See things from space #2
Friday 3rd December 2004
Legends Night-club
Whitworth Street
MANCHESTER
Tel: 0161 236 5400
10pm - 4am
£5 OTD
Following its successful debut event at In The City 2004, See
Things From Space returns to the infamous Legends venue! Once
again, STFS hosts a collective of electronic, punk rock and acoustic
promoters and fledgling record labels as the night showcases another
extravaganza of underground live artists and DJs 2 rooms. This
month, we bring you some tasty exclusives. Machines' Manchester
debut for starters, and the UK live debut of MC Tonn Piper's long-awaited
rock outfit, Daywalkers! Plus there's another chance to catch
the double bill of Sam Hammond and Isobel Heyworth!
For the full line-up, read on.
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ROOM 1: Snazzy Records, Phush,
Audiomonster Records and Not Music present:
MACHINES
THE VANITIES
SHIROKUMA
DAYWALKER featuring MC TONN PIPER (live debut)
+ Not Music, Snazzy and Audiomonster DJs
ROOM 2: Hippocamp and Dead Digital
present:
SAM HAMMOND
THE BROTHERS WITH DIFFERENT MOTHERS (acoustic set)
ISOBEL HEYWORTH
NATHAN BURTON
BLUE SKY RESEARCH
+ Hippocamp MP3s
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NOTES ON ROOM 1: LIVE - ELECTRONIC/ROCK:
MACHINES
Making their Manchester debut are the London-based Machines, who
emerged into the public consciousness last summer in a whirlwind
arrival with their infectious debut single 'Everywhere' destroying
dancefloors. Since then Random and 240V have been holed up in
South London pumping up their trademark dirty electro p-funk with
a rock 'n roll attitude, blowing up a significant amount of bass
bins in the process and they're now bringing their riotous sounds
to Legends! Imagine Bootsy Collins jamming with The Stooges and
Orbital adding sound effects in a strip joint anyone? One thing's
for certain - if you're not dancing to this there's definitely
something wrong with you! Machines have picked up a lot of interest
and huge support from DJs as diverse as Laurent Garnier, Richard
X and Andrew Weatherall among others. Machines release their new
single Electrafreek on December 6th 2004 on the Neon State label
and here's what the press have said:
'The fusion of their musical souls sounds like some strange underwater
party with beautiful people getting messy to cranked up bass-bins
under the waves. The result's so good there's no way you're not
dancing to it' TANK, Sep '04 'Machines generate bursts of digital
chaos to slap you out of your sleep walk, pumping out dirty electro
funk with influences as diverse as My Bloody Valentine and Kraftwerk'
AXM, Aug '04 'Machines will give you dance-floor fever' MIXMAG,
Sep '04
THE VANITIES
The Vanities, based in South Wales, initially formed in 2001.
Sounding like a 21st Century take on the New Romantics but with
a distinctly grungy slant, their current line-up features Rhys
Bradley (guitar and vocals), Adam Hill (bass and backing vocals),
Matthew Whitney (drums) and Gareth Jones (keyboards and backing
vocals). The band has attracted attention from such music industry
luminaries as the late John Peel, ex-Spandau Ballet frontman Tony
Hadley (with whom they recorded their debut single, 'Space Tourist'),
and Rohan, the Cardiff-based producer of DJ Jean Jacques Smoothie's
top 20 hit '2 People'.
The Vanities have played many high profile gigs around Britain,
supporting acts such as Space and Midge Ure. The Vanities have
been touring popular venues across the country to promote their
'Buzz' EP, released in August this year. www.thevanities.com
SHIROKUMA
NME sweetly referred to Shirokuma as 'Manga Folktronica' the other
week. He thinks that has to do with the influence of older Japanese
pop artists like Pizzicato 5, Yellow Magic Orchestra and Pink
Lady on aspects of my sound. "Spraypaint!" and "Town
of Snowy Loops" are the poppiest things by Shirokuma that
also have some of that in evidence. Certain tunes later on in
his album contain interpolations of tones from old game music.
