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Cold Cave

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Cold Cave
Cold Cave performing live in May 2023
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active2007–present
Labels
MembersWesley Eisold
Websitecoldcave.net

Cold Cave is the solo project for musician Wesley Eisold, described as a "collage of darkwave, noise, and synthpop."[1] A number of reviewers note the affinity with early 1980s post-punk and early synthpop, in particular Joy Division and New Order.[2][3][4]

History

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Formation

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Cold Cave was founded in 2007 by Wesley Eisold, vocalist of hardcore groups Give Up the Ghost (previously known as American Nightmare), Some Girls,[5] and Heartworm Press founder. Cold Cave represents Eisold's first venture into instrumentation.[6] Eisold was born with one hand which led him to electronic music.[7]

Love Comes Close (2007–2010)

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Eisold performing live as Cold Cave in 2011

After initial releases on Dais Records, Hospital Productions, What's Your Rupture?, and Eisold's own Heartworm Press, he signed to Matador Records,[8] who re-released his self-released debut album, Love Comes Close, on November 3, 2009.

Cherish the Light Years (2011–2012)

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In April 2011, Matador Records released his second album, Cherish the Light Years.[9]

In July 2011, Cold Cave remixed "I Didn't See It Coming" by the band Belle and Sebastian. The song appeared on their 12-inch single "Come On Sister" released by Matador Records and Rough Trade Records.[10]

In April 2012, Cold Cave performed at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum between John Chamberlain sculptures as part of the museum's Divine Ricochet series.[11]

In October 2012, Cold Cave performed at the Getty Center.[12]

Singles series and Full Cold Moon (2012–present)

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In September 2012, Eisold announced Cold Cave would be touring the US later in the year, he would be recording a new album, and that the new live lineup included: Hunter Burgan (AFI), London May (Samhain), Jessie Nelson, and Cody Votolato (The Blood Brothers).[13][14][15] This lineup was exclusive to this two-and-a-half-week tour and Eisold said performing with a full band was something that failed to materialize during Cherish the Light Years tours.[16] While continuing to work on a follow-up to Cherish the Light Years and not under contract with a label, Eisold began independently releasing a series of stand-alone singles.[17][18] Eisold wrote and recorded these new songs by himself similar to how songs on Cremations and Love Comes Close were crafted. He said they were created "by myself, at a desk in my apartment. It was freeing and exciting in a way because I didn't owe anyone an album. I got to just make them to make them. The songs were minimal, honest, electronic and without help."[16]

The first single in the series was "A Little Death to Laugh."[19] The single was released in October 2012 through Heartworm[20] and a music video for the song was released in March 2013.[21] In 2013, Eisold released "Oceans with No End" (through Jacob Bannon's Deathwish Inc.),[22] "God Made the World"[18] and "Black Boots",[17] for which Slava Tsukerman, known for his 1982 film Liquid Sky, directed a music video. [16] In October 2013, Cold Cave released a digital-only, fifth stand-alone single titled "Nausea, The Earth and Me."[23]

Eisold performing as Cold Cave in 2013

On February 21, 2013, Eisold announced that Justin Benoit, a former live contributor to Cold Cave, had died.[24]

In support of the new singles, Cold Cave embarked on an extensive tour of Asia, performing in Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Nepal, and Hong Kong in April 2013;[25] performed live with industrial/noise pioneer Boyd Rice in mid-2013;[26] toured with synthpop artist Gary Numan in September 2013;[27] and toured with Nitzer Ebb frontman Douglas McCarthy in October 2013. In January 2014, Cold Cave remixed the song "Running" by Nine Inch Nails as part of a remix EP Seed Eight, to coincide with the launch of Beats Music.[28] In May 2014, Cold Cave opened for Nine Inch Nails on their full European and UK tour.[29] They were also invited to open for Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden on their North American tour, after Death Grips, the band originally chosen for opening, decided to split.[citation needed]

Cold Cave began working on its third studio album and follow up to Cherish the Light Years tentatively titled Sunflower in 2013, and a release date in 2014 was originally anticipated. On what the potential sonic direction of the new album, Eisold said it would be a "mix between some of the bigger sounds on Cherish and more minimal stuff I'm interested in now, like Suicide or 39 Clocks."[26] However tours in support of Full Cold Moon and the 2012–2013 singles series proved to be more fruitful than anticipated, and as a result, work on Sunflower was put on hold.[30]

In June 2015, Cold Cave performed at the wedding of Tony Hawk and Catherine Goodman at the Adare Manor in Ireland.[31] Cold Cave would be featured on the soundtrack for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 later that year, and two of their songs were selected by Hawk for inclusion on 2018's Tony Hawk's Skate Jam.

In mid-February 2016, a single called "Nothing Is True But You" was released. In Spring, Max G. Morton, who played keyboards for a short portion of the band's early days and also collaborated with Eisold on prose and publishing via the singer's own Heartworm Press, rejoined the band. At end of August 2016, the band shared another single, an almost cacophonic track called "The Idea of Love". In September, they embarked on a domestic mini-tour together with dark electropop act TR/ST.

