A Million Keys

Periodikmindtrouble

I am a bit surprised that I only recently discovered Thierry Muller from Ruth’s project Ilitch. Dan Selzer played it a few weeks ago at a French New Wave night we did at Monkeytown, and I immediately decided to hunt it down. I picked up the Ruth reissue Polaroid/Roman/Photo on Fractal a few years ago, its title track also appeared on the So Young So Cold compilation, which came out around the same time:

Listen to Ruth + Polaroid/roman/photo

I now realize that Ruth is an electronic pop rendition of Muller’s earlier more experimental output. It’s like listening to mid-80s Cabaret Voltaire for years and years, then stumbling upon Mix-Up for the first time. Your interest is reinvigorated, but you’re also kicking yourself. Muller even reworked the Ilitch song “Waiting for Mabelle” for Ruth:

Listen to Ilitch + Waiting For Mabelle

Listen to Ruth + Mabelle

Muller began recording in the early 1970s, experimenting with a tape recorder, a reed organ, and a treated guitar. He started collaborating with Ruth Ellyeri in 1975 and was later joined by his brother Patrick Muller in 1976. Periodikmindtrouble, released in 1978, is considered to be their first album, even though Muller released a very limited edition LP entitled Portraits in 1977.

Listen to Ilitch + Periodikmindtrouble

By 1980, they beefed up their sound with additional guitars, vocals, and electronics and released a second album 10 Suicides. On a whole, it reminds me of a more Kraut version of Suicide.

Listen to Ilitch + N.A. (No Answer)

Listen to Ilitch + Periphericredcommando

He also released PTM Works on cassette that year, along with the one sided EP Culture. After this prolific period, Muller took a few years off before beginning a new project, which eventually became Ruth, in 1982. Visit Thierry Muller’s website for more information about reissues and current projects.