www.desperes.net
www.myspace.com/desperes
www.myspace.com/theescalatorsproject
www.myspace.com/houseofpow
The Escalators Debut Album
Influences
Kiron Robinson, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Adrian Sherriff, Andy Hammo, Adam Simmons, Mark Rothco,
Sounds Like
Reviews
CD 1000 Wide The Age 2003
Derek Leather
Trombonist Kynan Robinson’s En Rusk creates soundscapes filled with racing improvisatory duels with other members over repeated quirky off kilter melodies, and dramatic changes in musical direction. While some tunes are rumbustious rhythmic explorations, others have beautiful song structures……adventurous music. Leon Gettler The Age
2004
This follows their captivatingly quirky release 2 years ago. The result more edginess and risk taking. Griswald plays the prepared piano on three tracks, creating the feel of something approaching a percussion orchestra and adding a depth that was not there before. On Travel a Moment Without Fear for example his gamelan like lines over Fischer’s shimmering volcano creates aching tensions. But the drawcard is the eclecticism and the endless capacity to surprise. Adrian Jackson
The Bulletin Magazine
Melbourne trombonist-composer Kynan Robinson won a lot of praise for the original sound presented on his first album, 'En Rusk', a few years back. The follow-up is an even stronger set, presenting compositions whose combinations of melodies, rhythms and textures constantly keep the listener guessing what might happen next. Herald Sun Newspaper 2003
Kenny Weir
Led by trombonist and composer Kynan Robinson this Melbourne outfit has released a second album that builds grandly on its debut of a year or so ago.
Here is a blazing testament to the robust health of the Melbourne jazz scene, with Robinson’s collaborators fully sharing his determination to make music that is adventurous, startlingly original and intensely enjoyable.
The music frequently swings hard and offers up lashings of funkiness, but those accessible rhythmic foundations are adorned by melodies both jarring and beautiful. The Planet ABC 2003
"1000 Wide" - the second CD by Kynan Robinson's En Rusk – confirms that the quintet's debut was no fluke. The trombone-wielding young Australian leader is both improvisatory player & meticulous composer, his music always logical yet often surprising. He likes to juxtapose the hot with the cool, the funky with the ethereal. John Clare Sydney Morning Herald 2004
The music on 1000 Wide would be fascinating if the disc came in a brown paper bag, but the artifact is itself important, awakening the senses immediately, as any collector of Blue Note, ECM, Impulse, Contemporary, Riverside and other great labels will confirm.
So logically does track follow track on this beautifully recorded disc that long sequences sound as if they are all the one suite, full of contrasts, of dancing percussive exuberance and limpid harmonies. At times it sounds like a concerto
This is a very pleasing disc indeed. I’ve had it for a while and it still sounds very fresh. It sounds fresh and vivid behind me even as I try to concentrate on what I am writing. If you haven’t begun collecting Australian contemporary jazz and jazz-related music yet, this would be a good place to start. Then get the others I’ve mentioned above. All About Jazz.com
En Rusk, led by Melbourne trombonist Kynan Robinson, has quickly become one of our best bands..
Perhaps this is one of the key factors of the Australian style, if there is such a thing - the ability to create challenging, sometimes-spiky and angular music but imbue it with a classic groove. Herald Sun
2004
KYNAN Robinson, trombonist, composer, and band leader, typifies jazz players who are making brilliant and original music, which can loosely be defined as a new Melbourne sound.
Imbued with the spirit of jazz, they never feel restrained by its traditions, all the while avoiding the outer reaches of the experimental.
Their music features solos, but puts as much emphasis on ensemble playing.
For writing inspiration, they are as likely to look to European, classical, and other sources, as they are to jazz immortals.
Ironically, these attributes find them sharing a philosophical approach -- if not musical specifics -- with the likes of Charles Mingus and Duke Ellington. Reviews for Old Des Peres’s Album “Preserved” Rave Magazine – Queensland
An air – kissing gorgeous twist of a disc…instantly likeable, gobsmackingly sexy little teasers. An ambitious disk with an aesthetic and philosophical depth to the trio that instantly belies the playfulness of its surface. An absolutely delightful and essential listen. Lucky Magazine – Melbourne
Old Des Peres is a rare bird… kinda techno/beats..drives along ..with a jazznoir thing going on, sexy and twisted
ABC Reviews
Inventive Melbourne dance and event band Old Des Peres have produced an energetic, vibrant debut album called Preserved.
High energy dance vibe is mixed with industrial, art scene samples. It’s brash and harsh, driving and yet balanced. It is creative.
Gershwin’s An American In Paris gets distorted effortlessly. Luva DJ’s occasional vocals are treated with appropriate disdain and remain just plain funny. This is dance music designed to put a smile on your face.
