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Alucidnation - Biography
"The concept behind Alucidnation came about in late 1992 when Anthony Beech and I were taking a leisurely stroll around Trent Park, North London."
It’s apt that the word ‘leisurely’ appears at the very beginning of Alucidnation’s story.
Bruce Bickerton, the one-man powerhouse behind Alucidnation (responsible for all the act’s music, photography, design and website), clearly works very hard. You just have to look at his discography and gigography to know that he doesn’t shirk from creativity. But listening to his music (or indeed having a chat with the man himself) reveals a stillness and a sensitivity that belies his creative drive.
Apt too, in that many of his songs would provide the perfect soundtrack to a leisurely stroll around any park, in any city.
A soft-spoken, down-to-earth Yorkshireman (he describes his passions as "my wife and family, good pubs, writing and playing music, photography & touring in my campervan."), exuding a laid-back demeanour that tries, but doesn’t succeed in hiding his wealth of talent, imagination and humour - Bruce’s love of music runs deep. A devotion that can be traced right back to an early childhood steeped in piano lessons, his dad’s rock ‘n’ roll, and a deep appreciation of ELO that persists to this day.
While ELO top the list of Bruce’s musical inspirations, the list is lengthy, including as it does “anything and everything (apart from opera).”. Those looking for more specific musical landmarks in the Alucidnation landscape would be pointed in the direction of “The Beatles, seventies electronica, Pink Floyd, Blue Nile, dub, Brian Eno, Joni Mitchell…”
Live, Bruce’s laconic style, (unusually for a vocalist, he often sits down at his laptop whilst singing live) is a lesson in doing just what you need to. Each time he kicks off an electronic soundscapes over which his unique, fragile voice meditates on life and love, he wins new fans. It’s no surprise that Alucidnation live sets have formed an essential part of The Big Chill festival, since his first performance at The Love In at Baskerville Hall (2001).
Fans of Alucidnation could be found among the writers and journalists at publications as diverse as Computer Music, The Irish Times, Brighton 7, Brighton Argus , Future Music, DJ Magazine, Muzik, 7 magazine, Jockey Slut & Wax - as well as the thousands of fans who have seen him perform live. June 2
Bruce can be found playing olden goldies and exclusives from the interweb at his monthly Big Chill Bar residency 'Lucid'.
Discography - Full releases
EP:01 (Big Chill Recordings)
EP:02 (Big Chill Recordings)
Induction (Big Chill Recordings)
Discography - Compilations
Beautiful House (0815 - Pdot5)
Beautiful House (Sounds of the Cosmos - Tom Middleton)
I’m Not Bad (21st Century Chillout - React)
Summer 97 (Blissed Out - DJ Mag)
Harmony (Alucidnation mix) (Harmony 12”)
I’m Not Bad (Glisten - Big Chill Recordings)
I’m Not in Love (Big Chill Loves You - Big Chill Recordings)
The Blue (iChill - Big Chill Recordings)
The Blue (Ultramix Loves The Big Chill - Ultramix magazine)
I’m Not in Love (MOS Chillout Sessions 5 - EMI)
Verbrilli : Honey Czars (Alucidnation's Lucid Dream Mix) ‘ (Lifesavers - Upstairs Recordings)
Lucid dream mix (Musical Box Mixes - Big Chill Recordings)
Skygazer’ EOL Volume 2 - Interchill)
More releases on Bruce's own internet label, lucidrecordings at www.alucidnation.co.uk
Gigography
Alucidnation at the De La Warr Pavillion, The MasterPeace Festival, Chris Coco's Balaerica, Big Chill Festival (Eastnor) 2005, Big Chill Recordings at FutureSonic, Manchester, Big Chill Recordings at the Malt Cross, Nottingham, Artec @ Soxan, Rural Electronic, Brighton Komedia, Cargo Lo-Fi Friday, Alucidnation debut LP launch in London, The End, Dublin, Nambucca, Photonic over Holland, Big Chill Bar (Opening Night), Big Chill Festival (Eastnor) 2004, Common Ground 2004, Glastonbury Festival, 'Chilled Cider', Big Chill Soundsystem over Prague, Big Chill Tenth Anniversary, i-chill UK Tour, SOS Japanese Tour, Eastnor Alucidnation / Ulrich Schnauss, Big Chill Soundsystem Tour, eye-jam @the cube microplex, Bristol, Alucidnation / Natureboy @ the spitz, The Ocean of Sound, The Winter Chill, Naxos, SoxaN, Eastnor, The Enchanted Garden, Tunes 2002, Artec over the Far East, The Festival of Flight, The Love-In, Chilli Dog, Big Chill Knees Up, The Winter All Nighter, The Winter Concert, Naxos, Greece, Morecambe Bay, Lulworth Castle, The Enchanted Garden, The Love-In.
Out now on Big Chill Recordings
Alucidnation - InductionArt of Conversation
I'm Not Bad
Secret Title
Suspended on Air
The Blue Clip
Review | Buy it!
Alucidnation on bigchill.net
ALUCIDNATION - INDUCTION - PRESS REVIEWS
Alucidnation ep:01
Alucidnation ep:02
Alucidnation: A night out with Bruce B
Alucidnation: Bruce's top ten
ALUCIDNATION: INDUCTION (BIG CHILL)
AN INDUCTION TO ALUCIDNATION
FREEFALL ALUCIDNATION REMIX
alucidnation at iTunes
Written: 27th Jan, 06
Read: 6002 times
