Linea Aspera (band)

Linea Aspera is an English electronic music duo from London, formed in 2011. The band is fronted by vocalist Zoè Zanias (born Alison Lewis), with Ryan Ambridge on synthesizers. Zanias writes the lyrics while Ambridge writes the electronics, as well as mixing and producing the recordings.[1][2][3]

Linea Aspera
OriginLondon, England
GenresDark wave, minimal wave, EBM
Years active2011–2013, 2019–present
LabelsDark Entries
Members
  • Zoè Zanias
  • Ryan Ambridge
Websitewww.darkentriesrecords.com/bands/linea-aspera/

The band name is derived from the anatomical term linea aspera, which refers to the muscle attachment on the back of the human femur. The band felt the English translation of "rough line" fit their style and the biological themes in their songs.[4]

History

Founded in November 2011, Linea Aspera are influenced by electronic bands from the 1980s.[1] A reviewer reporting on a gig in January 2012 noted that their music sounded "very '80s", and that they had "sprung fully-formed" from the musical underground of East London.[3] That month self-releasing an extended play cassette, titled Linea Aspera EP, it was described by the Burning Flame website as number one in their Top 20 EPs of 2012.[5]

Signing to Dark Entries Records, the band's first album, Linea Aspera LP, was released on 25 September 2012. Brought out digitally and on vinyl by Dark Entries, a CD release was produced by the German company Genetic Records.[1] Each LP was contained in a jacket sleeve designed by Dovile Shurpo and accompanied by an insert listing their song lyrics.[1]

The band's first North American tour was planned for November 2012, but it had to be cancelled as a result of visa issues.[6]

Linea Aspera effectively disbanded in January 2013,[4] but played one final show in February at the first Grauzone Festival in Amsterdam.[7] Zoè Zanias formed Keluar with Sid Lamar from Schwefelgelb and later decided to go solo under the Zanias moniker.

On 16 September 2019, Linea Aspera posted "Hey, we're back!" on their Facebook page and announced a number of gigs in Europe. A year later they self-released their second album, LP II.[8] Linea Aspera finally played their first United States show on 18 October 2022 at New York City's Saint Vitus Bar.[9]

Discography
Title Release date Length Label Formats
Linea Aspera EP 28 January 2012 Extended Play Self-release Cassette
Linea Aspera II 27 July 2012 Extended Play Self-release Cassette
Linea Aspera LP 25 September 2012 Long Play Dark Entries 12" vinyl record, CD, Digital
Preservation Bias 27 June 2019 Long Play Dark Entries Vinyl, Digital
Linea Aspera LP II 7 September 2020 Long Play Dark Entries Vinyl, Digital

References
  1. "Linea Aspera to launch debut album on Dark Entries label". Sideline Music Magazine. 19 September 2012. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  2. "Linea Aspera – Linea Aspera (CD – Dark Entries Records/Genetic Records)". Sideline Music Magazine. 2 December 2012. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  3. "Live: M!R!M Linea Aspera". Nemesis to Go. January 2012. Archived from the original on 13 January 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  4. Blackmarquis, Philippe (April 2013). "Interview: Linea Aspera" (PDF). Peek-A-Boo Music Magazine. Ghent, BE (9): 18. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  5. "Burning Flame's Top 20 EPs of 2012". Burning Flame. 25 December 2012. Archived from the original on 19 July 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  6. "LINEA ASPERA CANCEL NORTH AMERICAN TOUR". Dark Entries Records. 9 November 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  7. "10 years of Grauzone Festival—A Conversation with Trish Trash and Zanias". PostPunk.com. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  8. "LINEA ASPERA, "LP II"". I Die, You Die. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  9. "Saint Vitus Bar - Surprise! We've just added a second night of Linea Aspera and Bootblacks—this time with Bustié as support! This is Linea Aspera's first visit to NYC, don't miss out on either or both shows!". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
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