Dark Entries
Cupol was an English post-punk band that formed during Wire’s 1980-1984 hiatus. The duo consisted of Bruce Gilbert (guitar, vocals, synthesizer) and Graham Lewis (bass, vocals, synthesizer). Building on Wire’s more experimental work, their dark, minimal pieces were devoid of pop structure and filled with atmospheric twists. Having already established the side project Dome, the name Cupol came from “cupola”, following an architectural theme.
The “Like This For Ages” EP was an homage to the Master Musicians of Joujouka, released in 1980 on 4AD. The A-side, “Like This For Ages”, is a concise four and a half minutes of crunchy synth sounds, pained vocals, and eerie atmospheres. The B-side, “Kluba Cupol” is an instrumental percussion-driven companion piece full of trance-inducing rhythms that stretches over 20 minutes. “What sounded oddly danceable on the A-side becomes bleak and cold, putting this more in line with Current 93, Sleep Chamber, and other purveyors of ritual industrial and dark ambient. “Kluba Cupol” can even be considered the first example of isolationist music.”, Richie Troughton describes. The title ‘Kluba Cupol’ was inspired by current affairs. “It was an anagram of Kabul,” says Graham Lewis. We’ve included three bonus tracks to the A-side for the first time on vinyl, Gilbert and Lewis’ sole John Peel session from 1980.