SNORKEL

Event information

SNORKEL

Snorkel are a south London based collective whose members come from different corners of the alternative scene, bringing together the tactics of improvisation, electronica, and sonic art. The band’s musical influences are diverse; formed out of the post Can and This Heat landscape, improvisation is at the core of Snorkel, as they segue between afrobeat, dub and krautrock. Described by Rock A Rolla as “the missing link between Krautrock and Lee Scratch Perry,” the band revel in angular repetition, deep polyrhythmic grooves, and the real-time sculpting of a polymorphously perverse, unruly soundscapes. The band features the combined talents of Frank Byng [This Is Not This Heat, Lifetones, Prescott] on drums/sampler, Ben Cowen [7-­Hurtz, Vibration Black Finger] on synths/keys /sampler, Roberto Sassi [Abstract Concrete, Cardosanto, Vole] on guitar/sampler and recent addition to the band Luke Kulukundis [Nukuluk] on guitar/vox/sampler.

To date, Snorkel have released two acclaimed albums (Glass Darkly, 2007; Stop Machine, 2012) on Slowfoot Records and couple of EPs. Their upcoming third record spans a decade of recordings, drawing on various incarnations of the band, capturing Snorkel’s evolution while gesturing toward future sonic territory, with sprawling grooves, granular synthesis, dubbed-out textures and abstract electronics. Their new double album 'Past Still Present Tense' is due for release in November on Slowfoot Records / Archaeon and the band will be playing tracks from the album alongside new material as they emerge with a new line-up.

"...a vital flow of angular energy and unpretentious swagger" [The Wire]

​“…the missing link between Krautrock and Lee Scratch Perry” [Rock a Rolla]

"...this is deeply grooved and experimental stuff" [Clash]

​"...the spirit of Ege Banyasi-era Can looms large... There is also a debt to This Heat's post-Prog experimentalism in the detailed tinkering: tape loops, primitive Casio electronics, squelchy moog basslines...borne along by the momentum of a spontaneously self-generating groove." [The Wire]

MIDDLE NAME JOHN

Musician, lyricist, DJ and activist Middle Name John emerged last year with the release of his much anticipated and experimental debut album ‘Obviously Confidential’. Released on Slowfoot Records/Juicy the album garnered much praise from the likes of Lauren Laverne on BBC6 as well as online magazines such as Clash, Notion and Earmilk. Effortlessly interspersing a post-punk attitude, well-penned lyricism, and experimental blends of rock and electronic music, the artist guides audiences through a dystopian atmosphere, challenging their perceptions of the world. More runaway train conductor than narrator, Middle Name John distills disillusioned poetry that oscillates between a purge of incisive social observations and a collection of elaborate indagations of subconsciousness, holding a two-way mirror into the personal and the collective. ‘Obviously Confidential’ highlights the shortcomings of modern-day individualism and reminds us that perhaps the glimmer of hope at the end of the dark tunnel of human ugliness can only be achieved through empathy.

With a new EP in The pipeline, Middle Name John will be performing new material alongside tracks from his album.

“The experimental poetry is laced with distorted punch, with Middle Name John, bending genres until they snap through inconceivable rhythms, punk attitudes and an absurd grit. What the dystopian atmosphere leads the listener into is a vast world of difficult truths and uncomfortable introspection. A very unique project.” [Flex]