Biography
It was a sunny July 21st and brothers - James and Michael Dow - were on their way to meet Luke Bell and some other mates in a crusty old shack somewhere in the English countryside.
They wandered into the same charity shop they often use, on this most boring of walks to the station - just to see if the old, confused owner had updated her box of dead peoples’ eye wear.
She hadn't.
However, there, glimmering in the dusty corner of the room, partly obscured by a tangled web of coat hangers, was a Yamaha Portasound; un-boxed, un-new, missing an F and with no instructions or batteries. They took it immediately and promised they'd give the 'assistant' in the corner a pound on their return.
She agreed and Portasound was born.
Good job too.
Not long after that they were receiving blog hype for their remix of Late of the Pier's track 'Broken', featured by Rob da Bank on his Radio 1 show. After a string of gigs their track 'The Terpisichore of Vegedward Sentengo', described vividly if not bizarrely as 'Tropical Squid Disco' was released as a limited 7" on the Filthy Few label. The track was also picked up by Japanese Indie label Tokyo Escalator, who are featuring it on their 'ones to watch in 2009' compilation.
Portasound’s latest track 'The Wrong Parade' has been championed by Cardiff based music magazine Kruger and the track featured as the final Kruger Singles Club track of 2008. ‘The Wrong Parade’ has received air play from Huw Stephens on BBC Radio 1, Mark Rileys’ 6Music show and XFM.
The band create and master their tracks in Michael's bedroom studio from a large range of instruments, both analogue and digital, in a bid to make original and unusual music. One of their main reasons for starting was to spend more time together, creating interesting sounds and having fun and less time in the pub. The band wasn't born on a wish to attain any great musical success but as an output for their own enjoyment. So what you hear when you listen to Portasound is a kind of sonic embodiment of their personalities and friendship (a sonification if you will).
Michael Dow has been producing dance music for the last 6 years under his own name and has received huge recognition for his work, regularly featuring on Judge Jules' Radio 1 show, and achieving world wide support from international DJ's such as Sander Van Doorn, Ferry Corsten and world number one DJ Armin Van Buuren. He now DJ's regularly across the country.
Luke Bell taught himself to play guitar at Reading University, where he was studying Philosophy and Politics and presented an awards nominated late night music show.
James Dow began making music with Michael when they were children but left the nest to study Multimedia Design in Southampton. He continued to experiment with production and created a new, weekly music night. On returning to London, he joined an advertising agency as a Designer and Art Director and began to make music with Michael again.
THE PLAYGROUND presents Filthy Electro Trash on Saturday 14th Novmber. Come along and celebrate with:
Punks Jump Up (KITSUNE)// Punx Soundcheck (KITSUNE)// Steed Lord// Gobsausage// Glass Diamond// TOY TOY// The Education// Mr. Beasley// Ben Osborne// DJ Darkorse// Circa Burlesque- Little Bo Freak// Chrys Columbine// Slinky Sparkles and Straightola (VJ Set)
Your profile is really cool and keep up the great work!!..I appreciate the new connection with you. I look forward to interacting with you! You have my support and welcome to my world of art and writing!
Also , Please enjoy my latest my blog....and thank you for being a valued friend of mine (=....
THE PLAYGROUND Vs Noise Of Art will give you a big Halloween bash on Saturday 31st October featuring
Man Like Me// My Tiger My Timing// My Toys Like Me// Trash Fashion// The Midi Midis// Glitches// The Teeth// Kindle// Gene Serene// DARKORSE-DJ set/// Rack ‘n’ Ruin – DJ Set// Afro Punk-DJ set// Slinky Sparkle// Chris Columbine// Little Bo Freak and Lydia Darling// Noise of Art’s “Dance of the Vampires” with They Came From The Stars and I Saw Them Vs Les Hommers DU Train// Ben Osborne -DJ set// Immaculate Extremists// Overlap// Your Mum// MOTH and more
“You're unlikely to attend another event in London like this so our advice is to get your ticket sharpish.” DJ Magazine, 2009.
Hexstatic the worlds greatest VJs, electro-breaks duo Stonephace (Portishead's Adrian Utley on guitar )
Glass Diamond a young band who is just throw punk, dance, experimental and electronic music all together, and smash them up.With VJ -Mash Cinema live A/V set,I'm sure you've never seen anything like it.
Advance limited DISCOUNT tickets for The VIDEOCRASH 4 / HEXSTATIC show for friends of the band GLASS DIAMOND only.
After our hugely successful launch with the BRUTE CHORUS and CIRCA BURLESQUE trapeze artists, stilts, performance artists and burlesque dancers we have the next instalment coming up on Saturday the 26th September featuring KAPUTT, ROMANCE, SPEAK AND THE SPELLS and a whole lot more. Looking forward to seeing you there.
Junkyard Scientists, Dust, Big Tunes, Beat Feast, Resonance and WhiteHouse Team up to bring you Readings best mix of Funk, Hip-Hop, Dub, Jungle, Dub-step, Rock, IDM, Ambient + Visuals!
....and its FREE!!!
ROOM 1 (Main Hall)
OM CORPORATION 3 Piece Jazzy Jungle Ambiency
JUNKYARD SCIENTISTS Sporadic Instrumental set from the Reading Funksters
BLACK ROAD HOME Stoke Based Grungy Rock
LEGAL EYES Funk Rock Dubsters
+
LOFTY Good Vibe Drum n Bass
BINGE Beats and Bobs from the Reading Turntable Master
thank you so much for letting me know, so sorry my reply is super late... and so unfortunatery i can't download the track, it doesn't work in japanese itunes store... so shame ;( but i can see YouTube even in Japan!!! this tune is so nice, fit my heart with something sweet anxiety. i love it!
i'll go to London this september, hoping i get a chance to see your gig! this trip will become so amazing :)
thank you so much again, much love from japan reverie xxx
We have our next mini-festival at 93 Feet East on Saturday 25th July with an amazing line-up along with our usual Burlesque, performance art and Electro DJ’s. Check out the ticket link below. See you there.
