Semantics

Members: Elliott Sharp, Ned Rothenberg, Samm Bennett Semantics was formed by Samm along with saxophonist Ned Rothenberg and guitarist Elliott Sharp in 1985. They embodied a certain raw and aggressive sound that was characteristic of the East Village noise/rock scene, but tempered somewhat by Rothenberg's more jazzist stylings and all the member's backgrounds in exploratory and improvised music. In this group Samm was starting to mix acoustic drums with electronic drum pads, triggering samples, and Sharp was mixing electric guitar with sampling as well. The band played in NY, toured Europe and released two LP/CDs, the first being the eponymous Semantics, and the second titled Bone of Contention. As the New York Times's Jon Pareles put it, back in 1988, "the group stomps and clatters and squalls with a satisfying heft". That they did.