Boom Bip April SACCHRILEGE tour & EP on Lex

February 20, 2007

We're happy to announce another newcomer to the Littlebig roster - the long running Lex Records star Boom Bip.

Bryan Hollon, aka Boom Bip, is a producer and musician who experiments with many different genres and over the last 6 years has developed an impressive profile and sound of his own. His music is mostly instrumental, but over the course of his career he has collaborated with several vocalists. Boom Bip is also known for the remix work that he has done for many artists including Hot Hot Heat, Mogwai, Four Tet, M83, Danny Elfman, Pet. He has been remixed by Boards of Canada, Venetian Snares, Lali Puna etc.

Boom Bip's current project is the new SACCHRILEGE EP out on Lex Records mid mid April. You can hear the opening track of the EP on the Boom Bip My Space

Here Bryan explains the idea the EP & live tour:

"the ep is going to dance poppy stuff. not the usual slower boom bip stuff or "heady" stuff. more stripped down and fun and bouncy. The band will be a three piece + Alexandra on visuals. me on drum machines, samplers, toys and an electronic kit. two keyboard/guitar players. We are planning a lot of audience participation. in fact we want to build small instruments to pass out to the audience and such and get them into it. it will be great. we want people to dance. good chance there will be vox from all of us at some point in the show too."

Boom Bip Sacchrilege live April 2007 tour:

May
01 UK, Leeds @ The Mixing Tin

An exciting collaboration album with Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals is also due next year through Lex with major label marketing, codename "Neon Neon". Boom Bip's press coverage is always extensive. He has been on the cover of various US music mags, been critically acclaimed internationally. Featured in NME, Q, Uncut, newspapers, DJ magazines. His live coverage is always excellent whether he is playing with his band or solo with computers and various inspired electronic gadgets.

Permalink | February 20, 2007

Milanese - Latest news and live dates

February 12, 2007

Extend, Milanese's first full length album (released in September last year on Planet-Mu), dropped amongst fans of grime and dubstep styles like a asteroid from the far reaches of the sonic universe. Championed by Mary-Ann Hobbs and featured on her Warrior Dubz compilation alongside the likes of The Bug and dubstep pioneers Loefah and Digital Mystikz, there is no denying the excitement surrounding this new UK style.

Yet musically it only loosely fits the format of these genres, melting hard edged industrial techno percussion with sinister rave basslines, and the sort of deliberately haunting b-movie samples that usually pervade dark drum'n'bass tracks. Snare drums stretch and dissipate into white noise while searing basslines collide viciously with the heavily disfigured vocals of the Virus Syndiate, resulting in a sound which can only be called his own.

While it might be his first album, Extend is certainly not his first release. The world first heard Milanese in 2004 through a release on dance-oriented Warp subsidury Arcola, leading to the mini-album 1 up later in the year, leaving a substantial dent in the electronic music world.

Having had his busiest year yet in '06, this year shows no signs of a reprieve. Milanese has gained a reputation for his floor destroying live sets, putting him on festival and promoters 'most wanted' lists far and wide. The following shows are confirmed, with more in the pipeline:

10 Mar - Birmingham
16 Mar -Maria, Berlin
17 Mar - Manchester
26 May - Volks, Brighton
30 May - The Pool, London
2 Jun - Big Dubstep/Electronica Festival, Vienna

To book Milanese to come and mutilate your soundsystem, send your plans to paul [at] k7.com

Latest news: A follow up to Extend is set to hit the shelves later in the year through Planet-Mu entitled Adapt, appropriately featuring top notch adaptions from the likes of Clark and Distance alongside some awesome new material. Hold on to your face!

Check his myspace here for some sneak sounds...

Permalink | February 12, 2007

Vex'd - Latest news and live dates

February 02, 2007

to book VEX'd please contact: paul [at] k7.com

Jamie and Roly met in London as teenagers – both regularly attendees of Full Cycle and Metalheadz. This interest waned as D&B moved into the new millennium, instead they find inspiration from early dubstep, 8-bar, sublow and grime records being played on the pirate stations at the time. Together they decided to explore their own reinterpretation of this sound and ‘Vex’d’ was born – cold, twisted alien music charged with sub bass and raw energy – bringing elements of heavy metal and neo-classical sound design to dubstep and grime arrangements.

