Nohno's Journey
With over two decades of recording and performing, Dean Dennis’ musical journey has now arrived at the Nohno project. Dennis has traversed the musical spectrum, immersing himself in everything from his jazz-funk stomping grounds to the genre-bending electro-jazz & industrial outpourings of the seminal Clock DVA, the early electronic experimental work of The Anti Group Collective right on through to the darker aspects of techno with the Sector project.
Nohno is the bastard progeny. A hybrid that mutates and evolves through techno jazz, tech-house to ambient industrial sound-scapes. Nohno is metamorphic. Nohno is liberated.
The “Metropolis” album, released in 2006, is Nohno’s first offspring. A deeper affair, “Metropolis” is a sofa rocker. If music were in 3-D, “Metropolis” would be a flood of images, downloaded directly from your psyche. Images of how London was last time you were there and images of how you dream of Tokyo being if you ever get to go there.
“Metropolis” also signals a new & fruitful collaboration for Dennis as he is joined by Jose M. Jose brings additional elements of improvisation, sound and vocal sampling to the Nohno project and the potential for new visual dimensions.
The musical adventures of Dean Dennis started at a very early age when the rumpus resonating from the family home began to disturb the neighbours. His anxious parents decided to guide Dean’s talent towards the work of God. Dean was given a guitar and sent for some strict instruction to prepare him for a weekly appearance at his parent’s church.
Driven by the need to push boundaries, one fateful Sabbath Dean cast away his Sunday suit, clad himself in jeans and sent a wave of panic through his father’s flock as he started pounding out ska riffs. Dean freed himself from his father’s accusing frowns and the penance of playing Greensleeves with the ritualistic burning of his guitar.
Bootsy Collins supplied inspiration and the electric bass became Dean’s favoured instrument of musicality. Dean formed his first band in 1980. After tiring of performing Jazz Funk to confused groups of steel workers he auditioned for Clock DVA. Though still a teenager he was welcomed by Paul Browse, Nick Sanderson, John Valentine Carruthers and Adi Newton.
Dean’s dream of joining the circus had at last been realised as the group toured America & Europe & UK promoting Advantage. In Paris the regular post-performance custard-pie fight got a little out of hand and the group decided to disband. John left to join Siouxsie & the Banshees. Dean, Paul, Nick & Adi were joined by Bob Baker and the brothers Heppinstal working as the experimental collective The Anti Group.
In 1985, eager for new adventures, Dean & Nick joined the Jeffrey Lee Pierce Quartet for the Wild Weed tour.
Whilst still hung over from the tour Dean received messages suggesting that the time was ripe for Clock DVA to reform. Dean, Paul and Adi intrigued by the potential of all things electronic, and guided by the spirits of the machine started to work in a new direction.
After “Man Amplified” Dean had become weary of three card tricks. Packing his bags he said goodbye to the circus. He sought a new type of act bringing together a collective of Sheffield magician’s including Robert Gordon, Kenric Clarke & DJ Mink. With Dean at the helm they created Industrial Cosmetics and Macula Orange released as Sector projects.
During the next four years Dean’s quest for knowledge took him beyond the realms of sound to study film & new media. He remained haunted by noisy technogeists and in 2000 began to work again. This time in feverish isolation. The next Sector album, “The Yellow Room” was released by New York label Instinct/ Shadow records in 2002. At the same time DJ AdamX put out the single Morpheus a 12’ Vinyl on his Sonic Groove label.
Which brings Dean to his latest musical adventure of Nohno.