The Orb, Banco de Gaia, Astralasia, Future Sound Of London, Full Moon Scientist, Rhian Sheehan, Boards Of Canada, Pitch Black, Lemon Jelly, Orbital, Sola Rosa, Module, Invader Tron.
Sounds Like
The Orb, Banco De Gaia, Astralasia, classic early 90s ambient, Full Moon Scientist, Rhian Sheehan, Lemon Jelly, Tom Bosley Experience, Stray Theories, Invader Tron
Sharkweek is the brainchild and solo-project of Dunedin artist and musician Peter Lewis.
The debut album "The Hammerhead Nebula" was released in 2006 to positive praise:
"Layers of keyboard wash form convection currents through which primitive drum machine rhythms clatter. Spoken vocal snippets introduce galaxial and other themes while a prowling keyboard bass glues things together. Sharkweek pulls back from the brink of chaotic overload to simmer with a repressed mania and the effect is serotonin re-uptake inhibition."
- Jacob Connor, NZ Musician Magazine
The new Sharkweek album, "Egyptian Lions" offers similarly lush soundscapes punctuated with surreal samples, playful melodies and manipulated found sounds. The musical themes drift between ambient, pop and dub. The songs are sometimes dreamy, sometimes deliriously playful. There's obvious evidence of Lewis' musical growth, yet it's also familiar enough to be unmistakeably 'Sharkweek'.
Spheres of inspiration include outer space, all manner of pop culture, and infomercials. Musical influence comes from varied sources such as The Orb, Banco de Gaia, Astralasia, Future Sound Of London, Orbital, Boards Of Canada, Lemon Jelly, and New Zealand luminaries like Module and Pitch Black. This eclectic mix, coupled with some stellar guest appearances from other musicians makes for an evocative and sometimes surprising listening experience.
Responses from Sharkweek fans have been very positive:
"A mystical journey through lands afar ... trippy soundscapes, psychedelic ambient dub, futuristic space adventures and glitchy electro pop .. an ear orgasm of sounds that twist and turn evolving into a collection of songs that is intriguing, beautiful and a dose of epic electro trippiness. It has an otherworldly feel, yet is warm and inviting, like friendly aliens .. it's a trek into the deep dark unknown."
"There is an overwhelming feeling of being in some sort of dubbed-out dream ... an abundance of differing textures and tempos that also enhance the subconscious feel of the album (mixing the sounds of yore with those of the now) ... a powerfully contemplative effort from Sharkweek and one that will reward the listener with repeat listens."
"Sharkweek creates worlds within which any number of stories may be told. Listening to the tracks on this album will educate the senses and reorient one’s views to the vast possibilities the ambient mode can bring."
"'Egyptian Lions' is a sonic journey that messes with time nicely, both nostalgic and futuristic. One part plane trip in a canvas and balsa wood De Havilland Mosquito and second part Tardis. You’ll find yourself walking out of a blue phone box in some unknown desert or St Kilda beach even, thinking you are Dr Who or perhaps a Robospacejesus. For some uncensored reality, put on your flying helmet and enjoy the mystical revelations."
"'Egyptian Lions' is full-bodied and warm and thick with ambience and with beats to keep your ears on task. I find myself being drawn into the emotion of each song without trying and almost against my will."
"I imagine this weird elaborate ballroom with inebriated Martians in tall white wigs dancing to songs they have mixed using transmissions sent by Earth back in the 1960s."
Both Sharkweek albums are available for only NZ$15 each including shipping within New Zealand or US$15 each including shipping anywhere else in the world.
Alternately, "The Hammerhead Nebula" can be purchased directly from the following retailers:
NEXT SHARKWEEK GIG:
No live shows booked at the moment
ABOUT THE SONGS ON THIS PAGE:
PART OF ME (SHARKWEEK'S LAST GOODBYE REMIX) (6:03)
I've been a fan of Stray Theories for several years now and his emotional ambient sound has always struck a chord with me (pun definitely intended!).
So I was delighted when he agreed to let me remix one of his tracks - my favourite one in fact.
Being an instrumental track, the original perhaps wasn't "about" a particular subject, but as my remix took shape it became a song about death, specifically about Death With Dignity aka euthanasia. Hence the remix title "Last Goodbye".
The direction came about almost by accident when I Googled the phrase "part of me" looking for a suitable vocal sample. I came across an awesome sample from an episode of Babylon 5: "I believe that when we leave a place, part of it goes with us and part of us remains. Go anywhere in the station, when it is quiet, and just listen. After a while, you will hear the echoes of all our conversations. Every thought and word we've exchanged. Long after we're gone, our voices will linger in these walls for as long as this place remains. But I will admit that the part of me that is going will very much miss the part of you that is staying."
This fit really well with my idea to take the title "Part Of Me" literally and use a lot of human percussion in the song. I collected samples of heartbeats, clicking knee and neck joints, fingernails scratching skin, and breaths and used them to give the song texture and what I hope is a very organic feel.
