Latitude Festival - Saturday

Henham Park

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Gomez

Gomez are...

• Ben Otterwell - vocals
• Tom Gray - vocals, guitar, keyboards
• Ian Ball - guitar
• Paul Blackburn - bass
• Olley Peacock - percussion

British Sea Power

British Sea Power are a band like no other. They make spell-binding, angular music and write peerless songs about obscure Czech novelists, nuclear power stations and 'benign nationalism'. Their reference points range from Dostoyevsky to Charles Lindberg.

Live, they wear army fatigues and submarine uniforms. They cover the stage with foliage and plastic animals. Their sets usually end in a riot of sonic and visceral chaos akin more to performance art than rock music.

Where does their inspiration come from? The group's history provides a few clues. Brothers Yan, the singer, and Hamilton, the bassist, are the sons of an unpublished writer and along with Wood, the drummer, they were brought up in the remote wilderness of England's lake district. Yan met guitarist Noble while studying psychology at Reading University. The four teamed up, and British Sea Power were born. The quintet was completed when bass-drummer and keyboard player Eamon later joined the band.

Seeking a more inspirational base with better venues, the group headed south and landed in the cosmopolitan seaside city of Brighton, where they established Club Sea Power, a night at the Lift and Freebutt clubs, where they DJ'ed, played live and provided a platform for other unusual performers, such as the Copper Family, a 200-year-old Sussex folk troupe.

Following the release of their first single, Fear of Drowning, on their own label, Golden Chariot, and some ecstatic reviews of their live shows, the group signed to Rough Trade records. For a while, during 2001 and 2002, the band were continually touted as the 'next big thing' but the delay in releasing their first album meant that the fickle British music press quickly lost interest.

However, a succession of brilliant singles followed - and the band's breathtaking live shows meant they were steadily building a devoted fan base. Their extensive touring schedule has recently taken them around Europe where they have been supporting avant garde New Yorkers Interpol. Their last UK tour took in venues from Aberdeen to the Scilly Isles.

The latter concert was arranged in association with Operation Lighthouse Keeper, an organisation that campaigns for the reinstatement of manned lighthouses. Prior to the start of the tour, the launch gig for their new album, much to the bemusement of the invited guests, was held in a village pub deep in rural Sussex.

All this may seem like mildly eccentric posturing by an up-and-coming band seeking media attention. But BSP's leisure interests are about as far removed from the traditonal rock'n'roll lifestyle as you could get - ornithology, rambling, Ordnance Survey maps, the flora and fauna of the English countryside and forgotten coastal villages all hold an attraction. They would rather be heading off to the woods with rucksacks on their backs than throwing televisions out of hotel windows.

The group's fondness for pastoral pursuits, coupled with a shy off-stage persona, might lead a casual observer to assume their music would be lacking in energy and passion. In fact, they are one of the most exciting live acts in the country.

The shows inevitably end with the band ad-libbing in a manner that is as infectious as it is chaotic. Yan and his cohorts turn their performances into theatres of the absurd. Tree branches are thrown into the audience; Yan shrieks his lyrics while swallowing the microphone; Eamon marches through the audience banging his drum; Noble climbs onto the speakers and plays the guitar with his teeth; Hamilton, wearing a crown of leaves, makes owl impressions and performs some kind of pagan dance ritual...

Such antics could be used to compensate for the quality of the material. But in the three years since BSP formed, they have created an entrancing collection of songs, from emotive ballads such as new single Carrion and The Lonely (written about the band's late friend, musician Geoff Goddard), to the jerky, psychedlic cacophony of tracks like Favours in the Beetroot Fields and Apologies to Insect Life, and searing rift-driven epics such as Remember Me.

There are echoes of Joy Division (who the group acknowledge as an influence), the Fall, Echo and the Bunnymen and even XTC. But in truth they are really not like any of these.

Whether the group's eclectism and 'English ecccentricity' will inhibit their appeal in an era of manufactured bands and bland indie pop, has yet to be seen. But we do not have too long to wait to find out. Their debut album, The Decline of British Sea Power (released on June 2), should establish them in the heart of the masses. And don't be surprised if NME and Q suddenly decide they are flavour of the month. Let's hope that in all the attention the band are about to receive that they continue making the music they want to make in the way they want to make it.

Into the breach, dear friends - grab it with both hands, you deserve it...

Written by Kevo from Brilliantine Mortality website (linked below)»

Patti Smith

Born on 31 December 1946, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Smith was raised in New Jersey and became infatuated by music, principally the Rolling Stones, the Velvet Underground, Jimi Hendrix and James Brown.