Vex’d made a huge impression when they emerged with their first release ‘Pop Pop’ in 2004 – switching on heads to their unique sound from all sorts of musical directions. Respected heads included the late, great John Peel as well as key figures involved in dubstep and grime at the time (e.g. Kode 9, J Da Flex and The Plastician). The follow up release ‘Lion’ cemented their reputation as an awesome production duo, pushing forward with a rhythmically innovative, apocalyptic sound.

On hearing these releases Vex’d were approached by Planet Mu for an album deal, resulting in 2005’s landmark LP ‘Degenerate’ which has sold worldwide and turned many new ears on to a genuinely different and inspiring sound. While full releases have remained on Planet Mu since, they have also remixed and reworked a number of tracks for quality imprints refitting dubstep anthems, drum & bass – even classical music – into the Vex’d framework.

They have found their music supported on BBC Radio One by the likes of Mary Anne Hobbs and the influential Breezeblock show – where they have recorded a number of guest mix sessions including one for the now-legendary Dubstep Warz show, aired in January 2006. Since then, Vex’d have been all around the world gigging, playing large events and festivals such as Glade in the UK, across Europe, the USA tour – even reaching Israel. They play together in a live/DJ crossover format whereby Jamie mixes up a cutting-edge dubplate selection while Roly layers deeper and deeper levels of atmospherics and carefully crafted sound design through his lap top and portable mixing desk.

The two are currently working on their follow up album to Degenerate in between a typically hectic gig schedule. It promises to drop later this year on Planet Mu.

Upcoming dates:

Sat Feb 17 - UK, Manchester, Club Medicine @ Scubar
Fri March 2 - Austria, Graz @ Postgarage. www.postgarage.at
Sat March 3 - Croatia, Zagreb @ Mocvara
Fri March 9 - Germany, Leipzig - Distillery Club. www.distillery.de
Sat March 10 - Denmark, Copenhagen @ Stengade. www.stengade30.dk
Fri March 16 - Belgium, Brussels - venue: Recyclart www.recyclart.be
Fri March 23 - Netherlands, Utrecht @ Tivoli. www.tivoli.net
Sat March 24 - UK, Norfolk @ Bloc Weekender. www.blocweekend.com

Permalink | February 02, 2007

Mira Calix + Alexander's Annexe - Live dates

February 02, 2007

South African born Chantal Passamonte, aka Mira Calix, has been busy of late. From her home in Suffolk, she has been crafting an excellent third studio album for Warp, 'Eyes Set Against The Sun', released on the 12th January.

There is a move away from the pure electronic experiments of previous albums, in favour of some well captured sounds from nature; crisp leaves underfoot, insects calling, falling raindrops, a children's choir. All lend an earthy, organic feel to this wonderfully delicate release. In the words of the Observer, "a weirdly evocative concoction that charms and chills in equal measure".

But that is not all. Teaming up with London Sinfonietta's David Shepard and pianist Sarah Nicolls, Passamonte has been making some beautifully disturbing and richly atmospheric sounds under the name of Alexander's Annexe. Taking a single instrument - the piano - and stretching, tapping, bending and manipulating it physically and electronically, this is one of Warp's most intreguing and experimental releases of late.

Uncut magazine called it "severely minimal, decidedly unsettling and extrodinarily seductive", while independant music specialists Boomkat say "if you want a record that challenges you and isn’t afraid to excite your mind then look no further".

2007 see's both projects taken out of the studio and on the road... Don't miss your chance to see these incredible live shows!

2007 Dates

19.03 - Coulchester Arts Centre. Mira Calix presents: Alexander's Annexe
05.04 - Moscow @ Moscow International Performing Arts Centre (with London Sinfonietta) & Afterparty @ Ikira Club [dj set]
07.04 - Geneva, Electron Festival @ BFM www.electronfestival.ch [AA]
04.05 - London @ Kilburn Luminaire [solo] (+ shadow orchestra)
15.06 - Barcelona, Sonar Festival @ The Auditorium [AA]
16.06 Barcelona, Sonar Festival @ The day venue [solo]

Check live dates / releases / audio etc on the lovely new websites:
www.miracalix.com
www.alexandersannexe.com

Permalink | February 02, 2007