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Pete Lawrence Talks Line Up
Every year since their triumphant appearance at Lulworth Castle in 2001 I have invited Kruder and Dorfmeister back to play with us. I'm pleased to say that they've finally agreed to return for their only UK festival of the summer.The Summer Sessions will consist of a two hour DJ set from each pioneer, Peter Kruder and Richard Dorfmeister, plus the outstanding performance of silver-tongued MCs Earl Zinger and Ras MC T- Weed, plus VJ mastermind Fritz Fitzke. Those who were at Lulworth will already be familiar with his impressive visual skills. Your ears are in for a treat too, as K&D bringing more than a decade's experience of choice club and funk tunes, whilst getting ample opportunity to express their forward vision of 21st century music, keeping things fresh and sophisticated with a sound that is guaranteed to keep you moving.
When I first heard tracks from the new album from The Cinematic Orchestra, I knew instantly that I had no choice in the matter - they simply had to be booked! Having known Jason Swinscoe since he was working full time in the Ninja Tune offices, and watched with interest as his early vision unfolded, the band feels very much like 'family' now, and the new record 'Ma Fleur' will surprise people with its new directions, not least for a trio of guest vocalists, of which Montreal based Patrick Watson particularly impresses on the emotive single 'To Build a Home'. Raw emotion runs through this album's subject matter of loss and love. Truly human and utterly beautiful.
Paul Hartnoll will be a very familiar name to Big Chillers and Orbital fans alike. His new project, whilst recalling the cinematic sensibilities and crowd-shaking rhythms of his earlier work, is a collection of songs that moves his into new and altogether more ambitious terrain, ranging from old school electro to neo-classical.
With arranger Chris Elliott, Paul set about reversing the usual process - whereby electronic music might mimic the sounds of traditional instruments - and presented his compositions to an orchestra. The fruits of this union-full orchestra, choir and "the whole compliment of electronics" are heard to dramatic effect on his new album, The Ideal Condition, which also includes a guest contribution from The Cure's Robert Smith on the single 'Please.'
The Ideal Condition, live at Eastnor, looks likely to be one of this year's defining Big Chill moments, and promises to be a vivid testament to the scope and sensibility of one of modern music's most innovative and resourceful minds.
As ever, The Big Chill's commitment to global sounds will be in evidence, and this year in particular, we have some mouth watering acts lined up. Don't miss a chance to skank to the sound of The Skatalites direct from Kingston, Jamaica, who kicked the whole live ska thing off back in the day. We're also pleased to confirm Cymande, an influential and eclectic band who are celebrated nowadays as one of the most sophisticated of the heavy funk acts that evolved in the early 1970s. They arrived in London from Guyana and Jamaica and developed a subtle, deep funk style heavily influenced by calypso rhythms, jazz, African music, and American soul.
Konono No1 were another 'must' after I saw them live last summer. Imagine a collection of musicians from the borders of Congo and Angola, with a line-up which includes three electric thumb pianos equipped with hand-made microphones built from magnets salvaged from old car parts, and plugged into amplifiers. There's also a rhythm section which uses traditional as well as makeshift percussion (pans, pots and car parts), three singers, three dancers and a sound system featuring these famous megaphones.Their repertoire draws largely on Bazombo trance music, but they've had to incorporate the originally-unwanted distortions of their sound system. It's electric and it really is the most full on and original dance experience you'll hear all year, and is guaranteed to send shivers down the spine.
On a trip to Seville in October, I was lucky enough to witness the exuberance of Barcelona based 8 piece hiphop flamenkillo terrorists Ojos De Brujo playing under the stars on a warm autumn night, and it was an uplifting and colourful show, which will bring sunshine and smiles to Big Chillers during their Sunday afternoon set. Their unique sound combines Flamenco with other influences including Afro-Cuban, the rap and scratching / turntablism of hip-hop, and Indian music.
Naat Veliov's original Kocani Orkestar are among the funkiest exponents of the Balkan brass band style which is found across ex-Yugoslavia and is a direct descendent of the music once played by Turkish army bands. They come from the city of Kocani, in the new Republic Of Macedonia and their music is based on Gypsy wedding tunes from various parts of the Balkans and on Turkish/Bulgarian rhythms, with a sprinkle of Latin flavour... A powerful rhythm section (drummer + four tubas) which rocks like a mutant Balkan funk band wailing, passionate soloists (sax, trumpet, clarinet, accordion) which really reach the heights.
The Sanctuary stage line up is taking shape and will feature the celebrated Goa phemonenon Prem Joshua as well as a rare vocal performance from the provocative and hauntingly beautiful Sheila Chandra, along with Norwegian Sami musician Mari Boine, who is a known for having added jazz and rock to the yoiks of her native people. Boine, who hails from Finnmark, Norway, grew up amid the Laestadian Christian movement as well as amidst discrimination against her people. Her extensive career has seen eleven album releases, soundtrack scores and collaborations with the likes of Peter Gabriel. With her new album "Idjagiedas" released on Universal Jazz, she will be warmly welcomed on her Big Chill debut.
This year's Club Tent will showcase some of the up and coming sounds from the most essential dancefloors - Friday kicks into dubstep gear with young pretenders Digital Mytikz and Loefah, then sliding seamlessly into a drum'n'bass session featuring Hospital Recordings, followed by Brazil's finest, Marky alongside Stamina MC.
On Saturday, Milky Globe presents an evening of Nu Disco & Cosmic sounds, featuring Padded Cell, Black Mustang, Prins Thomas, Black Devil Disco Club & Morgan Geist.
The mighty Prins Thomas (Full Pupp/Feedelity) spearheaded the 'Norwegian disco Viking invasion' along with recording partner Lindstrom, releasing mix after mix of 'warped disco madness', and a fair guarantee in terms of potential to rock your world. Morgan Geist (Environ) is a legend in his own lifetime being one half of Metro Area, whose 2002 album turned dance music on its head with its brilliant mix of R&B, disco and boogie and the more cutting-edge sound of innovative house and techno. Morgan brings back the soulful experimentation of the early club classics, mixing live and electronic instruments.
Sunday in the Club Tent has some special treats in store too which we can't reveal yet!
As if that isn't enough. we have the raw, dirty no-compromise blues sound from wandering hobo Seasick Steve and his Level Devils, the celebrated Cockney institution that is The Blockheads, and Dexy's icon Kevin Rowland, who recently made his DJ debut at The Big Chill Bar and follows it with a festival first. Shlomo will perform a full show featuring the world's first beatbox choir, including the Swingle Singers. The Peacefrog label's brightest hope Findlay Brown who describes his music as "Emotionally-driven, psychedelic, spiked with wit, blessed with a cidery traditionalism" will making his Big Chill debut and we also see welcome returns for Balearic legend Jose Padilla, nu-folk darlings Tunng, and the stirring London Community Gospel Choir, as well many Big Chill perennials such as Norman Jay, Hexstatic, Crazy P and Chungking.
With the accent more than ever on range, diversity and freshness, these are the early confirmations for what looks set to be a classic year for The Big Chill. Many more to come...
Written: 20th Jun, 07
Read: 46701 times
