Senser

{{Short description|British rap rock band}}

{{EngvarB|date=December 2017}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}

{{distinguish|Censer|Censor (disambiguation){{!}}Censor|Censure|Sensor}}

{{Refimprove|date=November 2024}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Senser

| image =

| caption =

| image_size =

| background = group_or_band

| alias =

| origin = London, England

| genre = {{Hlist|Rap rock|rapcore|alternative rock|rap metal|nu metal{{Cite web | title=CD Review: Senser - 'How To Do Battle' - Soundsphere magazine | url=https://www.soundspheremag.com/reviews/cd/cd-review-senser-how-to-do-battle/ | access-date=2025-01-08 | website=www.soundspheremag.com}}}}

| years_active = 1991–1999, 2003–present

| label = Ultimate, A&M, One Little Indian, Imprint Music

| website = {{URL|senser.co.uk/}}

| current_members = Heitham Al-Sayed
Kerstin Haigh
Nick Michaelson
James Barrett
John Morgan

| past_members = Erika Footman
Paul Soden
Alan Haggarty
Andy Clinton
Steve Morton

}}

Senser are an English rap rock band, originally formed in South West London.

History

Senser were formed in 1991.{{Cite web |title=Senser |url=https://www.youtube.com/user/senserband/about |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=YouTube |language=en}}

In 1992, they were joined by Spiral Tribe D.J, Andy Clinton.Strong, Martin C. (1999) The Great Alternative & Indie Discography, Canongate, {{ISBN|0-86241-913-1}}, p. 551 The band toured in support of psychedelic rockers the Ozric Tentacles in 1992. In 1993, the band were signed to Ultimate Records.

In 1993, Senser released two indie singles on Ultimate – "Eject" and "The Key".{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Virgin Books|date=1999|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0257-7|page=393}} The latter would appear on NME Singles of the Week 1993 album.{{Citation |title=Various - New Musical Express Singles Of The Week 1993 |date=1994 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/990017-Various-New-Musical-Express-Singles-Of-The-Week-1993?srsltid=AfmBOop2Q2Ok-lzcMlPwqsVbxWe8rTmSqrhaMa2xgQ1xws4i8gcYQhDl |access-date=2025-01-04 |language=en}}

In March 1994, Senser released their third single, "Switch", which entered the UK Singles Chart at number 39. Senser's first album, Stacked Up, was released in May 1994, and entered the UK Albums Chart at number 4.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/29288/senser/|title=SENSER | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=21 July 2021}}

At the beginning of 1995, Senser toured the UK supported by Skunk Anansie before setting off to tour the United States with Moby. It was during this tour that the band decided to split over musical differences. Al-Sayed and Morgan left to form a new band with Haggis called Lodestar. The remaining members of Senser found a new drummer, Paul Soden, and set about writing Senser's second album.

In the summer of 1998, Haigh was able to tour and the band released the second album, Asylum. Once again musical differences became apparent and by February 1999 the band decided to split.

In 2003, the original line-up reunited originally to perform for one show, but decided to re-form and record again. They released their third studio album SCHEMAtic in 2004.

In 2009, they released How To Do Battle.{{cite web |url=http://www.bringthenoiseuk.com/200910/music/reviews/senser-how-to-do-battle |title=Senser – How To Do Battle " Bring the Noise UK |website=Bringthenoiseuk.com |access-date=1 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219022345/http://www.bringthenoiseuk.com/200910/music/reviews/senser-how-to-do-battle |archivedate=19 February 2014 |df=dmy-all }}

In 2013, they released their fifth album To the Capsules via Pledgemusic and toured with Erika Footman on vocals in place of Kerstin Haigh.{{cite web|last=Wincott |first=Mark |url=http://metalmouth.net/2013/08/senser-to-the-capsules/ |title=SENSER – To The Capsules |website=Metalmouth.net |access-date=1 February 2014}}

In 2014, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut Stacked Up, the band re-released the album in expanded edition with a remastered version of the original tracks on the first CD, and bonus tracks from the era (remixes and previously unreleased songs) on the second disc.{{cite web|url=https://www.senser.co.uk/senser-merchandise-shop/stacked-up-xx/|title=Stacked Up XX|website=Senser.com}}

Although Senser have not released new music since 2014, as of 2024 the band still perform live shows.{{cite news |url=https://lastdaydeaf.com/senser/ |title=Senser |publisher=Last Day Deaf |date=12 June 2018 |first=Sarah |last=Mederios |access-date=19 April 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/senser |title=Senser Concert History |website=Concert Archives |access-date=19 April 2024}}

Soundtracks to films

"The Key" was used as part of the cult extreme 1990s ski film, The Tribe.