Her initial talent focused on poetry and art, while her first major label recording was a version of a Jim Morrison poem on Ray Manzarek's (both Doors) solo album. Her early writing, captured on three anthologies, Seventh Heaven, Kodak and Witt, was inspired by Arthur Rimbaud and William Burroughs, but as the 70s progressed she was increasingly drawn towards fusing such work with rock.

In 1971, Smith was accompanied by guitarist Lenny Kaye for a reading in St. Mark's Church, and this informal liaison continued for three years until the duo was joined by Richard Sohl (piano) in the first Patti Smith Group. Their debut recording, Hey Joe/Piss Factory, was in part financed by photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, later responsible for many of the artist's striking album portraits.

By 1974 the unit had become one of the most popular acts at New York's pivotal CBGB's club. Ivan Kral (bass) and J.D. Daugherty (drums) were then added to the line-up featured on Horses. This highly lauded set, produced by John Cale, skilfully invoked Smith's 60s mentors but in a celebratory manner. By simultaneously capturing the fire of punk, Smith completed a collection welcomed by both old and new audiences.

However, Radio Ethiopia was perceived as self-indulgent and the artist's career was further undermined when she incurred a broken neck upon falling off the stage early in 1977. A lengthy recuperation ensued but Smith re-emerged in July with a series of excellent concerts, and the following year enjoyed considerable commercial success with Easter. This powerful set included "Because The Night", co-written with Bruce Springsteen, which deservedly reached the UK Top 5, but Wave failed to sustain such acclaim. She had previously collaborated on three Blue Öyster Cult albums, with then partner Allen Lanier. Patti then married former MC5 guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith, and retired from active performing for much of the 80s to raise a family. She resumed recording in 1988 with Dream Of Life, which contained the artist's customary call-to-arms idealism ("People Have The Power") and respect for rock and poetic tradition.

Following a series of tragic events in her life, triggered by the death of her husband she released what was seen as an exhortation album, Gone Again. Intense and melancholic, in time it may well be seen as her best work. Peace And Noise, released the following year, reunited Smith with Kaye and Daugherty from the Patti Smith Group alongside co-writer and guitarist Oliver Ray and bass player Tony Shanahan, and marked a return to the more spiky sound of her earlier material. She retained the same musicians on the excellent Gung Ho, from which "Glitter In Their Eyes", "Strange Messengers", and "Boy Cried Wolf" captured a songwriter still at the peak of her formidable powers.

Taken from VH1.COM»

I Am Kloot

Having recorded their debut album, Natural History, on Wall of Sound offshoot label We Love You in 2001, I Am Kloot skipped over to Echo for their self-titled second long player in 2003, then stayed with Echo for Gods and Monsters in 2005.

I Am Kloot parted ways with Echo in mid-2005 on financial grounds.

They are:

John Bramwell - guitar/vocals
Andy Hargreaves - drums
Pete Jobson - bass

Lords

Crazy blues-fuelled riffage!

Take some Beefheart, liberally splash some contemporary DC punk spunk about the place and voila: Lords. Kinda. Suffice to say this band is both odd and very rocking.

Polytechnic

Dylan Giles - guitar, vocals
Yuri Caul - bass, vocals
Denny Hilton - guitar, vocals
Pete Earnshaw - keyboards
Tim Warren - drums

The five members of Polytechnic met and formed their band in 2005 at Manchester University (which, incidentally, is not a polytechnic). Rather like a lean and hungry Gomez, their krautrock influenced college drone has started pricking up interest, following their support of Doves and Morning Runner last year. Expect to hear a lot more from them.»

Battle

Battle are a London based indie four-piece with bleak, post-punk tendencies. Edgy, cyclical guitar hooks combine with angular rhythmic patterns for finely sculpted pop delight.

Coming on strong in 2005, the band released their debut single on Fierce Panda in April with another single release 'Demons' in September 05. A download track 'Wicked Owl' was put on the band's website as a nice xmas present, and currently they're recording their debut record with another single out in March this year.

Battle are:

Jason Bavanandan – Vocals/ Guitar
Oliver Davies – Drums
James Ellis – Guitar
Tim Scudder – Bass
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Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, or Sam to his friends, has to be filed under one of BSM's best. Doing something a little bit different to a lot of people around right now, Sam mixes delicate guitar melodies with intelligent lyrics, electronic drum beats and any other noises he can get out of his laptop.

Hailing from Southend, possibly the most unlikely of all rock n roll launch pads, there is definitely a maturity well beyond his years, which is clear from the very first time you listen to one of his Postal Service crossed with Damien Rice-esque masterpieces.

