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Beechwoods
22-03-2009, 21:58
I thought it might be nice to have a thread dedicated to local artists who maybe haven't broken into the mainstream yet.

It would be great if other members could post up with their intros to local bands and artists that they think deserve a bit more exposure :)

:gig:

Bristol has plenty of great local artists, both signed and unsigned, and a lively gigging scene and local distribution network of small shops and art spaces where self-made releases turn up.

I always make a point of trying to keep on top of what's happening locally, because frankly, there's a lot of bloody good stuff out there. And the internet means that those artists who would once have remained obscure, can now broadcast to the world via the internet...

Freeze Puppy (http://freezepuppy.com/_wsn/page4.html)

Freeze Puppy has been playing for four or five years and is a really nice, very shy, chap by the name of Tom Wilson. His music is a virtually unique blend of afro-pop style guitar, children's toy instruments and electronics. At times it sounds like the soundtrack to a Spongebob Squarepants episode. His live shows are brilliant, with a stage presence a bit like a reserved Ian Curtis, but happier.

Freeze Puppy are playing London on March 28th. If I were in London I'd be going. Tom is supporting veteran plunderphonic pioneers Evolutionary Control Committee, who have been doing electronic political cut & paste since the early 80's. Also playing are freeform jazz combo a.P.A.t.T.


Pickled Egg Showcase: The Evolution Control Committee, a.P.A.t.T., & Freeze Puppy
When: Saturday March 28th, 2009 • 8pm
Where: The Betsey Trotwood‎ • 56 Farringdon Rd • London, EC1R 3BL


http://www.myspace.com/freezepuppy

Mr & Mrs Young

I have a self-made Cd entitled Silo Portem, which is extremely good. Atmospheric electronica. Too lively to be called ambient, but big on textures, simple melodies and found sounds. John Peel picked up on this release apparently, and played them on his show.

Stoloff & Hopkinson (http://www.essenhaitch.co.uk/)

Stoloff & Hopkinson, or Essenhaitch as they like to call themselves are stalwarts of the Bristol scene. Their stuff is a mixture of sample collages, with a nod to the sounds of 70's, and Ninja Tune type jazzy hip-hop. Stoloff is French, so some French vocals intermix. The S&H packaging is also part of the experience, their first album 'Documents Enclosed' came in a paper bag with a 'Documents Enclosed' adhesive label on the front, a hand-stencilled CD card cover and CD face, and a stick of S&H chewing gum!

Mr Hopkinson has also been featured on Coldcut's seminal Solid Steel radio show, and a limited release of that was circulating locally for a while.

When Mr Hopkinson is unavailable for gigging his Computer has been known to make a solo appearance. Very post-celebrity, the performance comprises a TV on stage with a simple animated face that voices the intro's and outro's to material composed by Mr H.

http://www.myspace.com/essenhaitch

François

François is one of the scene's more recent entrants. Musically he utilises simple electronics and proper instruments in a Casio vs folk style. Alternately laid back, and then darkly unsettling. His quiet vocals, in French, or accented English remind of Serge Gainsbourg.

Like S&H he also performs in order media - Collage, Comic books, drawing. Truly a rennaisance man for the indie generation :)

http://www.myspace.com/francoisinbristol

D'Kat

Bristol has a thriving breakcore / drill and bass scene - fiercely aggressive and f---ed up drum and bass, sped up and distorted samples from the cultural mainstream, minimal hums and clicks. Intense at a live show. D-Kat's first release 'Bleeding To Death In The Local Police Station' was limited to 20 copies on CDR, and I own one of them so there are 19 others out there if you want to track it down!

For someone so reliant upon technology to create his sound, it's surprising that D'Kat has no web presence whatsoever :(

No website... http://www.discogs.com/artist/D'Kat

Parasite

Like D'Kat, Parasite is from the breakcore scene. D'Kat is the kiddy (he was 17 apparently when his first release came out) and Parasite is the Daddy. I believe it was Parasite that set up the influential Bristolian Death$ucker label...

Parasite's 'Amusing The Rich' CDR is one of the earliest Bristol breakcore releases and was a revelation to me when I first heard it. Back in 2002 or whenever Popstars first hit our screens, he coordinated a little tribute release under the title 'Popstar Liberation Front Steal Our Song'. Cue very messed up 'remixes' of the songs popularised by the first series... :)

http://www.myspace.com/parasitexxxx

There are other bands from Bristol worthy of mention - grunge metal band Onedice, ambient instrumentalists Asteroth. Superb folk-electronica band Minotaur Shock...