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It's the end of an era when three guys, enjoying electronic tunes
like Depeche Mode, Erasure and Nitzer Ebb, went their own way after
spending quite some time on the same schoolbenches.
At a sudden moment they summoned again and at that point they didn't
realise themselves they created the bases for this group. Sven Lauwers,
being the only one busy with pure electronic music since 1986, bought
himself a drummachine. Soon enough there was a follow up by the
other members, Andy De Decker and Kurt Rotthier. At the end of 1992
they had some arrangements and ideas ready to be recorded. They
recorded one of these tracks (‘ashes and dust’ it was
actually the first track ever recorded, but this version is gone
lost ) on the day they would go to a party. At this "Black
Celebration" they asked the DJ to play the demo-track and amongst
tunes from DAF, Nitzer Ebb, Pouppee Fabrikk, the crowd seemed to
enjoy this fresh Belgian product, without knowing who this band
was. Few months later when they borrowed a synthesizer from a fellow
electro-friend they started recording their first demo . Einen Tanz
Traumen, a compilation of aggressive and bashing EBM, following
the Nitzer Ebb line was born. Belgium never had any hard and pure
EBM like this. This made them decide to send this demo to several
local music magazines to see the reactions. So they got in touch
with Side-line music magazine, in those days a rising magazine.
Together with Side-line, Ionic Vision would become bigger and more
known year after year.
Their second assault on the electronic scene was the concept of
a 12" tape, Total Madness. Not wanting to release normal full
length tapes they created single and maxi versions of the songs
available on that tape. The first in a series of signs these Belgian
EBM boys didn't want to act too common. Mass Madness, being a track
inspired by the addiction of television, was the main track, but
one of the most appreciated tracks (and some still dig this one
as being their best ever) was Treblinka : a weird composition spreading
the horror and doom of the Nazi cruelties over this musical masterpiece.
Ionic Vision always refused to put this track on any other release
or compilation, because some tongues claimed them to be nazi's (this
song was played live, but only once and never again and still, a
demo version made it onto a UK tape sampler). just like in real
life, after a maxi as introduction, an album was an obligatory release
: Der Totale Krieg was born. It was at this point that Ionic Vision
gained interest from across the borders of Belgium. Some of these
tapes were bought by fans in France, Spain and even the US and Japan.
Ionic Vision made their first appearances on compilation, only on
tapes to start with, but it placed them another step closer to recognition.
The positive sales and reactions of Der Totale Krieg caused this
tape to be out of print very soon. Being faithfull to their eternal
strive for releasing special material this tape was followed by
the release of a limited edition version, containing new and exclusive
remixes, accompanied with a booklet containing pictures and lyrics.
Right after this, Ionic Vision made their first steps on stage,
playing in Leuven on "Night of the Noise", February 27th
1994. The start of a pounding live career!
Because of being a part of the Side-line clan it was no problem
for them to get in touch and grow up with other bands such as Aiboforcen,
Fuze Box Machine, Lescure 13 and Suicide Commando. They were all
often mentioned in one breath and often seen together on festivals
or playing live along with eachother. Because of this friendship
Ionic Vision and Lescure 13 decided to co-release a split tape.
This release ensured that both bands could spread eachother’s
tunes over their growing follow-up of fans. The concept was as follows:
Ionic Vision and Lescure 13 would release a tape single (each called
Prospects, with a transparent sleeve and limited upto 25 copies
only), containing one song on each side, and shorlty after that
the tape album Split. Ionic Vision remixed both songs for the Lescure
13 tape and by doing so they made their move in remixing other bands.
Ionic Vision did put a new song, called 'Ordinary', on the b-side
of their Prospects tape, probably the most exclusive Ionic track.
Split was the best selling tape so far, and the Ionic crew released
this split-album accomplished with a special booklet showing an
overview of their career with exclusive pictures. And the "Vision"
went on and on and on, the release of the self made Dirty Video
Show VHS was a big event for the fans and magazines at that time.
Ionic Vision who were always (and will always be) busy giving every
new release an aural and visual aspect finally gave their music
a visual form. What was initially meant to be a single track video
made for fun, ended up as a three track video. A concept which was
probably the most joyful period of the band. A remarkable event
as well, because no other demo band ever tried something like this.
A visual proof that Ionic Vision is more of a concept than it is
a band. It's a way of thinking, a way of giving shape to feelings
and thoughts, be it in a musical manner or others.
