Vocalist PTR and multi-instrumentalist BRT meet late 1998 on a gig of a local goth rock band. Sharing the same musical ideas, they quickly join forces and begin to experiment with noise and words. Although equipped with limited instrumental luggage, the duo soon conjures up minimal electronic songs with an industrial edge. They are burned on disc and form Mathematical empathy, the very first demo the band release in 2000. By the turn of the millennium, PIA fRAUS make their first steps on stage. Alongside the 2 protagonists, drum & bass / hip hop dj (and PTRs neighbour) JN joins the duo, delivering live turntable noise to spice up the set.In 2002 new insights, better instrumentation and the welcoming of new full-time member JN lead to The esthetics of the spot, the second auto-production. Much richer and varied than its predecessor, this demo CD receives very good critics in various underground magazines. The trios mix of harsh industrial music and twisted pop melodies leads to successful gigs in Utrecht (Holland) and the famous Zwart Werk festival in Belgium, where they play as support for Welle:Erdball. In Utrecht the band plays for the first time with an extra drummer / percussionist (BRTs longtime friend KN) as well as a live keyboarder (PTRv). Having great plans for his own project The Frozen Park, PTRv leaves after this live experience.
Soon the band finds a worthy substitute in PTRs friend SVN to support PIA on the Zwart Werk festival. His open mind and cool noises he injects the live-sound with, make SVN stay in the live-setting, combining his work for PIA with his own brainchild Lokasenna.PIA fRAUS contributes twice to the DARK DEMOnS-compilation series, compiled by Belgian Music Mag Dark Entries. They deliver two songs from the Esthetics-album, and are rewarded with very cool comments.
More club gigs follow as well as some small festivals, where the band is supporting act for among others The Bollock Brothers, Thou, Diskonnekted and El Guapo Stuntteam.In the meantime, the 3 core members start working on new song material. Think-O-theque is released in March 2006. This new full album promises to be their most mature work so far, providing musically, vocally as well as lyrically the best border pushing stuff they have ever produced as a band.
Impossible to label, the overall ambiance of this third auto-production can tried to be described as a goth-tronical mixture of Swans, Skinny Puppy, Legendary Pink Dots, Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Sigmund und sein Freund or even Laibach.Halfway 2006 JN decides to quit the band and BRT decides to take a brake.
December 9 2006, PIA are again part of the Zwartwerk festival, where they play with NTRSN, IC434, Sonar and Suicde Commando. This was supposed to be the last gig featuring BRT and the first gig with new member MHD, singer in progressive thrashband Dedicted.The start of the new year will officially be the start of the new PIA fRAUS, with somewhat swapped roles: PTR, KN and MHD writing all the songs, with BRT as guest musician.
2007 will also be the year where PIA will officially release music for the first time, through new Dutch label Elitepop. Being big fans of the band, the label wants to put out a limited edition vinyl trilogy, containing all 3 demo's the band made from 1999 til 2006.
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