With their first full album in 14 years, Warp staple Seefeel have returned with an updated take on their shoegaze heritage. Recruiting DJ Scotch Egg and ex-Boredoms drummer EDA for their new shows, they are getting ready to charm crowds across Europe throughout March.
DATES:
March
18 UK, Manchester @ Islington Mill
19 IE, Dublin @ Button Factory
21 UK, Glasgow @ The Arts School
22 UK, Birmingham @ Hare & Hounds
24 FR, Paris @ Point Ephemere
25 BE, Brussels @ AB Club
26 NL, Amsterdam @ Paradiso
27 DE, Koln @ Gebaude 9
28 DE, Berlin @ Postbahnhof
Seminal band Seefeel have followed their first UK show in 14 years and teaser single Faults by announcing the release of their first album since 1996’s (CH-VOX).
The self-titled album, set to be released on February 7th, 2011, was born out of an incendiary performance at Warp Records’ 20th anniversary celebrations in Paris last year.
The Times said of their recent ICA show: “The rebooted Seefeel packed out the ICA for their first British show in 13 years and though once associated with the blissful abstraction of the “showgazing” scene, they were clearly not aiming for dreamy euphoria. EP track Crowded (closed) the set with an exhilarating collision of horror-movie noises and floor-shuddering beats… the sense-scouring intensity was hard to fault.”
Seefeel have also announced a new live date on the eve of the album’s release – they will headline London’s King’s Place on January 31st.
http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/out-hear
The catalyst to regroup with new members Shigeru Ishihara and E-da (a former Boredoms drummer) and record new material came after the band were asked to play Warp20 in Paris in 2009, as guitarist Mark Clifford explains: "We always said that we wouldn't record a new Seefeel record unless we could present something that we felt was new. When 'Quique' was re-issued a couple of years back myself and Sarah did some interviews together and we talked about recording new material. We exchanged a few ideas which were OK and things slowly got into gear but it was being asked to do the Warp20 show in Paris that really forced us to step up a couple of notches and since then, with the addition of E-da and Shige, things have developed and grown."
The band's relationship with Warp began in 1994. Our co-founder Steve Beckett explains: "Seefeel were the first band that Warp signed who had guitars – they were brave to sign to us because they became the ‘older siblings’ in the family and took all the flak by breaking the unwritten rules of an (up until then) purely dance label. After 1995’s ‘Succour’ they stopped performing live, but we always kept in touch and then for the first Warp20 show in Paris we asked if they would play".
Describing their performance in Paris as 'unbelievable', Steve asked the band to make another record as they came offstage. "They came back six months later – not just with a record, but a great record. This band needs to be heard, they need to be seen so that’s why we got involved again. Family members might leave for a long time but they always come home."
Mark says of the band's immediate future and the addition of Eda and Shinge: “Having two new members has really helped the dynamic of the band. There is a real dynamic, creative process that's exciting. We are growing as a live band, adding elements of improvisation and looser structures unimaginable to us a few years back and with continued touring - I'm excited to see how we develop in that direction."
