Blanck Mass

Career

Origins and early solo work (2011–2014)

Blanck Mass began as Benjamin John Power's solo outlet while Fuck Buttons were on hiatus. The self-titled debut album Blanck Mass was released on Mogwai’s Rock Action label in 2011 and established Power's interest in extended drones, harsh textures and immersive electronic soundscapes. The record was followed by a growing live presence and a series of singles and remix work for other artists. The track ‘Sundowner’ was featured in the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Breakthrough: Dumb Flesh and subsequent albums (2015–2019)

Power signed to Sacred Bones Records and released Dumb Flesh in May 2015, an album that incorporated heavier rhythms, chopped vocal samples and a greater emphasis on movement and dancefloor dynamics while retaining abrasive sonics. Subsequent studio albums included World Eater (2017) and Animated Violence Mild (2019), each expanding his palette of rhythms, noise, and cinematic detail.

Film, TV and scoring work (2013–present)

Alongside albums, Blanck Mass has written music for cinema and television. Notable soundtrack and score releases include Calm with Horses (original score), Ted K (original motion picture score, 2022) and scores for other film/TV projects and limited series. Power's cinematic work demonstrates his aptitude for mood, tension and texture in audiovisual contexts. In 2021 his work as composer for Nick Rowland's Calm with Horses was recognised with the Ivor Novello award for Best Original Film Score.

Collaborations and band work

Power continues to collaborate with other musicians and remix artists across genres. In 2022 he was announced as a full-time member of Editors while continuing Blanck Mass releases and scoring work. He has remixed and been remixed by artists including Sigur Rós and others, and his material has been used in large public events and media placements.

Musical style and influences

Blanck Mass's music is frequently described as a hybrid of drone, industrial noise and electronic dance music — often cinematic, immersive and loud. Power uses modular synthesisers, found sounds, heavily processed samples (including vocal fragments), and careful rhythmic processing to generate tension and release. Interviews and press have linked his music to interests in natural phenomena, large-scale atmospheres and the aesthetics of both decay and euphoria.

Discography

Albums

• Blanck Mass (20 June 2011, Rock Action)
• Dumb Flesh (11 May 2015, Sacred Bones)
• World Eater (3 March 2017, Sacred Bones)
• Animated Violence Mild (16 August 2019, Sacred Bones)
• In Ferneaux (26 February 2021, Sacred Bones)
• Mind Killer (14 May 2021, Weirding Way) Soundtracks
• Calm with Horses (13 March 2020, Invada Records)
• Ted K (18 March 2022, Invada Records)
• Gazza (21 November 2022, Weirding Way)
• Floodlights (2022, unreleased)
• The Rig - Prime Video Original Series (6 January 2023, Invada Records)
• The Rig Season 2 - Prime Video Original Series (2 January 2025, Invada Records)
• She Rides Shotgun (1 August 2025, Invada Records)
• Crime 101 (13 February 2026, Sony Records) Singles and EPs
• "White Math / Polymorph" (21 August 2012, Software Recording Co.)
• "Hellion Earth" (21 December 2012)
• "No Lite" (12 October 2015, Sacred Bones)
• The Great Confuso EP (26 October 2015, Sacred Bones)
• "D7-D5" (4 November 2016, Richter Sound)
• "Odd Scene / Shit Luck" (21 April 2018, Sacred Bones)
• "World Eater Re-Voxed" (16 March 2018)
• The Blanck Mass Sessions (3 April 2019, PIAS, with Editors)
• "Bloodhound / You" (6 December 2024, Weirding Way) Compilations
• A Field in England: Original Soundtrack Recording (18 October 2013, Death Waltz/Rook Films)
• Blanck Mass Presents – The Strange Colour of Your Body's Tears Re-Score (2015, Death Waltz Originals) Remixes

As Blanck Mass:

• John Carpenter
• Mogwai
• Moby
• Placebo
• East India Youth
• Sigur Ros
• The Horrors
• Gazelle Twin
• Editors
• Deftones Live Collaborations
• Part of Glenn Branca's 7 guitars + Drums Steve Reich piece @ ATP Minehead 2007
• 'Group leader' in Boredoms live performance at Station to Station (88 Cymbals) at Barbican, 2015
• Genesis Breyer P. Orridge / Edley ODowd / Blanck Mass improvised live performance at Sacred Bones 10 Year Anniversary, 2017

Live performance

Blanck Mass has performed at festivals and on tours in Europe, North America and Australia, including support slots for acts such as Sigur Rós and headline shows where the project's live set emphasizes loud, immersive sound and extensive use of electronics and live processing.

