Ike Yard
No wave band from New York, first American act on Factory Records.
Ike Yard formed in New York in 1980, emerging from the later days of the city's no wave scene. The original lineup consisted of Stuart Argabright (drums, percussion, synthesizer, vocals), Kenny Compton (bass, synthesizer, vocals), Fred Szymanski (synthesizers/programming), and Michael Diekmann (guitar, synthesizer). They recorded for labels like Disques du Crépuscule and Factory in the early 1980s, and were the first American band to be signed to the latter UK label. Initially drawing on early krautrock and dub-influenced post-punk, their work increasingly incorporated drum machines and analog electronics. After releasing their 1982 debut album, Ike Yard dissolved at the beginning of 1983. Argabright later recorded as Dominatrix.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- New York City, United States
- Genre
- No wave
- electronic
- post-punk
- experimental
- Years active
- 1980–1983, 2007–present
- Label
- Disques du Crépuscule
- Factory
- Acute
- Current members
- Kenneth Compton
- Michael Diekmann
- Stuart Argabright
- Past members
- Fred Szymanski
Facts from the source article.
Background
Ike Yard's story begins in 1980 New York, with a lineup of Stuart Argabright, Kenny Compton, Fred Szymanski, and Michael Diekmann. They were part of the later days of the no wave scene and quickly caught the attention of European labels. Their debut EP, Night After Night, came out in 1981, followed by their self-titled debut album in 1982. That album marked a shift toward drum machines and analog electronics, building on their earlier krautrock and dub-influenced post-punk. The band dissolved at the beginning of 1983, but their music lived on. In 2006, Acute Records released the career anthology Ike Yard: 1980–82 Collected, which was well-received. That led to a reformation in 2007 as a three-piece with original members Stuart Argabright, Kenneth Compton, and Michael Diekmann. After a hiatus of roughly 28 years, Danish/Swedish imprint Phisteria released the limited edition 10-inch Öst in 2009, followed by the full-length Nord in 2010, which Phisteria licensed to Desire Records for worldwide distribution. In 2017, Vienna-based label Noiztank released the EP Sacred Machine, then the album Rejoy in 2018, and a remix album Remix in 2019. In 2024, San Francisco-based label Dark Entries released 1982, an album of music recorded in 1982.
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