Prof Stretch, Duchess, Jules Evans, Bill Sharpe, Ned Kelly (formerly)
Etkilendikleri
Many and Varied... including Sly and Family Stone, Prince and Charles Stepney. Lover of many styles and fashions, no one favourite, try to keep my ears open :-)
Neye Benziyor?
Thievery Corporation, Massive Attack, Zero 7, Kruder and Dorfmeister, DJ Food, Giles Peterson, Everything but the Girl, Lighthouse Family, 4 Hero
Plak Şirketi
1st Underwolves Album on Compost / JCR
Prof Stretch & The Underwolves | En Son Blog Yazısı
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There are a couple of reasons why Ned Kelly and six foot three Professor Stretch decided to call themselves The Underwolves. Both are unusual and, more importantly, are clues to understanding the London based duo's unorthodox but compelling music. The first concerns American author Cormac McCarthy, since the pairs 1996 debut single was called "The Crossing", after the second book in his Border Trilogy. Wolves feature heavily in that particular instalment, as survivors not just scavengers, and a shadowy counterpoint to it's damaged hero. Secondly, the duo began working together just as the British dance music scene was having it's horizons abruptly narrowed by the introduction of Criminal Justice Act, which directly targeted parties, raves and any gathering outside licensed premises. Shortly after the now infamous legislation became law in 1994 there was a brief period of resistance, with illegal festivities continuing regardless of the potential penalties (which included heavy fines and possible prison sentences). At the time, Ned was particularly impressed by a newspaper article that described these revellers as a rebellious underclass. They were individuals who refused to accept their lot and bit back instead. He felt the same way, hence the name Underwolves, an amalgamation, like the band, of apparently different but actually related influences.
Idiosyncratic figures with roots in different sections of the UK dance scene, Ned and Stretch were united by the desire to make music so well wrought it spreads beyond any sub-culture that may have originally spawned it. "We want," says Stretch, "to create something timeless."
Their debut album, "Under Your Sky", may have its roots in drum and bass but it also absorbs soul, jazz and hip hop into a sound bristling with power (Shaken), sophistication (In Between) and above all fine song writing. Consequently, you don't need to be an aficionado of hard step, jump up or any of the genre's sub divisions to embrace the passion of the tracks like "68 Moves".
"You've got to give people something to catch hold of," says Ned. "I don't think you can just say, here's our smoky instrumental album. A lot of people aren't going to accept that".
Unwilling to churn out a dozen hammering club tracks, they brought in Jeb Loy Nichols (behind an acclaimed album of it's own, the folk rock of 1997's Lovers Knot) to both provide vocals and song writing expertise. Other vocals are provided by Madeline Edgehill of all female reggae band ACABU and Ghetto Priest from African Headcharge, who Stretch remixed for 1998's Drums of Defiance project on Dub Guru Adrian Sherwood's On-U-Sound label.
The Underwolves have been attracting attention ever since early singles like 1996's "Nine Lives" .. and remixes, such as their elegant approach to Bim Sherman's "Can I Be Free From Crying". Both showed they are one of few artist to truly grasp the potential of drum and bass to do more than just fill a dance floor or disintegrate into over blown concept albums. In part, this comes from their eccentric approach to making music. Stretch, classically trained and a self taught engineer, handles all the technical details, while Ned, former DJ and jazz obsessive, cajoles, listens and generally points developments in the correct directions. Its not how most people do it but it works for them.
"Our heads are in exactly in the same place music wise," says Stretch. "His taste is so important and we like similar things. Jazz folk and soul with drum & bass".
He found Stretch in the mid Nineties, after the Jazz and rare groove scene he'd frequented began to cross-pollinate with the nascent drum & bass movements at clubs like That's How It Is. Ned had been part of still-born, vaguely trip hop band, The Messengers, for whom his new friend did some production work. While Ned had recently been blown away by drum & bass ("It sounded better than anything else. Bigger and more life like.") Stretch had his roots in the hardcore scene that this new music had sprung from, having been one third of the trio that produced Dance Conspiracy's string laden classic 'Dub Wars'. Stretch continued to record break beat tracks with old Dance Conspiracy partner DJ Pulse, including a remix of Alex Reece's 'Feel The Sunshine'.
Stretch's training was more formal but equally mercurial. Although he had been playing the piano from the age of five and sung in church choirs, he worried his parents by swapping the prospect of studying music at degree for hospital and pirate radio in Slough. It was through the latter that he met Chad Jackson, who had a 1990 hit with the sample heavy anthem 'Hear The Drummer Get Wicked'. He hung out in Jackson's studio, learning the ropes and exploring his massive collection of hip hop and soul records before joining forces with manager / producer Ron Tom, which resulted in studio work for British soul boy Don-e ad the initial development of All Saints.
It's Ned and Stretch's varied, wandering backgrounds that make 'Under Your Sky' a work of great emotional depth as well as eccentric beats. It's an album that doesn't fit any obvious pigeon hole other than that marked 'great record'. And that's all that matters.
After delivering their debut album at the beginning of 1999 the band were forced to sit back and while Island was bought out not once but twice, resulting in a staff merry go round with nobody in contact to make a decision. This resulted in the Underwolves leaving Island now Universal for German label Jazzanova-Compost Records (JCR), renowned leaders of the nu-jazz movement and co-run by Jazzanova to whom the band were tipped.
Luckily, the timeless nature of the music has increased awareness of the band slotting nicely between modern mellow soul nu-jazz and melodic drum n bass.
With the highly touted "In The Picture" on the Barely Breaking Even / Off Centre compilation and new remixes the band has become stronger and grown to now include Paula Crawford, Ghetto Priest, Madeline and Jeb Loy Nicholas along with long time production ally former Muki main man Jules Evans.
Having been bestowed with glittering plaudits from Gilles Peterson, Patrick Forge, Fabio and Jumping Jack Frost among others. A long-term future with Jazzanova-Compost (JCR) seems assured. This independent just having proved you don't need a major to sell 100 000 records, if the record is good.
Further remixes followed by Earthbound, Fauna Flash, Intega (Sonar Kollektive) as well as the already existing remixes by Restless Soul, Peshay vs. Photek, Spacek and Juryman (many versions were only available on promo release) on forthcoming 12inches.
After a period of touring, Prof Stretch re-located to Devon to start work on material for a second album. Unfortunately the Underwolves line-up suffered a big loss at this time with the departure of original member, Ned Kelly and singer Madeleline Edgehill. After much consideration, the decision was taken to continue and keep the spirit of the band at the forefront of their creativitity.
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