Unsound

Unsound was a magazine published in San Francisco by William Davenport, Tamara L. and Chris Rankin. There were 8 issues published between 1983-86. Unsound was one of the earlier US based publications with any longevity that covered the industrial/noise/punk/experimental underground. The first issue of Unsound was published in September, 1983. It came about as a reaction against separatism, in which "a select few become the only creative sources that are recognized". Unsound focused on the harder edge of experimental art and music – the edge that most consider subversive. Artists/groups covered in the past have been Negativland, Glenn Branca, Ellen Zweig, Einsturzende Neubauten, Karen Finley, Boyd Rice (NON), Minimal Man, Sonic Youth, Whitehouse, Psychic TV, and Leslie Thornton.

All cover art was done by different visual artists, some being Jo Babcock, Allan Winkler, Trevor Brown, Didier Cremieux. Unsound was a networking tool where information was listed and exchanged – areas included radio, publications, distribution, mail art, extensive tape and record reviews, and other assorted network and contacts. The issues also included interviews with Blixa Bargeld of Einsturzende Neubauten, Remko Scha, Michael Gira/Swans, Genesis P-Orridge, John Balance & Peter Christopherson/Coil, Kronos Quartet, an overview of the Los Angeles experimental electronic scene of the time, and much more.