The Normal

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The Normal is the recording artist name used by English music producer Daniel Miller, a film editor at the time, who is best known as the founder of the record label Mute Records.

Although Miller founded Mute with the intention of releasing his own music, he only released one 7" vinyl single under the name The Normal: 1978's "T.V.O.D."/"Warm Leatherette".

Both tracks were minimalist electronic songs using a Korg 700s^[1] analog synthesizer and a Revox B-77 tape machine. This single was recorded in Daniel Miller's living room. Although it did not enter the UK Singles Chart, the single was influential on the post-punk/electronic music scene in the UK at the time.

The lyrics for "Warm Leatherette" referenced J.G. Ballard's novel Crash.^[1] The song has since been covered by artists Blok 57, Pankow, Grace Jones, Die Tödliche Doris, Sleep Chamber, Vitalic, Chicks on Speed/Hell on a split-7", Giddle and Boyd, Dive, and in 2006 by Trent Reznor with Jeordie White and Peter Murphy.^[2] A recent cover was performed live by Duran Duran at their run of ten concerts in New York City in November 2007, and as part of an electro medley portion of their set list on their subsequent 2008 tour^[3], in support of their album Red Carpet Massacre.

A second release as The Normal with other Mute Records act Robert Rental, Live at West Runton Pavilion, wasn't well received. A strange release, it was a one sided album (side two was left blank) of improvised electronic noises, in a plain purple dust jacket. Marat Records published the same record in Germany as Daniel Miller Robert Rental Live with a black and white picture sleeve, catalogue no. Marat Rough 017.

Miller also recorded the album Music for Parties under the name Silicon Teens, mostly featuring sparse electronic new-wave covers of '50's and '60's pop classics such as "Sweet Little Sixteen" and "Let's Dance".

Daniel Miller is also a prolific engineer and producer, producing such acts as Depeche Mode, Erasure, Wire, and DAF.

Discography

• 1978 "T.V.O.D." / "Warm Leatherette" (7" /12" single)
• 1980 Robert Rental & The Normal - Live At West Runton Pavilion, 6-3-79 (Rough Trade)

References

External links

• The Normal at Mute Records Official site
• The Normal at Allmusic
• The Normal Discography at discogs.com