Ionic Vision pushed themselves more and more into other magazines
and got airplay and interviews all across Europe. More and more
concerts were given and the most remarkable was in De Wommel where
they played with IC434 and Suicide Commando. A bashing evening were
people were dancing on the tables to the tunes of their well-krafted
EBM. And so the lads took a decision to release some of that live
material. Violent Playground was born, containing a playground side
(with studio tracks) and a violent side containing the live versions
from the playground side. This was released on CD format in limited
quantities, it would be the final release as a demo band. Not only
did the boys release live material, they went on gig after gig proving
their strong live reputation. And even today Ionic Vision keeps
the label of a breath taking experience .You just cannot stand still
when they release their hundreds of up tempo beats per minute, try
it out if you dare! Being asked to remix one of Aiboforcen’s
tracks (Aids on the album) led to a remix for Fuze Box Machine (Stress
Out on the album) and a remix for Suicide Commando (remixes were
done for the song Intercourse but were never released, they exist,
though they are buried behind the vaults!) Ionic Vision's mixing/recording
capacity was recognized and noticed by others. And so they were
(with a helping hand from their safe haven Side-line represented
in the form of an everlasting friend Seba Dolimont) closer to a
record deal than ever before. In december 1995, all three members
signed at Khazad Dum. In late 1996 they released their first CDmaxi,
the numbered limited edition Prophecy ION001 (by that time the Ionic
Vision releases all carried a tag with the prefix ION and the number
of the release). The main title Ave Maria (a cynical approach on
the institute called 'church') made it onto several, underground
dancefloors, ("ave maria, the devil keeps you sane, ave maria
how long will you maintain") spreading more Ionic tunes across
the globe. Even DJ's in New York noticed this maxi and finally this
band got it's recognition as hard hitting dance act, not only in
their home country but everywhere people got ioni(c)sed. Their second
CD release showed the bands real face. Their well crafted Neo-body
music (their self-invented term for the revival of the Electronic
Body Music, and which has got nothing to do with that despicable
nazi-tag they got since long) gained airplay and more compilation
appearances. Like tradition wanted it, Ionic Vision always did their
best to appear on samplers with highly exclusive tracks, and few
samplers have really some collectible remixes and/or songs. Rage
Against The Acoustic made it clear to the public that this band
was not aiming at the commercial movement of that time, the cross-over.
While loads of former EBM bands were drowned into that sea of sin
, these three Belgian lads tried to keep their heads above the water.
None of them gave in and didn't want to. They made music with their
hearts and minds and expressed it throughout their pure synthetic
equipment. For them EBM was and is the way to do it! Their rage
against the acoustic was so big that nothing was able to break their
spine. The spine of pure and force driving electronic music. Because
of that their follow up of fans was growing.
By this time Ionic Vision was setting up their own recording area,
called the Ionic Data Base. From here on they controlled all of
their upcoming work. It's where they started working on a new maxi
entitled Heresy (which was eventually meant to be a collaboration
between Ionic Vision and the German duo of Der Prager Handgriff)
Due to unfortunate misunderstandings this relase was delayed and
even deleted. But promotional reasons and label pressure made it
clear something new had to be done. Therefore the best known Ionic
Vision song The End was altered to a radio version (keeping the
word "fuckers" out, BBC is severe on that you know ??)
with the help of Fuze Box Machine and long life time (and beyond)
friend Stephane Froidcoeur, who supplied additional vocals. Two
new songs (which were ment for the next album) were taken to give
this maxi more character. ION003 was released as a normal maxi and
as limited edition (500 copies only) on which two exclusive remixes
and two exclusive live tracks were available. This was probably
their best production since ever, but meant a turning point.
"The End". It surely seemed so, because from that release
on nothing besides a huge silence was heard from Ionic Vision. From
1997 untill 1999, a mysterious haze seemed to keep the band away
from nosy people. What happened and what is happening? No interviews
were allowed, no compilation appearances, no live performances,
no comment on questions, no fan mail was answered, Ionic silence!
Some magazines wrote the band had split up, moved on to put their
unstoppable energy in new projects! Some of them were partially
right but overlooked few important details here. During this "working
behind closed doors" period, Ionic Vision remixed several projects
like Bio-tek, Testube, Hexedene, Diverje,... Bands like Devotion
(on their first demo a remix of Ionic vision can be found) the front
door of the Ionic Data Base asking if Ionic Vision is willing to
help them record their first demo. All that made it look as if Ionic
Vision didn't have much time left for themselves. There was indeed
a band crisis, and several other projects in which some members
were involved but all this stranded. Slowly all they had build up
faded away. At a certain moment Ionic Vision decided to continue
were they left of in 1997. At that time Kurt made it clear to quit
Ionic Vision, pursueing his own obscure way.
During these two years of absence, besides remixing and producing,
new sounds were created, new territories were exploited and new
songs were created. Still remaining faithfull to their old school
of EBM, Ionic Vision has put some new elements in their music. A
promo CD IONXLCD004 containing one track was recorded and soon after
that another promo CD was released, Homo Sovieticus, which carried
the catalognumber PION004. It captured some old tunes accompanied
by a few new Visions. These two promo devices were preceding devices
for a limited US only compilation called Homo Sovieticus, in co-operation
with DSBP. This puts these two body bashing Belgians back onto the
track, and they will soon pass you by at the speed of light.
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