A lot of people do that these days... he supposes that's because
if one is of a certain age and disposition then there is a strange
warmth and emotive quality to one's innocent chirpiness. Shirokuma
says he is "on a psyche-folk pop thing at the moment. Very
short songs, maximum engagement. 'Secret Moves at the Midnight
Chess Club' was my second phase. Phase 6 to come."
www.shirokuma.co.uk
DAYWALKERS (featuring MC TONN PIPER)
Making their live debut! Expect hip-hop savvy, dynamic hard rock
with vocal dexterity direct from the mean streets of Manchester!
Daywalkers debut has been long awaited by fans of Tonn Piper (known
as one of the North's leading drum & bass MCs) and this appearance
is not to be missed!
www.industryartists.co.uk/artists/tonnpiper.htm
THIS ROOM IS PROMOTED BY:
SNAZZY RECORDS
Manchester's Snazzy Records are not interested in clear-cut genres,
but are as serious about electronic led music as they are about
guitar-motivated artists. This eclectic ethos is reflected in
their label, which celebrates their diverse musical output with
acts from Manchester and Glasgow exploring the full spectrum of
upbeat electronic sounds. Sample their first 12" release,
Doubljo(H)ngrey's Arm Your Children EP, available nationwide from
January. Snazzy Records DJs for the night are Betty Botic &Nigel
Analog, the former promoters and residents of monthly clubnight
"A La Mode", and a typical set-lists includes Goldchains,
Roxy Music, Lee Perry, Arthur Brown, Ray Keith, Max Tundra, The
Fall and Kraftwerk. They are not averse to including their own
bootlegs, mixing Beastie Boys acappellas over garage instrumentals
or Inspector Gadget with Black Sabbath.
www.snazzyrecords.org.uk
PHUSH
Phush is the live branch of the Hippocamp.net on-line label and
electronic music community, and since 2002, Phush events have
featured the likes of Graham, Massey, Manitoba, Sirconical, Cylob,
Pedro, National Forest, Headcleaner and Capitol K alongside extraordinary
Manchester-based live artists and DJs. Phush have also held A/V
showcases at In The City and Futuresonic festivals, as well as
Manchester club-nights such as Beatworx, Wonderland and Reanimate
plus Knom in London, Hive at FACT in Liverpool, and Planet of
the Breaks in Amsterdam. There have also been a couple of releases
on the Phush Consumables label, including DNCN's acclaimed, Bola
mastered debut 12", the 'Crayons EP'.
AUDIOMONSTER RECORDS
Manchester-based Audiomonster Records offer avant electro and
punky twisted noise from the likes of VOA and TVH-3 who are taking
electronica and guitars into previously un-chartered territory.
DJing for Audiomonster is Dot Matrix (the label's founder, ex-Bynatone
member and one half of Bruno) and Starfighter Pilot who'll be
spinning the likes of Mouse On Mars, Aphex Twin, Volsoc, Kraftwerk
and Sparks together.
www.audiomonsterrecords.org
NOTMUSIC
Notmusic have been playing together for 3 years and have supported
the likes of Team Doyobi (Skam), DJ Scud (RePhlex/Ambush) and
Shitmat (Planet Mu) at their recent events in Manchester. Scrubber
Fox released an EP on Hippocamp.net earlier in summer 2004, has
a track forthcoming for a Skam Records compilation, and is also
one of the organisers of Sticklebrix parties. He'll be finishing
off the live electronic room with Dixiescumbag, DJ Richard Hillman,
DJ Sexy Food and Radio 909 who'll be combining as one mighty super-robot-team,
with a special 'back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back' set of experimental
electronica, hard breaks and gabba!
www.notmusic.co.uk
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NOTES ON ROOM 2: LIVE: ACOUSTIC/DOWNBEAT:
SAM HAMMOND
22 year-old Sam Hammond is Manchester's best kept singer-songwriter
secret. Hailing from Chorley originally, he's an acoustic heartbreaker
in the old-school sense and deadly proud of it. Echoing the emotional
reveries of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Gram Parsons, Sam takes
old blues influences but filters them through his own unique north-west
grit. When doleful singer-songwriters are ten a penny these days,
Sam Hammond brings something truly unique and heart-on-sleeve
to the playing field.