The tune is intended to emulate what I guess everyone hopes their death will be like: tranquil, painless and dignified. I admit the angelic choirs I used in the second half of the song are a little cheesy in this context (I don't believe in angels) but choirs and plinky electric pianos are part of my signature sound and work really well in this song. The beep of a life support system towards the end of the song, flatlining as the subject breathes his final breath, is a nice touch too if I do say so myself!
MAGIC MAN (SHARKWEEK'S STRANGE NIGHT OF STONE REMIX) (7:16)
Remix of a psytrance tune by my friend Duncan aka Symbiont. It's not really psytrance anymore, since I slowed it down to 120bpm and also the Geneva Convention forbids the use of Hammond organ or cello in psytrance. I'm quite partial to "real sampled instruments" so there's plenty of Hammond and cello in this one.
This is one of four remixes I've done recently - I'll be posting the others soon.
For anyone who wonders, the title of this remix is the last line of the Doors song "Strange Days", and the movie Strange Days is the source of the vocal samples in this track (and the original), as well as the title.
PARADISE VALLEY (5:48) (from the new album "EGYPTIAN LIONS")
Beautiful pastoral tranquility and ambience. Inspired by Pink Floyd's fantastic "Atom Heart Mother" and featuring a lot of recordings made at the Paradise
Valley Springs nature park near Rotorua (NZ). Saxophone by Micah Wolfe from Stray Theories.
MOONRISE OVER KERALA (BEACH DUB VERSION) (10:06)
Slowed down dub version of the original tune, which was kinda trancey and not typical for me. I like this one better I must say. This version was recorded live
one sunny afternoon recently and no doubt it will continue to evolve as I play it live in future.
DON'T FEAR THE REEFER (3:54)
A dub-influenced pop tune about the evil joys of marijuana, sampled from the hilarious 1936 movie "Reefer Madness".
MYSTICAL REVELATION (4:36) (from the new album "EGYPTIAN LIONS")
Acid rock for a new generation! A dubby bass, eloquent vibraphone, and screaming guitars make for a heady and powerful result.
IN THE FUTURE (RADIO EDIT) (2:38) (longer version appears on the new album "EGYPTIAN LIONS")
Futuristic pop song about what life will be like in the distant future; and what life was supposed to be like NOW, in the 21st century. Where are the
moonbases we were promised, the food pills, the personal robots to do our bidding??? Bit of a family affair this one, feaures lead vocals by my lovely wife,
giggles and squeals by my son, some heavily-altered vocals by me, and a solo by my honorary brother Sean.
GOVORIT (5:36) (from the new album "EGYPTIAN LIONS")
Inspired by an old Russian synth plugin I found online, this song developed into a whole Russian-themed thing.
Every day at 6am Russian radio broadcast started with the words "Vnimanie, govorit Moskva. Slushayte Moskvu!". English translation: "Attention! Moscow
speaks. Listen to Moscow!".
I'm really pleased with the strings in the second half of this song.
HERE'S A LITTLE VIDEO I MADE FOR THE SONG "GARDEN PARTY"
We just started the official SToB on Facebook page so please join it! http://www.facebook.com/shaolintempleofboom Sign up for SToB email list and get 3 FREE songs not available anywhere else!
Our second 'Corrosive Noise' NZ Tour is coming up in July 2009. This time we are joined by dunedin dj crew 'Urban Terror Unit', who ripped up Phat 09's pre party last new years. We will be playing lots of new material from our forthcoming album 'Awakening' on NZ's own Bassweight Recordings. Come check it out!
Sharkweek is proud to announce the launch of his new album, "Egyptian Lions".
The new album offers lush soundscapes punctuated with surreal samples, playful melodies and manipulated found sounds. The musical themes drift between ambient, pop and dub.
Spheres of inspiration include outerspace, all manner of pop culture, and infomercials. Musical influence comes from varied sources such as The Orb, Future Sound Of London, Orbital, Boards Of Canada, Lemon Jelly, Astralasia, and Banco de Gaia. This eclectic mix, coupled with some stellar guest appearances from other musicians makes for an evocative and sometimes surprising listening experience.
"A mystical journey through lands afar ... trippy soundscapes, psychedelic ambient dub, futuristic space adventures and glitchy electro pop .. an ear orgasm of sounds that twist and turn evolving into a collection of songs that is intriguing, beautiful and a dose of epic electro trippiness."
NZ$15 in NZ - shipping included US$15 overseas - shipping included
Hey yo, We're coming up to Dunedin again this Wednesday 17th of June to play at Refuel with our good friends Stonehurst from Christchurch, Made In China from Dunedin and Ellen Wilcox will do a short acoustic set at the start. Its free entry & the booze is cheap! Hope to see you there! Cheers Osmium
hola amigos ¡¡¡que gustazo!!! gracias por ser parte de la familia de SANTANA CHILL
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MANTILLA...BYE. JUANO
Online Now!
Sharkweek is proud to announce the launch of his new album, "Egyptian Lions".
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