In late September 2017, Cold Cave released a single called "Glory", a track reminiscent of early New Order. The video accompanying the track revealed a full live band featuring, besides the ever-present Eisold and Amy Lee, steady touring member Max G. Morton, Nils Bue (bass/guitar) and Ryan McMahon (drums). The band kicked off a small US tour before heading to Europe to support The Jesus and Mary Chain until mid-October.

In early April 2018, the band premiered another song, "You & Me & Infinity", and announced a 26-date North American Spring tour with Choir Boy and Black Marble. At the end of the month, a new EP bearing the title of their latest single was made available digitally. In November of the same year the band headed overseas for a string of selected European dates, again with support from Choir Boy.

On April 12, 2023, it was announced that Cold Cave will tour in support of Depeche Mode's "Memento Mori" World Tour and will be at the following European dates and cities: May 16 & 18 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. May 20 in Antwerp, Belgium. May 23 in Stockholm, Sweden. May 26 in Leipzig, Germany. May 28 in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Contributors

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Cold Cave lineup in 2009: Dominick Fernow, Wesley Eisold and Caralee McElroy

Cold Cave is essentially a solo project by former Give Up the Ghost and Some Girls frontman Wesley Eisold. While there have been other people contributing to Cold Cave either on tour or in the studio since its conception, Eisold doesn't consider any of them to be official band members. On the subject of band members, Eisold said in an interview, "I struggle with the word 'member' because there are no 'members' of Cold Cave. It's just me. I've collaborated with many people. Some were extremely worthwhile and others were extremely worthless, and I've come to the point where I'm more comfortable doing things by myself."[26]

List of contributors

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Name Related act(s) Years active Notes Ref(s)
Caralee McElroy Xiu Xiu 2009–2010
Sean Martin Hatebreed 2009 Performed guitars and bass on three tracks on Love Comes Close. [32]
Justin Benoit 2009–2010 Live keyboardist during supporting tours for Love Comes Close and performed on Cold Cave's split with Prurient, Stars Explode. Benoit died in February 2013. [33]
Dominick Fernow Prurient 2009–2011 Live keyboardist 2009–2011
Jennifer Clavin Bleached, Mika Miko 2010-2011 Vocals and samplers
Amy Lee 2012–present Cold Cave live performer, photographer, videographer, and designer. [7][34][26][35]

Discography

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Studio albums

Compilations

EPs

Singles

Year Song Album
2008 "The Trees Grew Emotions and Died"[37] Love Comes Close
2009 "Love Comes Close"
2010 "Life Magazine"
2011 "The Great Pan is Dead"[43] Cherish the Light Years
2011 "Villains of the Moon"[44]
2012 "Confetti" / "Believe in my Blood"[45]
2012 "A Little Death to Laugh"[20] n/a
2013 "Oceans with No End"[22]
2013 "God Made the World"[18]
2013 "Black Boots"[17]
2013 "Nausea, The Earth and Me"[23]
2015 "Doom, Doom, Doom"[citation needed]
2016 "Nothing Is True But You"[46] You & Me & Infinity EP
2016 "The Idea of Love"[citation needed] n/a
2017 "Glory" You & Me & Infinity EP
2018 "You & Me & Infinity"
2019 "Promised Land" Fate in Seven Lessons
2021 "Night Light"
2021 "Prayer from Nowhere"
2021 "Psalm 23"

Music videos

Year Video Album
2009 "Love Comes Close" Love Comes Close
2010 "Life Magazine"[47]
2011 "Villains of the Moon"[48] Cherish the Light Years
2013 "A Little Death to Laugh"[21] n/a
2013 "Black Boots" n/a
2016 "The Idea of Love" n/a
2017 "Glory" You & Me & Infinity EP
2018 "You & Me & Infinity"
2019 "Promised Land" Fate in Seven Lessons
2021 "Night Light"
2021 "Prayer from Nowhere"
2021 "Psalm 23"

