Bark Psychosis

Bark Psychosis
Bark Psychosis, in 1992. Photograph by Phil Nicholls.
Background information
Origin	London, England
Genres	Post-rock
Years active	1986–1994 2004–present
Labels	Cheree, Circa, Fire
Associated acts	Talk Talk, Boymerang, .O.rang, Yellow6
Website	www.barkpsychosis.com
Members	Graham Sutton
Past members	John Ling Mark Simnett Rashied Garrison Sue Page Daniel Gish

Bark Psychosis are an English post-rock band/musical project from east London formed in 1986. They were one of the bands that Simon Reynolds cited when coining "post-rock" as a musical style in 1994, and are thus considered one of the key bands defining the genre.

In its original form, the group was a quartet of Graham Sutton, Daniel Gish, John Ling and Mark Simnett. This line-up (with contributions from other passing members) recorded most of the early EPs and the seminal 1994 album Hex. Sutton has remained the consistent core member of the group, which is currently a flexible and intermittently active project in which he is supported by an altering roster of guest musicians (including experimental guitarist Colin Bradley (of Dual) and Talk Talk drummer Lee Harris).

Bark Psychosis' sound has covered various musical styles including minimalism, introverted indie rock, psychedelia, post-punk, cool jazz, outright mechanical/industrial noise, and electronic dance music. However, the band's music is best characterised by a sense of acoustic space, moody atmospherics, murmured vocals, abstract but emotional lyrics, and a particularly sensitive and acclaimed mixture of electronic and acoustic instrumentation. Bark Psychosis is also noted for an extreme dynamic range, varying from quietly-whispered-and-played songs such as "I Know" or "Absent Friend" to thunderous metallic riffing ("Murder City") or deafening sheets of electric noise (the first half of the track "Hex").

"We started off basically as a noise band; now that has just been turned around completely. Music is really tricky in that you think you've got it pinned down — what you know about music and what you're into — until something comes along and completely changes your perception of things, or your tastes change completely. It's constantly evolving and changing before your eyes and I find that really exciting — where you're going to go next is out of your control to an extent."

Bark Psychosis' music is also notably melodic and expressive, and arguably owes something to the English pastoral rock tradition. The band is frequently embraced by progressive rock fans due to their experimental outlook, and their use of both atmospherics and extended instrumentation. Sutton himself seems uncomfortable with the association, commenting, "Sometimes people compare us to Pink Floyd, and they are just a muso thing. I'm more interested in feeling, really..."