to label what constitutes
Steampunk attire – corsets, petticoats, suits, goggles,
laced boots, etc - Steampunk music is less well-defined. Online
discussions list artists as varied as NIN for Closer, the
train-like beat of the piano giving it a new world feel, Tom
Waites for his use of distortion, electronics and accordion,
Björk for her fusion of electronica, roaring twenties’
big band sounds and industrialism, and even Queen for their
music-hall spirited, A Day At The Races. And while purists
cite classical music or early nineteenth century recordings
played on a hand-cranked gramophone, most aficionados agree
that any modern performer whose music or stage show evokes
a sense of the Victorian era can be classified Steampunk.
Yet even that margin is too small. To do the Steampunk music
genre justice, we need to acknowledge a theatrical mélange
of artists and artistic styles: gothic, new world, vaudevillian,
Brechtian dark cabaret, Eastern European, chamber music, vintage
jazz, and more.
Below is a taster of just some of the artists classified
Steampunk:
Abney Park
In 2005, Seattle’s Abney Park released Taxidermy
which showcased new versions of songs from previous
albums, three live tracks and two covers. This album
also heralded a switch in stylings from goth/industrial
to Steampunk. Reinventing themselves as roving time
travellers and airship pirates, the five-strong group
continue to attribute their new, eclectic sound to the
strange instruments and exotic musical influences lifted
from the numerous locations and eras they have visited.
In their own words, ‘Expect clockwork guitars,
belly dancers, flintlock bassists, Middle-Eastern percussion,
violent violin, and Tesla powered keyboards blazing
in a post-apocalyptic, swashbuckling, Steampunk musical
mayhem.’
recommended tracks:
Airship Pirate, Sleep Isabella, The Secret Life
of Doctor Calgori
Visit www.abneypark.com
for band news, event details, and a market place selling
Steampunk attire including leather flight helmets, airship
crew dogtags, safari clothing and other gear.
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Vernian Process
San Francisco’s Vernian Process take their name
from the works of 19th century author and one of the
forefathers of the science fiction genre, Jules Verne.
They describe themselves as a Darkwave band influenced
by Victorian scientific romance and contemporary Steampunk.
Founder, Joshua A. Pfeiffer, has made it his intention
to take listeners on a cinematic journey, encompassing
‘Industrial complexes, angelic cathedrals, misty
cobblestone alleyways, ancient forests, war-torn ruins,
deep undersea caves, rotting clock towers, and all manner
of timeless dreamscapes.’
In 2008, Vernian Process started work on the soundtrack
for the steampunk themed videogame, Shades of Violet:
The incredible Adventures of Violet Vendetta for Fly
Games Studio.
Visit www.post-punk.com/vernianprocess.html
for more information.
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Unextraordinary
Gentlemen
Unextraordinary Gentlemen have their roots firmly in
the Victorian fantasy fiction genre. The bass guitar
is used to represent a ‘punk’ element, a
drum machine conjures up the steam-driven engine, and
keyboards introduce sounds reminiscent of Victorian-era
instruments such as strings, brass, and piano. Guitars
and live drums are banned. They describe their sound
as post-punk, synth-pop, industrial and experimental,
and cite artists such as Nick Cave and Tom Waits as
their major influences. Their songs range from the darkly
humorous to the dour and the self depreciating, but
all are infused with a sense of dramatic flair and spectacle.
recommended tracks: Mr. Soot's Little Black Book,
All You Want, Black Iron Road, Frozen Mood
Visit www.unextraordinarygentlemen.com
for more information.
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Vagabond Opera
The Vagabond Opera exists in homage to all aspects of
bohemian cabaret. Theirs is truly a spectacular Spectacular,
with belly dancing, neo-classical opera in eleven languages,
kitsch Americana, Yiddish theatre, and European bonhomie.
Originating in Portland, USA, the six-piece ensemble
features trained operatic tenor and soprano vocals,
accordion, tenor and alto saxophones, cello, stand-up
bass, drums, and, on occasion, a burlesque hoola-hooping
fire performer.
recommended tracks: Marlene, Svi Te Terran, Goodnight
Moon
Visit www.vagabondopera.com
for more information.
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Rasputina
Cellist Melora Creager played with Nirvana and, after
founding Rasputina, toured with Bob Mould, Porno for
Pyros and, most notably, Marilyn Manson. In 1997, the
band’s EP Transylvanian Regurgitations was remixed
by Manson.
A 3-piece mostly comprised of cellists, Rasputina describe
their sound as chamber-rock. Their appreciation for
antiquities is reflected in a love for Victorian apparel
and period stylings for publicity shots and stage shows.
Hard to pigeonhole, their music is bewitching dark and
angelically ethereal.
recommended tracks: Transylvanian Concubine, Cage
in a Cave, Coraline on the Neil Gaiman tribute
album Where's Neil When You Need Him?
Visit www.rasputina.com
for more information.
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| Other recommended listening: The Peculiar
Pretzelmen, Skeleton Key, Decemberists, The Birthday Massacre,
The Dresden Dolls, Johnny Hollow, Beat Circus, Bat For
Lashes |
Gogol Bordello
Their inclusion here may be arguable, but in some aspects,
Steampunk is all about the fusion of world music with
futuristic sensibilities. No one does this better than
New York’s Gogol Bordello, a multi-ethnic Gypsy
punk band from the Lower East Side who are renown for
their theatrical stage shows. Their Eastern European
sound blends accordion, fiddle, and saxophone with an
eclectic punk cabaret to create a feast for the ears
and eyes so appealing that Madonna cast them in her
2008 film, Filth and Wisdom.
recommended tracks: Wonderlust King, American Wedding,
Start Wearing Purple
Visit www.gogolbordello.com
for more details.
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Sarah Slean
A classical piano major, Sarah fashions a truly unique
sound that is part vintage jazz singer, part vaudevillian
pianist, part crystalline vocals. Twice Juno and twice
Gemini Award nominated, Canadian Sarah is a performer,
artist and poet with a world-wide fan base.
recommended tracks: Pilgrim, Last Year’s
War, Lucky Me
Visit www.sarahslean.com
for more details.
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