. Thanks Iannis is beautifully reflective.
. Get the CD. Forte Magazine
“15 cuts of pure, mish-mashed electronic goodness.” The Mix review 2004
The final act, Old Des Peres, could well have earned the title of my new favourite band! Their live show, completely unique and unprecedented, can only be described as an incredibly bizarre fusion of highly charged, rock’n' dance beats (typically Melbourne in flavour) wickedly matched with stolen, familiar samples (ala Avalanches) with the furor and frenzy of a Public Enemy meets James Brown Gospel Revival. Throw in the antics of a Machine Gun Fellatio stage show, the twisted (and often meaningless) sick humour of a Sodom Circus performance and a blender or two (no joke) and you've got the next big thing in live dance music! honestly, you gotta catch these folks live. The Scene Magazine June 2003
The sounds that Old Des Peres makes is a concoction of fluctuating beeps, squeaks and squelches with croaky, crunchy beats and airy spaciousness. It’s brave, it’s new, its noise and Old Des makes no apologies Muff Festival
Undoubtedly one of the most exciting acts to come out of Melbourne in a long time Drum Media
Listening to their debut CD Preserved, you can hear everything from The Avalanches to Bjork to even remnants of the techno scene they emerged from. It’s when they play live however that the music is taken to another level MX – City Beat 2004
“… they put it (the music) together in a way that has fans and critics raving.” 3D World
“Their live shows are something completely different….. and it’s this energy that Old Des is able to translate onto the album Preserved that will be sure to preserve the group not just within the techno and electronic music scene” Drink Magazine
This debut from Old Des Peres is a cauldron of styles, genres and tempos, ranging from chunky big beats, rolling restrained bass lines, ethereal female harmonies over dark squelchyness with myriad eclectic samples. Eminently playable, definitely danceable, and refreshingly original this album is both an affirmation of club culture and judgment on its vacuousness. A true homegrown top tip. Inthemix review
“Something for everyone….most certainly a party is going on and one thing is clear, these guys follow no rules” Inpress Magazine
Old Des Peres (Robinson) is really operating in a refreshing vacuum, not being influenced by the electronic fraternity and crafting an ironic party album that’s a hell of a good time. In The Mix Album Review
What we have here is an strikingly mature, at times touching debut release where an understated Detroit sentiment wins the day over brain numbing decadence. Think of the best moments from Felix’s Kittenz and the Glitz and mix in the intricate soundscapes of the Avalanches and you have in your hand one of the most original, interesting and thoughtful Australian releases this year. Reviews For the Album En Rusk 2001 Radio National
Robinson is more than just a highly skilled player. He makes highly individual music full of creative surprises. This album is one of the more auspicious Australian debut albums. It’s a particular pleasure ti hear someone so individual. Robinsons compositions are are meticulously are variously structured, free of clichés. The Bulletin
Kynan Robinson is an articulate player and thought-provoking composer. Herald Sun
Robinson deserves heaps of praise for this gem of an album. He has written breezy, distinctive compostionsthat leave plenty of room. The Age
…carefully chiselled constructions of time and spaceand texture. Each idea is nestled into another like a babushka doll. Not a hint of cliché, no trace
Kynan Robinson
Kynan has been working as a professional musician (trombone)and composer since graduating from the V.C.A. in 1996. He has recorded and played with numerous artists including Brian Brown, The Adam Simmon’s Toy Band, Skazz of Melbourne, Peter Knight’s ‘5plus2’, Adrian Sherriff’s ‘Oynsemble Melbourne’ and Bone Clan, Ronnie Ferrella’s ‘Broad Band’, Ted Vining, The Tim Stevans Quintet, Antboy, Big Fela, Bucketrider, Anita Hustas and Bohjass.
