f_h_r play beautiful, uncompromising, challenging, engaging, warm, dark, contradictory, improvised music. Always live, always unpredictable, never planned. Cello meets guitar meets trombone meets laptop meets a lot of effects pedals...
"Next up on to the floor is findlay_hunter_rennie. Not content with laptops alone, they’ve brought instruments with strings on them. The blend of guitar, cello, and laptop is stunning.
Imagine you’re on a plane, juddering down the runway, about to take off. You’re stomach all in knots, the scenery flashing by in awkward fashion and then you enter into the clouds. That’s Splice Girls and Alexis. They’re the journey up to that point; you’re stuck, stuck in the greys and whites of the clouds, unable to see out. findlay_hunter_rennie go beyond that. They also offer that moment when the plane rises up through the clouds and into the open sky. Everything begins to make sense, the light opens up, the horizon shows it’s self. Their sound starts off wayward and unbalanced, notes cut in and out of each other, but then they come together and it all starts to make sense. It’s still dark and discordant yet it feels like you’re on a journey, it’s fantastic. Concrete Moniker have a real find on their hands."
*Sean Gregson, Tasty Gig Reviews*
findlay_hunter_rennie is as experimental as it gets. Forget choruses, vocals or even recognisable song structures; theirs is an esoteric world of delicious cello sweeps, delicate dropped beats and warm, womb-like murmurs. It may not make sense to the conventional ear, but loosen the restraints on your cochlea and you might just find some ethereal treats."
Chris Long, BBC Manchester
The album breaks new ground for Moniker as our first ever hard-copy release - a strictly limited edition hardback book, each lovingly handmade by the artist containing scores and illustrations.
Evan Parker - saxophones Stephen Grew - piano Phillip Marks - percussion
An all too rare appearance in Manchester by one of the great masters of the saxophone... Evan Parker has been at the forefront of improvised and experimental music for over forty years, with a unique and innovative approach to his instrument that has been hugely influential. A master of extended techniques like circular breathing and multiphonics, he's made over 200 albums with artists like Derek Bailey, Scott Walker, Robert Wyatt, Spring Heel Jack, Michael Nyman, Spiritualized, Cecil Taylor, John Stevens, Gavin Bryars, Brotherhood of Breath, Basil Kirchin, Peter Brotzmann, Han Bennink, Tony Oxley, Steve Lacy, Anthony Braxton, London Jazz Composers Orchestra, Globe Unity Orchestra, Stan Tracey, Chris Corsano, Jah Wobble, Sainkho Namtchylak, Vic Reeves, Thurston Moore etc etc.....
He is joined by Stephen Grew on piano and Phillip Marks on percussion who have been making their own contributions to the world of adventurous improvisation for over 20 years. Those of you who saw them at last years Manchester Jazz Festival will know just how good they are...
@ The Canon's Gait, Edinburgh, Sunday - 22/02/09, 7pm
£5 door.
Alan Courtis was of course an integral part of the infamous Reynols, and has been involved in countless collaborations with names such as Pauline Oliveros, Kawabata Makoto, Campbell Kneale, Lasse Marhaug, Dylan Nyoukis, Culver.
Aaron Moore is best known as part of Volcano The Bear, described by The Wire as "producing some of the finest, wildest British music of the last 10 years on record and on stage”, and revered for their peerless releases on labels such as Beta-Lactam Ring and Nurse With Wound's United Dairies. He's also one third of Amolvacy (along with Dave Nuss of No Neck Blues Band), and the Paris-based Textile Orchestra.
Usurper (Ali Robertson - Giant Tank, Malcy Duff - Missing Twin), Edinburgh local stand-up bending forward minimal graphical noise art duo, will be joint together with Daniel Rutter.
Foredell Research Unit (aka Freaser Burnett), is one of finest scholars dedicated to power drone phenomenon with most modest and sincere scientific mind. The night's presentation will also include Grant Smith. Psychological tranquillity exist through large-amplitude-vibrating fluid.
The Red Box - Radioactive Princess enters Stage Right through a whirlwind of pure noise offering up a saucer full of proto-jazz. Non-songs fed on the children of improv, anchored by a rhythmic intensity at their centre. Concentrated moments filtered through long lost vinyl, deflecting like electric snowflakes.
Download includes 11 track album and pdf of exclusive illustrations by Guglielmo Manenti.
Strings: Naomi Burrell, Nikki Hicks and Alice Purton
Following Sun Ra's death, the group has performed under the direction of alto saxophonist Marshall Allen, who celebrated his 80th birthday on stage during Arkestra performances at the Vox Populi gallery in Philadelphia and the Vision Festival in New York City. In the summer of 2004 the Arkestra became the first American jazz band to perform in Tuva, playing five sets at the Ustuu-Huree Festival.
We welcome the Arkestra back to Manchester for the first time since 1991. We are honoured to host what is, to us and many of you, we're sure, one of the most exciting shows to hit town in recent memory.
