Guerilla Welfare

Politico dub-collage practitioners Guerilla Welfare came from Edmonton, Alberta, coincidentally the birthplace of prophetic media sage Marshall McLuhan. Armed with vanguard ideas taken from Steve Reich, Fela Kuti, Robert Fripp and Material, the duo of Curtis Ruptash and Brian Schultze adopted the ‘studio as instrument’ mindset of Eno and King Tubby creating complex textural and polyrhythmic sonic insurgencies. Their DIY bunker studio experimentations align them with genre defying dub-infused outfits like African Head Charge, Dome, Lifetones, Naffi, Woo, Negativland and The Residents.

Their two LPs and a cassette collaboration with poet Mary Howes were produced between 1986 to 1991. They disbanded in 1995 when Curtis Ruptash moved to Chicago. Sadly, Brian Schultze passed away in 2013. In 2016, the original tapes were remastered by Curtis Ruptash and released the entire catalogue titled "Eye Holes Off Center". Portland label, Musique Plastique, released a vinyl LP/digital compilation called The Nature of Human Nature in 2019.

For those interested in simpatico artists, check out Curtis Ruptash's subsequent band, Peabody & Sherman and, most recently, solo as BassKase.