Fact 85 Thick Pigeon Too Crazy Cowboys 1984
Thick Pigeon was perhaps one of the more mysterious artists to record for Factory. The group was essentially a vehicle for songwriter Stanton Miranda and arranger Carter Burwell plus a rotating roster of guest musicians. Based in New York, the duo recorded a handful of oblique, minimalist singles for Les Disques du Crépuscule (a label, based in Brussels, that had strong links with Factory) in 1981-82 before moving sideways to Factory for their first album Too Crazy Cowboys, Fact 85, in 1984. The second Thick Pigeon album, Miranda Dali, appeared on Crépuscule in 1991.
Operating on the fringes of synth music and art rock, Thick Pigeon’s use of studio-generated effects, treated vocals and techno rhythms are like a precursor of today’s electronica scene. The two founding members have worked in various careers since the demise of the band: multi-instrumentalist Carter Burwell has gone on to provide soundtracks for around 50 films including Being John Malkovich and more recently Burn After Reading and In Bruges whilst New York-based singer Stanton Miranda has played in the band CKM, put together by visual artist Dan Graham, with Christine Hahn (ex-Malaria) and Kim Gordon (later of Sonic Youth); she has worked with The Durutti Column and Sonic Youth; and is also an actress and performance artist.
Fact 85 Thick Pigeon Too Crazy Cowboys 1984 Back cover
Too Crazy Cowboys was recorded with Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert of New Order. The album was originally to be called ‘Two Crazy Cowboys’ as announced on a promotional poster, Fac 131. The cover was designed by American conceptual artist Lawrence Weiner, who was commissioned by Michael Shamberg, head of Factory’s transatlantic operation, Of Factory NY. Shamberg also commissioned work for Factory from a range of contemporary American artists and filmmakers including John Baldessari, Robert Breer, Jonathon Demme, Robert Frank, Barbara Kruger, Robert Longo and William Wegman. The cover features a wedge-shaped die-cut in the top corner and is typical of Weiner’s stark angular text and graphic work.
Lawrence Weiner New Order Poster 1983
Lawrence Weiner was also commissioned to design two posters for Factory: one for a New Order concert at the Paradise Garage, New York in July 1983, the other for a Section 25 concert at the Ritz in New York in February 1985.
Lawrence Weiner