Kynan also leads numerous ensembles including En Rusk which has been presented by the Melbourne Jazz Co op, Sima, and the Wangarratta and Melbourne Jazz Festivals a number of times. They recorded their debut self titled CD in 2001 to rave reviews and have recently finished their second recording, 1000 Wide with the help of the Australia council and Arts Victoria. This CD received significant reviews in both Australia and internationally. Kynan also runs one of Australia’s most innovative electronic/hip hop outfits ‘Des Peres’ (previously known as Old Des Peres. This band has toured constantly playing at venues and festivals around Australia and internationally, most recently at the Live et taut festival in New Caledonia. Des Peres has completed 2 CDs, the first “Preserved” came out through Shock and the second “Ace Doubt” is out through MGM and on Kynan’s own label Flict Records. Des Peres is considered one of the most exciting acts to have come out of Melbourne in a long time with its highly innovative sound and live show. Most recently Kynan has formed the incredibly innovative and original sounding improvising group, The Escalators. Taking it’s inspiration from the films of master director David Lynch the band has peformed a number of times and is currently in the process of recording there first album. He is also coleading, with Adam Simmons, and composing for, a group called Collider which is an improvising ensemble for strings horns and rhythem section. Kynan has composed music for jazz ensembles, dance productions, musical theatre, contemporary classical ensembles and electronic dance acts and has had his compositions performed in many festivals around the world. In 2001 he was a collaborative composer for ‘Double Venturi’, a collaborative piece involving musicians and funded by Arts Victoria. In 2004 he received funding through the Australia Council to compose a concert length work for prepared piano and small ensemble that was premiered at the Wangarratta Jazz Festival. He also has scored the music to 6 short films and has collaborated in numerous cross arts projects with visual artists including Kiron Robinson, Narinda Reevers and Dave Macleod Discography: As Leader En Rusk (Newmarket Music) 2001
En Rusk - 1000 Wide (Newmarket Music) 2003
Old Des Peres – Preserved (Flict/Shock) 2004
Des Peres – Ace Doubt (Flict/Shock) 2006 Contributions towards – Adam Simmons Toy Band – Happy Jacket
Melbourne Acid Techno (Dark Matter Records)
Paul Colman Trio - Turn (Control Records)
Matt Fagan
Malone – This is it (Cavalier Music)
The Mavis’s – Throwing Little Stones (FMR)
Oyn Semble Melbourne – Ascension the music of John Coltrane
City City City – Remote Control
Skazz - the Loaded Gun Remixes Machine Translations (Spunk) Film Scores
The Only Person in the World – Ben Chessell
3 Weeks in Koh Samui - Alistair Reid
From The Top – Alistair Reid Installatons
Double Venturi – Collaborative compostion with Garth Paine 2001
The Slow Burn – Collaborative compostion with Erik Griswold 2004 Grants and Awards
Australia Council Promotion and Presentation (En Rusk Recording) 2004
Australia Council New Works (Concert Length composition for prepared piano and ensemble) 2004
Arts Victoria Music For The Future (En Rusk Recording) 2004
Arts Victoria Music For The Future (Old Des Peres Recording) 2004
Arts Victoria Music For The Future Touring (Old Des Peres) 2004
D.C.I.T.A Touring Grant (Old Des Peres) 2004 Performance History
Leader
En Rusk 2000 – Present
Old Des Peres 2001 – Present
The Electricians 2004 - Present
Escargone – 2002
Hard Hat – 2003
The Escalators – 2006 - Present Side Man
Adam Simmons Toy Band
Skazz
Honky Trash
Peter Knight’s 5+2
Kate Neil Ensemble
Broad Band
Big Fela
Anita Hustas Music for the Trees (Australia Council Funded Project)
Ant Boy
Bucket Rider
Hop Jump Big Band
Tim Stevens Quintet (Ian Potter Foundation Funded Project)
Sam Graham Quintet
Descarga Total
Pearly Shells
Adrian Sherriff’s Oynsemble Melbourne
Bone Clan
Wes Snellings Trash project
C.W.Stoneking
This Thursday 10,000 Killed in Chile, Jaguar Spring, Green Green Green and Superstar will be releasing musical turtles into a plethora of pony's. Blah Blah Blah etc...Thursday 26 of Feb... Pony, starts at 8:00 come and be befuddled. Blah!
Finally The Adventures of Cowboy and Miniman the new album from Des Peres is available on itunes and at record stores... Here lies our poster and tour dates... We appear in Sydney on the 26th at Sosueme at Q Bar on Oxford St. The unforseen spectacle that will be our album launch at the Northcote Social Club will be on the 3rd of October featuring "sex on toast" and "made for chickens by robots", be there or miss out on your brain melting into your pants and your eyeballs exploding with good times... Come and be counted!
Hey Kynan....just heard that Nils Wogram is coming to Australia. He's playing up here in Bris and then is playing at Wangaratta. The Dave Holland Quintet are coming to Bris as well...I haven't seen there other tour dates but I'd assume they'd be heading down Melbourne way as well. Wycliffe Gordon in September....it's all happening!! shane.
Hey man....yeah I love Conrad's playing too. I've got a recording with Nils on it playing some crazy German dub music with two other bone players. It's good stuff.
Sorry I missed the dojo this week, I'm pumped for it this week however and am eating plenty of brain food so I can contend with the awesome power of the permanent floating dojo's meeting of minds. Whoa, what a sentence. Yeah, Kynan.
TAKE THAT
