The Alternative and Live in Warsaw (2006–2008)
It also carries a different cover.īetween tours in 2005, Corner wrote and produced the soundtrack for the French movie Les Chevaliers du Ciel (English title: Sky Fighters) and the second Robots in Disguise album, Get RID!. The US album included the previously unreleased track "Polaroids" and a remix of the title song by Moonbootica. Kiss + Swallow was released in the US on 17 June 2008. The live line-up varied between a revolving cast of close friends including Sue Denim of Robots in Disguise (whose vocals are also featured on the album), Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt of The Mighty Boosh, James Cook of Nemo, Mary Ambrose, and actress Julia Davis of Nighty Night. Īfter the release of Kiss + Swallow, Corner went on tour with IAMX, playing venues throughout Europe and the US. The songs remained important to Corner, so he decided to keep working on them and to eventually use them for a separate project. Many of the songs were initially written by Corner for a fourth Sneaker Pimps album, but while the band was working on the album it soon became clear that the songs did not suit the new direction of Sneaker Pimps. Kiss + Swallow was recorded in Corner's home studio in London called The Den. It was, as all IAMX albums to follow, written, produced and mixed by Corner himself. IAMX's debut album, Kiss + Swallow, was released in 2004 and consisted of melancholic dark 1980s-influenced electro music with lyrical content referring often to the psychology of sexual fantasy, gender bending and role play, the exploration of solitude, aggression, longing, codependency and mortality.
The meaning of the X, according to the founder, is ever changing like a variable in a mathematical equation. Corner explained that by founding IAMX, he no longer felt that he was becoming X, but rather that he was X. The name 'I am X' refers to Becoming X, the title of the Sneaker Pimps' debut album. IAMX was founded by Corner in 2004 in London. To date, IAMX has released nine studio albums, all of which have been released independently and produced by Corner ( The Unified Field was co-produced by Jim Abbiss), the latest being Echo Echo, which was released on the 13th of March, 2020.Ĭhris Corner at an IAMX autograph session in Munich Both contain sometimes strong and controversial visual content, often directed, shot and edited by Corner himself.
The visual art element of the project can be seen in the IAMX music videos and in the projections at their live shows. The stage design consists of art and props constructed by Corner and his live band members. Unusual stage outfits and body painting are also core elements of IAMX shows. IAMX are known for their highly energetic and theatrical live performances.
Īs of 2014 to 2016, IAMX have relocated to Los Angeles from Berlin, citing a much-needed change to a better climate and a break with old ties in Berlin. The topic of gender bending is further emphasised by Corner's own distinctive and androgynous image. įrom 2006 until 2014 IAMX was based in Berlin, Germany, where Corner found "the spirit to care less about the music industry and take an independent route." Berlin is also mentioned in IAMX's lyrics that concern subjects such as sexual identity, death, love, narcotic intoxication, decadence, critique of religion and politics, alienation, addiction, modern society, and gender bending. Corner's striking and wide-ranging voice, and his way of programming sounds and beats, make up the obvious characteristic of the IAMX sound. Musically, IAMX spans multiple genres from electronic rock and dance music to burlesque-influenced songs and emotional ballads. Founded in 2004 in London, it is an independent music project which also focuses on and experiments with visual art. IAMX is the solo musical project of Chris Corner of the band Sneaker Pimps. Major Records, 61seconds, Fiction/NoCarbon/Genepool, Metropolis, Orphic, Caroline Distribution, Unfall Productions