“My belt holds my pants up, but the belt loops hold my belt up. I don’t really know what’s happening down there. Who is the real hero?” - Mitch Hedberg.
Nils Frahm Interview
Published in Now Then Magazine, issue 47
Nils Frahm is a German musician currently releasing on London-based label Erased Tapes. Having learned the piano from a former student of the last scholar of Tchaikovsky, he took to the piano from an early age, but his first releases were more electronically inclined. After putting out music on Kning Disk, Sonic Pieces and AtelierMusik, Frahm joined Erased Tapes in 2009, re-releasing his Wintermusik EP in 2009 before more classical material in the form of Unter/Über (2010) and Felt (2011).
Read More...Sheffield Jazz Interview
Published in Now Then Magazine, issue 46
Sheffield Jazz is a mainstay on the local circuit, having operated in its current form since 1992. Hosting a show every two weeks throughout the year at the Millennium Hall at the Polish Centre on Ecclesall Road, it brings acts to the city who might otherwise not grace our stages. I chatted to main organiser Jude Sacker last month about Sheffield Jazz and its roots.
Read More...Sepalcure - Sepalcure
Published on Drowned in Sound
It has been a busy year for New York’s Travis Stewart and Praveen Sharma. Stewart released the full-length Planet Mu LP Room(s) as Machinedrum to all-round praise earlier this year, while Sharma occupied himself with two garage-house crossover EPs for Hotflush and Rush Hour under his Braille moniker.
Read More...Richard H Kirk Interview
Published in Now Then Magazine, issue 45
Richard H Kirk was one of the founding members of influential Sheffield group Cabaret Voltaire, who formed in the early 70s and quickly became known for their… shall we say ‘difficult’ art-music performances, incorporating early samplers, processed guitars and projected visuals. Taking inspiration from krautrock, Dadaism and the burgeoning postpunk scene in the UK, the trio explored the outer realms of industrial experimentalism throughout the 70s and 80s, making an indelible mark on Sheffield.
Read More...Kieran Hebden/Steve Reid/Mats Gustafsson - Live at the South Bank
Published on Drowned in Sound
Some listeners might not be aware of the extent of Steve Reid’s musical past. He began his 50-year career as a 16-year-old working closely with Quincy Jones and later went on to drum for a list of undeniable legends, including Miles Davis, James Brown, Sun Ra and Fela Kuti, as well as appearing as a session musician on innumerable Motown records. In 2006, after a period of relative inactivity, he began working on a new project with Kieran Hebden, known to most as Four Tet.
Read More...Black Dog Interview
Published in Now Then Magazine, issue 44
Martin and Richard Dust joined The Black Dog in 2001. The group was founded in 1989 by Ken Downie, Ed Handley and Andy Turner. Only the former is still involved, the other two having left in 1995 to focus on Plaid. After a period of relative inactivity, Downie teamed up with Martin and Richard from Sheffield’s Dust Science label, and since then they have released a slew of albums and EPs.
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