Senser's song "States of Mind" from Stacked Up, was used as the soundtrack to the well-known demoscene production, State of Mind, by Bomb.{{cite web|url=http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=26 |title=State of Mind by Bomb :: pouët.net |website=Pouet.net |access-date=1 February 2014}}

In 2012, one of their songs was also used in the soundtrack to the film Learning Hebrew: A Gothsploitation Movie.{{cite web|url=http://www.learninghebrew.wibbell.co.uk/ |title=Learning Hebrew: A Gothsploitation Movie |website=Learninghebrew.wibbell.co.uk |access-date=1 February 2014}}

Discography

=Albums=

{{columns-start}}

Stacked Up (1994) Ultimate/A&M

UK No. 4

:# States of Mind

:# The Key

:# Switch

:# Age of Panic

:# What's Going On

:# One Touch One Bounce

:# Stubborn

:# Door Game

:# Peanut Head

:# Peace

:# Eject

:# No Comply

:# Worth

{{column}}

Asylum (1998) Ultimate

UK No. 73

:# Book of Flies

:# Charming Demons

:# Adrenaline

:# Strange Asylum

:# Burn Out

:# Desensitised

:# Breed

:# Lizard

:# Oyster

:# Weatherman

{{columns-end}}

Asylum (Limited Edition) (1998) "Senser Vs. De:Senser"

:# Charming Demons (DJ "Awe" mix)

:# Eye Kaleid

:# Tried & Untested

:# Om (Harry Hogg mix)

:# Rows of People

:# Gabba Man

{{columns-start}}

Parallel Charge (2001) Strike Back

:# Age Of Panic

:# Charming Demons

:# States Of Mind

:# Strange Asylum

:# Switch

:# Breed

:# The Key

:# Adrenalin

:# Eject

:# Lizard

:# Stubborn

:# Book of Flies

:# No Comply

:# Desensitized

{{column}}

SCHEMAtic (2004) One Little Indian

:# Silent By

:# 101 Infoburner

:# Bulletproof

:# Formula Milk

:# Crucible

:# Return to Zombie Island

:# An Astounding Spectacle

:# Photographed Files

:# Bomb Factories

:# A Conscious War

:# The Brunt

{{columns-end}}

{{columns-start}}

How To Do Battle (2009) Imprint

:# Wake Up, You're On Fire

:# Resistance Now

:# Brightest Rays

:# 2 3 Clear

:# Dictator Bling

:# End Of The World Show

:# Smoking Paranoia

:# Sandhurst in Zero G

:# So Refined

:# Hex

:# Fairytale

:# Lights Out

:# Arturo

:# Blind (iTunes Bonus Track)

{{column}}

To The Capsules (2013)

:# Devoid

:# Time Travel Scratch

:# Witch Village

:# Wounded Spectre

:# Break The Order

:# Alpha Omega

:# Liquidity

:# Echelon

:# Chemtrails

:# Let There Be War

{{columns-end}}

=Singles=

  • "Eject" (1993), Ultimate
  • "The Key" (1993), Ultimate – UK #47
  • "Switch" (1994), Ultimate – UK #39
  • "Age of Panic" (1994), Ultimate – UK #52
  • "Charming Demons" (1996), Ultimate – UK #42
  • "Adrenalin" (1998), Ultimate - UK #85. #14 UK Independent Single Chart{{Cite web |date=1993-09-25 |title=SENSER |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/29288/senser/ |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=Official Charts |language=en}}
  • "Breed" (1998), Ultimate - UK #76. #9 UK Independent Singles Chart
  • "Weatherman", Ultimate – promo only
  • De:Senser EP (1998), Ultimate
  • "The Brunt" (2004), One Little Indian - #33 UK Independent Singles Chart
  • "Bulletproof" / "Crucible" (2004), One Little Indian
  • "Resistance Now" (2009), Imprint
  • Biting Rhymes EP (2011), Imprint – features hiphop covers

=Videos/DVDs=

  • States of Mind (1995), Ultimate (VHS)
  • Live at the Underworld (2006), Ignite (DVD/CD)

Members

=Current=

  • Heitham Al-Sayed (b. 27 February 1971) (vocals/percussion, 1992–1995, 1999–present) He is of Saudi and English parentage; also associated with Fiend and (previously) Lodestar.
  • James Barrett (bass, 1990–present)
  • Kerstin Haigh (vocals/flute, 1991–2011, 2013-present)
  • Nick Michaelson (guitar, 1990–present)
  • John Morgan (drums, 1992–1995, 1999–present)

= Former =

  • Steve Morton (song writing, drummer)
  • Alan "Hagos/Haggis" Haggarty (sound engineering/programming/producer, 1992–1994, 1999–2004)
  • Andy "Awe" Clinton (turntables, 1992–2017)
  • Paul Soden (drums, 1995–1999)
  • Erika Footman (vocals, 2013)

References

{{Reflist|refs={{cite web|title=Senser – Biting Rhymes|url=http://www.discogs.com/Senser-Biting-Rhymes/release/3257851|website=Discogs.com|access-date=17 April 2015}}}}

Bibliography

  • [https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/25/arts/in-performance-pop-014895.html?sec=&spon= In Performance] (New York Times)
  • [https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/transglobalunderground/albums/album/123274/review/6067714/international_times?source=transglobalunderground_rssfeed Rolling Stone Magazine - Transglobal Underground review]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}