Factory Floor

Soon after they formed in 2008, London's enigmatic trio Factory Floor garnered comparisons to post-punk and industrial greats like Joy Division and Throbbing Gristle. The group’s first lineup featured drummer/vocalist Gabriel Gurnsey, keyboardist/bassist/vocalist Dominic Butler, and guitarist/percussionist Mark. From their debut single, the limited-release Bipolar, it was clear that their abrasive yet hypnotic and even danceable music was very different than that of other groups inspired by the post-punk era. Late in 2008, Factory Floor released the Planning Application EP, which took six weeks to record and featured Nikki Colk Void, formerly of Kaito UK, on guest vocals. Early in 2009, Colk joined the group as a full-time member. That year, the Japanese release Talking on Cliffs arrived, and the band supported the Horrors on their Primary Colours U.K. tour and Psychic TV on selected gigs. After signing to Blast First, the band's busy 2010 included the March release of the Lying single, which featured a remix of their song "Wooden Box" by Joy Division/New Order drummer Stephen Morris. Later that spring, they opened for Liars on the U.K. dates of their Sisterworld tour, and released their critically acclaimed debut mini-album, Untitled, in May. That September, they contributed a remix to Grinderman's second album, and that winter, they played All Tomorrow's Parties’ first New Year's Eve celebration along with the likes of Sonic Youth and Shellac. In 2011, Void collaborated with Throbbing Gristle's Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti as Carter Tutti Void; the trio made their debut at Mute Records' Short Circuit Festival (their performance was released as 2012's Transverse). Later that year, Factory Floor made their DFA debut with the single Two Different Ways, which showcased a more streamlined, overtly danceable take on their hard-hitting repetition; another single, Real Love, appeared on Optimo.The trio continued work on their full-length debut in 2012 while they did a residency at the Institute of Contemporary Arts that found them collaborating with artists including Dan Tombs and Peter Gordon. Early in 2013, the Fall Back single heralded the release of Factory Floor that September.