"Some of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful songs of a classic
kind the 20th
century was too cynical to produce." - David Sue, City Life
www.samhammond.co.uk
THE BROTHERS WITH DIFFERENT MOTHERS
Performing a special acoustic set, which coincides with the release
of 'Rocktopussy' - their awesome new powerhouse of an EP! The
Brothers have been one of Manchester's best-kept secrets for too
long now, so be prepared to be blown away! Only just confirmed
at time of going to press, so check full details at www.thebrotherswithdifferentmothers.com.
NATHAN BURTON
Nathan has been in the recording studio and is now putting the
finishing touches to his debut album release. He will be down
in Rockfield Studio's in Monmouth putting the finishing touches
to the recordings with the legendary Simon Dawson. David Sue of
City Life wrote this interview with Nathan: "We're walking
around the seedy backstreets of Ancoats searching for a suitable
photo location. Our subject - ace new singer-songwriter talent
Nathan Burton - has a few doubts about how he wants to be represented.
"I'd rather avoid the usual image of your typical tortured
singer-songwriter," sighs the softly spoken 25 year old.
"And whatever you do, don't make me look like David Gray
at all costs!" This could be difficult. With his elfish looks
and military casual attire, Nathan Burton does indeed slightly
resemble a certain David Gray - albeit given a Manchester troubadour
makeover. Luckily however, his music puts him in a different -
and superior - league. What's more, (and he'll stress this at
least a dozen times in our interview) Nathan Burton resolutely
hates the term 'singer-songwriter''. Which is funny, given that
right now, Manchester has never had it so good for pared-down
heart-on-sleeve acoustic performers (Sam Hammond, Isobel Heyworth,
Jack Cooper - Nathan is supporting the latter this Sunday). Where
does Nathan see himself in the middle of Manchester's new acoustic
revolution? He argues: "I don't really see myself as a typical
singer-songwriter. I wouldn't want to be restricted by any tag.
I don't want to be defined that easily. "I love the other
singer-songwriters in Manchester right now but I don't really
see any big connection with a lot of them. I see my songs as more
traditional pop songs than anything folk influenced."
www.nathan-burton.co.uk
ISOBEL HEYWORTH
Upcoming singer-songwriter Isobel Heyworth has just completed
the national Blowout Tour with Sam Hammond and her debut record
is due out in March 2005. Here's what the press said about her
delicate and emotional performances:
"Like dancing on the moon, or walking in the rain with a
big smile on your
face. Her summery, but introspective music is still uplifting,
regardless of
subject matter." - Manchester Music
"There are layers of warmth and emotion that drip through
the tracks and
slip into your brain, hugging to your memories and embedding themselves.
Gentle and profound, Heyworth is a golden find." - BBC
www.isobelheyworth.com
THIS ROOM IS PROMOTED BY:
HIPPOCAMP founded by BLUE SKY RESEARCH
Manchester based Hippocamp.net has grown since 2001 to become
one of the world's leading internet labels and is a thriving electronic
music community. With international artists releasing regular
(free) EPs alongside the latest work from finest new UK talent,
such as Batfinks, DNCN, Iermoc, Maurofleur etc, Hippocamp has
followers and music media supporters across the globe and recently
made it's 100th acclaimed Mp3 release available!
After celebrating it's 3rd Birthday this year at a joint Futuresonic
event with Phush, Hippocamp has entered 'phase III' of its existence,
establishing a 10 strong network of international A&R and
moderators. Hippocamp founder Jonathan Fisher (Blue Sky Research)
combines rhythms, field samples, and textures, a recent release
was described by one reviewer as 'a fine blend of samples massaged
to quiet-orchestral effect, mixed with elements of field recordings'.
Blue Sky Research is currently working on a number of projects
with artists around the world including a full-length album and
some a/v installation pieces.
www.hippocamp.net
DEAD DIGITAL
Dead Digital is a Manchester based independent label with a penchant
for a cool tune in a neat sleeve. Home to the offbeat pop of Pulby,
as well as curating this acoustic room with Hippocamp.net, autumn
2004 sees Dead Digital release the debut UK release from neon
New Yorker's Ssion. This will be followed by the eagerly awaited
long player from Escape Pod, who played an acoustic set at S.T.F.S.
(In The City 2004) to support the release of their EP 'Winter'
- their second release on Dead Digital following their debut EP
on Rex in 2003.
www.deaddigital.com
