Studio: Leafcutter John.
Live: Leafcutter John (vocals, electronics, guitar, toys), Simon Bookish (vocals), Alice Grant (vocals). And sometimes Seb Rochford (drums), Joe Zeitlin (cello)
Influences
Not all influences but also people i like right now:
Queen, Bernard Parmigiani, ELO , Pavement, Greg Davis, Simon Bookish, Venetian Snares, Sanso-Xtro, Nina Simone, Will Oldham, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Keith Fullerton Whitman, The Microphones, John Cage, Iannis Xenakis, Kylie (around 2004), Bishi, Pierre Schaeffer, Vincent Epplay, Sebastian Roux, Beck, Radiohead, Un caddie renversé dans l'herbe, Chevron, etc etc etc.
I'm looking forward to this tour with the fantastic Lisa Knapp, we have been working hard on putting together something really special for these gigs and I hope you'll be able to join us on our voyage. We'll be performing from a beautiful 1930's boat (apart from the London and Birmingham shows). I just saw that the Guardian has done a thorough preview of our tour which saves me having to write a proper explination. Click HERE or on the photo to read Will Hodgkinson's preview. I'm particularly pleased that he chose to mention the Hydrophone I made HERE.
Lisa and I on the Thames with Bob the boats daddy. Photograph: Sarah Lee
Take care,
Leafcutter John x.
..
My guitar is FINISHED!!
PRESS
Plan B
"One rarely finds a record with so much brave beauty as Leafcutter John's second [it's actually my 4th L.J.] album, the forest and the sea. Brave for its transgression, both musically and historically."
"This record is all the best cadences of folk combined with all the best parts of sampling and processing - togther they render a whole new form."
Ralph Cowling
TimeOut London
"Alongside Aphex Twin and Bogdan Raczynski – he's one of the UK's most fearlessly inventive electronicists and a member of fêted avant jazzers Polar Bear. His fourth solo LP is a striking hybrid of pastoral songcraft, glitch, field recordings and traditional Greek instrumentation that goes far beyond ‘folktronica', running the gamut of moods from sweetly mournful to darkly malevolent."
"For while his name might conjure up the pastoral in a distinctly old-fashioned sense, Leafcutter John's great success on 'The Forest And The Sea' is to blend traditional sounds and vocals that cry forth from the ordinary folk long past, with mastery of technology and laptop proficiency. And it's a journey, too, not just an escape from the urban jungle, but a progress of learning, adventure, and discovery."
"By the sounds of The Forest and the Sea, Leafcutter John has just begun to create his best work yet. It is an unexpected, but pleasantly delightful curve ball and proves Burton is more than a trendy scenester, if there was ever any doubt to begin with. This record will likely appeal to a wide variety of listeners, with only the most purist of Burton's experimental electronic fans turning up their nose to this accomplished work from a talented and capable artist."
"Whereas other artists operating under the folktronica guise often tip too far towards acoustic traditionalism, the Leafcutter matches his bard-like couplets with perfectly married sample matter, stretching his captured sounds into gently distorted shapes."
Easy John... Sorry bout spamming up your spassay... I got's to do it seen?? The big, warm, electro-acoustic tones of the De-Glammafy EP are finally available here! Nuff respekt, Ddr
Hey John, hope all is well. I was in the ACM masterclass you gave with Polar Bear and was behind the drumkit for a few jams; really enjoyed myself as I have seen Polar Bear and Ladyland several times over the last few years and have followed your blog for a while now. I was also in the audience for the gig in the evening when the old chap walked to the front and told you guys to turn it down! But that's Surrey for you... I'm sure they were won around after the next few numbers anyway, and if not I'm sure no-one else cares. Anyway, I hope this message reaches you in good stead and keep up the good work. =) x
you will listen to Ekkehard Ehlers, Kammerflimmer Kollektief, Alexander Balanescu, Norscq, Thilges, To Rococo Rot, Leafcutter John, Heaven And, Hassle Hound, Pedal, Andrew Pekler and Faust vs. Dälek
Video documentation of a performance piece by my friend Nate Kassel who rode around on his bike slapping high-fives to people who were trying to hail taxi cabs in NYC. Enjoy!
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