Sam can often be found clutching his guitar and laptop computer on one of the countries many Mega Bus routes. Surely the most punk rock touring transport choice in the world?»

Antony And The Johnsons

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David Ford

Formerly the singer of pop nobodies Easyworld.

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Larrikin Love

London, literature, bandage on hand, boyish good looks... hmmm...

Quintessentially British? They don't dig that, but bloody hell, it's hardly world music. It doesn't get much more new wave British indie than this but they are pleasantly, suprisingly, an enjoyable live band. And they have mad hair. The lead singer has, at first glance, the same hair as, say, Carl Barat when he's got a bit of length going on, but one half of his head is shaved... mental. Good name, too.

Guillemots

A Guillemot is a sort of puffin-like bird that lays a pear shaped egg on their nesting ledge (cheers, Google). Sadly, these Guillemots aren't - luckily though, they're a band of four keyboard wielding London types armed with broken junkstore rhythms and mini keyboard orchestras.»

The Rumble Strips

CHARLES WALLER – Vox / Guitar
MATTHEW WHEELER - drums
HENRY CLARK – keys / trumpet
THOMAS GORBUT – Sax / bass

Rumble Strips release their double A-side single "No Soul / Motorcycle" on Transgressive in December 2005.

Myspace»

The Last Town Chorus

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Howling Bells

• Juanita Stein - vocals, guitar
• Joel Stein - guitar
• Brendan Picchio - bass
• Glenn Moule - drums

Howling Bells formed in 2005 under the leadership of honey throated Juanita Stein and her guitar wielding brother Joel. Debunking from their native Australia to the mean streets of London, the duo ganged up with Glenn Moule and Brendan Picchio before putting out debut single Wishing Stone in February 2006. Their self-titled album is out now on Bella Union.

Myspace

Bella Union Page »

Cortney Tidwell

MySpace page.

Section of bio taken from Dog Day Press website:

Don’t Let Stars Keep Us Tangled Up is undeniably a dazzling full length debut album, as tinged with euphoria as it is with melancholy. Where the mini-album was dominated by images of light and darkness, …Stars… is obsessed with the ebb and flow of love and the eternal search for connection, its lyrics full of impressionistic and evocative images that linger in the mind as long as the heartfelt and unashamedly emotional music. Cortney Tidwell found the creative process draining and at times impossibly overwhelming, but listening to the finished article, all that is evoked is a stirring confidence and stylistic breadth.

Das Wanderlust

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Findlay Brown

Findlay Brown particularly loves the music of Jackson C. Frank, The Band, Spirit, Family and Funkadelic. They saved him from a council estate youth in Yorkshire, from almost nightly alcohol and narcotic induced pugilism and possibly from himself. Fin is a paradox. He's light when things are heavy. He's the unexpected.

- All Good Things, 2006

Tiny Dancers

Signed to Parlophone on the back of some superlative demos, this Sheffield quintet borrow from The Band, Neil Young and The Stones to produce a glorious alt-pop hybrid a million miles away from South Yorkshire's reality merchants.

www.thetinydancers.com

Richard James

'The Seven Sleepers Den’ is an extract from ‘The good-morrow’, a poem from Jacobean metaphysical poet, John Donne. It’s also the title of the debut solo album from Richard James, a founding member of Gorky's Zygotic Mynci.

With Gorky's currently on a hiatus, Richard James has had a lot of time to write, record and perform his own songs. With friends and fellow Cardiff based musicians Andy Fung, Cate Timothy, Rhydian Jones and Sion Glyn, he recorded the album in Summer Brooke Farm in Llanteg, South Pembrokeshire. It was produced by Iwan Morgan, the man responsible for the early Zabrinski records.

Love, Friends, Good Times and the Important Things in Life are all themes on 'The Seven Sleepers Den'. It draws from personal experience to create a beautiful, laid back piece of work. The songs ebb and flow in creating an overall sense of happiness and wellbeing. Music for the soul.

Listen at his myspace

Lavender Diamond

* Steve Gregoropoulos — piano
* Ron Rege, jr. — drums
* Jeff Rosenberg — guitar
* Becky Stark — vocals

Wonderful, romantic, winsome folk quartet hailing from Los Angeles.

Only one self-released EP so far but certainly going places due to muchos love from various critics and the SXSW team.

Lavender Diamond Official Site»

Peeping Tom

Mike Patton plus an assortment of movers and shakers from across the spectrum of all things musical.

MySpace