References

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  1. ^ Phares, Heather. "Cold Cave – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  2. ^ Soderberg, Brandon (September 4, 2013). "Cold Cave pushes the limits of '80s nostalgia". Indy Week. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  3. ^ [1] [dead link]
  4. ^ "Contest: Win an autographed copy of Peter Hook's 'Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division'". Slicing Up Eyeballs. January 25, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  5. ^ Brandon (December 3, 2008). "Band To Watch: Cold Cave". Stereogum. Archived from the original on August 14, 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
  6. ^ Breihan, Tom (August 21, 2009). "Rising: Cold Cave". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved August 26, 2009.
  7. ^ a b "Update: Cold Cave | Features". Pitchfork. July 23, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  8. ^ Remington, Gracie (August 17, 2009). "Cold Cave Signs to Matador". The Fader. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2009.
  9. ^ "Matablog | New Cold Cave album: Cherish The Light Years". Matador Records. January 19, 2011. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  10. ^ "Listen: Cold Cave Remix Belle and Sebastian | News". Pitchfork. July 12, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  11. ^ "Cold Cave Performs at the Guggenheim". Guggenheim.org. May 1, 2012. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  12. ^ [2] Archived April 1, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Colwell, Matthew (September 4, 2012). "Cold Cave announce new lineup, to tour with Divine Fits this fall". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  14. ^ Martins, Chris (September 4, 2012). "Cold Cave Start Over With Members of Blood Brothers, AFI, Samhain". Spin. Buzz Media. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  15. ^ "Divine Fits played Webster Hall with Cold Cave (pics, setlists)". Brooklynvegan.com. October 24, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  16. ^ a b c Poitras, Andrew (April 2013). "Interview: Cold Cave". Death and Taxes. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  17. ^ a b c McGovern, Kyle (April 1, 2013). "Cold Cave's 'God Made the World' Precedes World Tour, Dual 7-Inch Releases". Spin. Buzz Media. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  18. ^ a b c Roffman, Michael (March 29, 2013). "Listen to Cold Cave's new track, 'God Made the World'". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  19. ^ Hogan, Marc (September 24, 2012). "Hear Cold Cave's Frosty Goth-Pop Single 'A Little Death to Laugh'". Spin. Buzz Media. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  20. ^ a b "A Little Death to Laugh — Releases". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  21. ^ a b McGovern, Kyle (March 26, 2013). "Watch Cold Cave's Soul-Excavating 'A Little Death to Laugh' Video". Spin. Buzz Media. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  22. ^ a b Cohen, Ian (February 27, 2013). "Cold Cave: 'Oceans With No End'". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  23. ^ a b Marshall, Wyatt (October 22, 2013). "Cold Cave released a digital EP; Wes Eisold reissuing his Anti Aquarian EP, 'Chrome Jesus'". Brooklyn Vegan. Spin Media. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  24. ^ "R.I.P. Former Cold Cave Member Justin Benoit | News". Pitchfork. February 22, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  25. ^ "Interview: Cold Cave's Wesley Eisold Talks Unconventional Touring and his 'Realist' Sound Ahead of Bangkok Gig on May 15 | BK Magazine Online". Bk.asia-city.com. May 9, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  26. ^ a b c d Cohen, Ian (July 23, 2013). "Update: Cold Cave". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  27. ^ "Cold Cave speaks about Boyd Rice controversy, opening for Gary Numan on the West Coast ++ other dates". Brooklynvegan. Brooklynvegan.com. July 23, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  28. ^ "Trent Reznor Shares Nine Inch Nails' Seed Eight (Remix 2014 EP), Will Score Gone Girl". Stereogum. January 21, 2014. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  29. ^ Whitehill, Gaby (November 21, 2013). "Nine Inch Nails tickets for 2014 UK arena tour on sale now". Gigwise. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  30. ^ "Interviews: Cold Cave". Destroy-Exist. May 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  31. ^ "Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk marries in Co Clare". Weddingjournalonline.com. June 30, 2015. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  32. ^ Love Comes Close (Media notes). Cold Cave. Matador Records. 2009. CD digipack tray. OLE-913-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  33. ^ Pelly, Jenn (February 22, 2013). "R.I.P. Former Cold Cave Member Justin Benoit". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  34. ^ "Interview: Cold Cave". SmartBeijing.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  35. ^ "Cold Cave – God Made The World 7" (Picture Disc) - Two-Step Records". Twosteprecords.es. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  36. ^ "Cremations — Releases". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  37. ^ a b c d Phares, Heather. "Cold Cave — Biography". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  38. ^ Catbird, Ryan (June 8, 2009). "New on What's Your Rupture: Love Is All, Cold Cave, Silver Shampoo". MBV Music. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  39. ^ Dombal, Ryan (October 7, 2009). "New Release: Cold Cave: 'Death Comes Close' 12" Single". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  40. ^ "Stars Explode — Releases". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  41. ^ "Life Magazine Remixes EP — Releases". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  42. ^ "New Morale Leadership". Matador Records. April 28, 2010. Archived from the original on May 9, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  43. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (February 3, 2011). "New Cold Cave: 'The Great Pan Is Dead'". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  44. ^ "New Cold Cave single, 'Villains of the Moon'". Matador Records. April 1, 2011. Archived from the original on May 8, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  45. ^ "Cold Cave played the Guggenheim, gave away 7"s (pics)". Brooklyn Vegan. Buzz Media. April 30, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  46. ^ Marotta, Michael (February 14, 2016). "Valentine's Decay: Listen to Cold Cave's very dark new single, 'Nothing Is True But You'". Vanyaland. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  47. ^ Schnipper, Matthew (February 1, 2010). "Video: Cold Cave, 'Life Magazine'". The Fader. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  48. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (May 2, 2011). "Video: Cold Cave: 'Villains of the Moon'". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
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