Reception

Critics have generally praised Blanck Mass for its textural ambition and the combination of noise aesthetics with propulsive rhythms. Albums such as Dumb Flesh and World Eater received coverage in major music outlets, and his soundtrack work has been noted for its capacity to support narrative tension. Specific reviews of Ted K and other scores highlight his facility with cinematic pacing and sonic density.

Selected uses in media

Power's compositions (including tracks under Blanck Mass and remixes) have been used in film and televised contexts, and his music has appeared in festivals and public ceremonies (for example, press coverage has noted usage of the track “Sundowner” in high-profile contexts). His later career includes dedicated soundtrack commissions and score albums.

References

References

1. "AMBIENT SUITE". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
2. (28 April 2011). "Fuck Buttons' Power Goes Solo as Blanck Mass". Pitchfork.com.
3. "Music".
4. (2022-04-20). "Editors Add Blanck Mass As Full-Time Member, Share New Song "Heart Attack"".
5. (27 July 2012). "Olympics Opening Ceremony: Arctic Monkeys, Underworld, Dizzee Rascal... and Fuck Buttons". Pitchfork.com.
6. "Blanck Mass Announces 'Dumb Flesh' LP for Sacred Bones │ Exclaim!".
7. "Blanck Mass announces new album, World Eater · News ⟋ RA".
8. Minsker, Evan. (2019-06-06). "Blanck Mass Announces New Album Animated Violence Mild, Shares Song: Listen".
9. "‘Calm With Horses’ Soundtrack Released {{!}} Film Music Reporter".
10. Pearis, Bill. "Blanck Mass scored new Unabomber movie 'Ted K' (listen to the main theme)".
11. Brown, Anna. (2021-09-21). "The Ivors with Apple Music 2021 winners announced".
12. Moore, Sam. (2022-04-20). "Editors share new single ‘Heart Attack’ and add Blanck Mass to line-up".
13. "Brennisteinn (Blanck Mass Instrumental Remix), by Sigur Rós".
14. "Blanck Mass: The Power of Music – Electronic Sound".
15. Cohen, Ian. "Blanck Mass: World Eater".
16. Murray, Robin. (11 January 2021). "Blanck Mass Confirms New Album 'In Ferneaux'". [[Clash (magazine).
17. Minsker, Evan. (2015-09-03). "Prurient Remixes John Carpenter's "Purgatory".
18. McElroy, David. (2014-12-05). "MOGWAI – MUSIC INDUSTRY 3 FITNESS INDUSTRY 1 EP".
19. Hill, John HillJohn. (2017-03-16). "Blanck Mass Make a Mess of Moby in New Remix".
20. "Life's What You Make It (Remixes)".
21. Roberts, Christopher. "East India Youth Releases New Remix EP featuring Blanck Mass and Others".
22. Pelly, Jenn. (2012-12-04). "Stream the Horrors Remixes by Peaking Lights, Blanck Mass, Andrew Weatherall, More".
23. Hadusek, Jon. (2020-12-11). "Deftones release White Pony remix album Black Stallion: Stream".
24. "RA.475 Blanck Mass ⟋ RA Podcast".
25. Joffe, Justin. (2017-05-15). "How Sacred Bones Became the Underground’s Most Influential Record Label".
26. "BLANCK MASS TO TOUR WITH SIGUR ROS in 2013 :: October Podcast Available To Download Now".
27. "Blanck Mass heads for Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart · News ⟋ RA".
28. "Blanck Mass review: Summerhall, Edinburgh, 12 Mar - The Skinny".
29. Kelly, Zach. (2015-05-12). "Behind Blanck Mass: Benjamin John Power's Fuzzy Exploration into Your Brain".
30. Reese, Nathan. "Blanck Mass: Dumb Flesh".
31. Hann, Michael. (2017-03-02). "Blanck Mass: World Eater review – brutal noise with frequent sweet spots". The Guardian.
32. Cliff, Aimee. (2019-08-16). "Blanck Mass: Animated Violence Mild review – grief, rage and transcendent electronica". The Guardian.
33. "Blanck Mass {{!}} Composer, Music Department, Soundtrack".