LONDON: Upset The Rhythm @ Cargo

Sunday 18th November, 2007

8:00pm

Event information

Jackie-O Motherfucker

Jackie-O Motherfucker was formed in 1994 by Tom Greenwood and Nester Bucket layering guitars and sax over hand cut analog tape loops and collage, collections of found sound, field recordings, cut-up classic rock, hip-hop beats and 4-tracked drones. Assembled and processed, the band rehearsed often in the basement of an abandoned drug store on Mississippi St. in North Portland. The first live performances featured an amplified reel to reel tape machine and electric guitar while additions of live percussion, 8-track tapes, alto sax, and a turntable filled out the sound. Many of the performances of this time were done to provide a live musical score for shadow puppet theatre. After a US/European tour in the late summer of 2003 the east coast configuration of JOMF temporarily dissolved, with members returning to Brooklyn and Montreal. The group re-assembled in Portland and recording sessions began for Flags of the Sacred Harp. Honey Owens returned to working with the group again, having departed after Fig. 5 to work with her other group Nudge (kranky). The new configuration also includes guitarist Adam Forkner (Umi Bitsu, Whiterainbow, Devendra Banhart). Flags of the Sacred Harp, the first full length JOMF studio release in three years, will be issued in November 2005 on ATP Recordings. Over a year in the making, Flags of the Sacred Harp displays the groups patient and evolved songwriting style with historic references to American blues and hymns. One of the most focused and sublime releases from Jackie-O Motherfucker, the release contains songs that are all manifestations, mutations and re-interpretations of old blues and gospel, specifically from an old hymnal called "The Sacred Harp". Three lush, beautiful vocal arrangements on each side of a 17 minute soaring instrumental making a total of 7 songs unfolding over 70+ minutes. Flags of the Sacred Harp is an epic recording documenting the groups maturing skills in writing, arranging and production and is a timeless de-construction of American music.

VALLEY OF FIRE the first jomf studio release since critically acclaimed 2005 cd, FLAGS OF THE SACRED HARP (atp recordings), will be issued by textile records this oct. produced by adam forkner (yume bitsu, white rainbow, k records), VALLEY OF FIRE contains 3 brand new finely crafted songs on side one, and on side two, a 20 minute classic psychedelic, dirt road journey. the record represents the two equally facinating aspects of jomf sonwriting, and musical arrangement. over the years, jackie-o motherfucker have spent equal time writing and arranging classic american folk and blues, with long, free-form compositions, drawing comparisons to 1960’s and 70’s ensembles like ASH RA TEMPLE, AMON DUL, AMM, FAUST, CAN, and THE CHICAGO ART ENSEMBLE.

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Pumajaw

John Wills has been consistently releasing records and touring worldwide with The Hair and Skin Trading Company and Loop as well as producing albums and singles for Creation Records, Wiiija and Beggars Banquet artists.

Pinkie Maclure released her first album in 1986 and since then has recorded 4 solo albums and 3 singles for One Little Indian records and Beggars Banquet records, amongst others.

She has also collaborated on various projects with artists including PJ Harvey on The Little Scratches album (Spleen) and alongside Robert Wyatt and Lee Renaldo on The 16 Hiakus album (Sigmatropic).

Together, Wills and Maclure have released five albums.

Their latest project, Pumajaw, uses live guitar loops, concertina and voice to create psychedelic soundscapes and songs. Wills’ guitar builds up layers of mesmeric loops , mournful e-bow and fiery, frenetic dissonance. Pinkie takes a traditional folk song and turns it into a shamanic loop, wielding her voice as another instrument, swooping when you least expect her to, crying out at unexpected times, repeating lyrics hypnotically as if she were possessed.

Pumajaw create a trance-like aura that makes this a mesmerizing trip of psychedelic hallucinations and hexes.

SCOTSMAN
Pumajaw transfixed the audience with their spectral sea shanties etched out on squeezebox and effects-laden acoustic guitar and crowned with Maclure's eerie voice.
Fiona Shepherd

MOJO ****
' Maclure's voice ranges for a seductive throatiness to a soaring upper register, but importantly it always serves the song. What makes this duo's music outstanding is that while it's tender and lyrical, there's also an earthiness, a saltiness, to it.''
Mike Barnes

SONGLINES
''Pinkie Maclure's extraordinary, dark, smoky vocals, combined with John Wills' (Loop) sonic wreckage on their album 'Cat's Cradle' put this duo at the top of the psych-folk tower of song, while preserving their own sense of ambient timelessness.''
Tim Cumming

THE WIRE
'Timeless, extraordinary....the product of a potent musical chemistry''
Tom Ridge