The Blackmail Starters Kit

The Blackmail Starters Kit is the second EP by Spahn Ranch, released on April 1, 1994 by Cleopatra Records.[3][4] It contain remixes from the band's 1993 debut studio album Collateral Damage.[5]

The Blackmail Starters Kit
EP of remixes by Spahn Ranch
Released	April 1, 1994[1][2]
Studio	JLab Studio (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	Industrial rock
Length	25:29
Label	Cleopatra
Producer	Matt Green Rob Morton
Spahn Ranch chronology
Collateral Damage (1993) The Blackmail Starters Kit (1994) Breath and Taxes (1994)

Reception

Jon Worley of Aiding & Abetting commended The Blackmail Starters Kit EP for being a stylistic departure from the band's debut studio album and said "mixing elements of heavy industrial, goth and just plain meanness, Spahn Ranch creates a picture of the world that is sparse and unyielding."[6] Option compared the band favorably to Ministry and Nine Inch Nails and claimed "the beats aren't altogether mechanical, the guitar grind is often captivating, and the vocals are appropriately buried in electronic dirt."[7]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Athan Maroulis.

No.	Title	Music	Remixer(s)	Length
1.	"CON"	Matt Green Athan Maroulis Rob Morton		3:48
2.	"Antibody" (Conspiracy Mix)	Green Maroulis Morton	Matt Green	3:29
3.	"Forceps" (Sterilized Mix)	Maroulis Morton	Judson Leach	3:58
4.	"Breath and Taxes" (Deductable Mix)	Maroulis Morton	Judson Leach	4:01
5.	"Commination" (Demo 1991)	Morton		4:26
6.	"Kenneth, What's the Frequency?"	Green Morton		5:34
7.	"Untitled"	Morton		0:12

Personnel

Adapted from the The Blackmail Starters Kit liner notes.[8]

Spahn Ranch

• Matt Green – sampler, keyboards, production (1-4, 6, 7), remix (2)
• Athan Maroulis – lead vocals
• Rob Morton – programming, sampler, production, recording (5)

Production and design

• Thomas Eakins – painting
• Judson Leach – recording (1-4, 6, 7), remix (3, 4)
• Christopher Payne – cover art, illustrations, design

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
United States	1994	Cleopatra	CD	CLEO 9472

References

1. Barnhart, Becky (2000). "Schwann Spectrum". Schwann Spectrum. Stereophile, Incorporated. 9 (2): 246. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
2. Fletcher, Tony; Robbins, Ira (1997). Spahn Ranch. The Trouser Press Guide to '90s Rock. McFarland & Company. p. 764. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
3. "Spahn Ranch: Blackmail Starters Kit > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
4. Noël, Sophie (August 13, 2009). Spahn Ranch. CHARLES MANSON: Le gourou du rock. Camion Blanc. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
5. Fechner, Krista (September 1995). "Interview with Spahn Ranch". Sonic Boom. 3 (7). Retrieved August 17, 2020.
6. Worley, Jon (August 15, 1994). "Spahn Ranch: Blackmail Starters Kit EP". Aiding & Abetting (60). Retrieved August 17, 2020.
7. Thompson, Lang (1994). "Spahn Ranch: The Blackmail Starters Kit". Option. Sonic Options Network (54–58). Retrieved August 17, 2020.
8. The Blackmail Starters Kit (booklet). Spahn Ranch. Marina Del Rey, California: Cleopatra Records. 1994.CS1 maint: others (link)

External links

• The Blackmail Starters Kit at iTunes
• The Blackmail Starters Kit at Discogs (list of releases)