Chicago’s moiii return to the material of their 2024 self-titled debut with a new interpretation of Scarab of Ra, now resurfacing as Needles on the Tundra. The track arrives in a remix by The Joy Thieves and features a spoken-word performance from industrial mainstay Chris Connelly, notable for his presence in the industrial music scene, especially his involvement with the Revolting Cocks, Ministry, and Pigface.
The original composition began to take shape during the pandemic, built from loops shared by fellow Chicago artist Surachai. Those fragments became the foundation for an expansive, instrumental piece that blended live radio transmissions with guitar work from moiii’s Jason Butler, also known through his work as Thee Conductor alongside Glenn Kotche and Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Butler helped define the track’s immersive atmosphere, where drifting textures and layered signals created a sense of movement through static.
For the new version, The Joy Thieves approach the source material with a different sense of pacing. The collective pares the arrangement back and introduces a deliberate industrial rhythm, opening space within the composition rather than adding to its density. Within that framework, Connelly’s performance settles naturally into the track.
The Joy Thieves themselves operate as an ongoing network of collaborators. Their rotating membership has drawn from a wide spectrum of artists connected to groups such as Ministry, Killing Joke, Stabbing Westward, KMFDM, Nitzer Ebb, and My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult.
For moiii founder Scott Shellhamer, whose past work includes American Heritage and Ghosts and Vodka, the collaboration carries a personal dimension. His connection to members of The Joy Thieves extends back well before the formation of either project, shaped by years spent within the same musical community.
“The core members of The Joy Thieves have been part of my life since I was very young," says Shellhamer. “I've known James Scott since I was three years old and Dan Milligan and I were in the drum line in high school together. Our shared love of old school industrial was the origin of this remix and I’m especially pleased with the results. The remix was in good hands and it was a no-brainer to include Chris Connelly since he is such an influential figure in the genre of industrial music. Our music doesn't lend itself especially well to vocals, but the spoken word and thoughtful prose just made sense."
ZR