The Music - dark, evocative, compelling, hypnotic, unsettling.... yet strangely beautiful, drawing influences from Shostakovich to the Aphex Twin via Bernard Herrmann.
.......voluptuous melodies that stagger drunkenly and bring a heady richness. - The Guardian.
....sinuous and expressive arrangements. - The Financial Times.
....atmospheric beats and lush orchestrations set to dark, moody visuals. - The Londonist.
The initial idea to create new dynamic soundtracks for old silent movies shown in tandem with their music was hindered by increasingly restrictive industry rules on film usage. Undeterred, the McCarricks enlisted the talents of independent filmmakers to create with them new films specifically tailored for their music. The result is a startling display of abstract imagery and sound, set to lead the viewer through a series of different dimensions and emotions.
The live performance sees The McCarricks playing their instruments in front a film screen where Shoppers in a Japanese supermarket mix with 1950's slow-motion contortionists via buildings that harbour strange sexual desires, while a motley array of circus sideshow freaks act our a nightmarish fairytale. The imagery captivates and leads you into the imaginations that make this beautiful music.
" Our main inspiration comes from the relationship between musical and visual mediums and the way in which our ears can alter what our eyes see. The most mundane, everyday imagery can be given life through the addition of the right soundtrack whilst the most innocent of scenes can appear as a moment of terror with the addition of a particular soundscape"
The McCarricks met in Lawrence, Kansas in 1996 at the infamous rock venue The Bottleneck. At the time, Kimberlee was a professional violinist in the Kansas Symphony Orchestra, while Martin was on tour as guitarist and electric cellist with Therapy?. Previously Martin had worked as musician/writer and string arranger, touring, recording and creating a large back catalogue of work with the likes of Siouxsie and the Banshees, This Mortal Coil, Dead Can Dance, Kristin Hersh, Marc Almond, Skunk Anansie and Therapy? to name but a few.
After two years spent living between Kimberlee's Kansas City apartment and Martins London home they settled in South-East London where they continue to live and work. They have worked extensively as studio and live musicians, individually and together - as instrumentalists, string arrangers, and as soundtrack designers/composers. They are currently working on music and films for future performance as well as writing and recording material for themselves and for other artists encompacing a diversity that many other musicians merely dream of - from contemporary classical - to Rock - to Industrial - as well as adding 'phat' strings to the work of some of breakbeat scenes most revered producers including Taishan, Jimmy Mofo and the Beat Assasins. Recent collaborations include Kristin Hersh, Siouxse Sioux, Sinead O'Connor, Gary Numan, Marianne Faithful and the Patti Smiths Meltdown concerts at The Royal Festival Hall in London.
THE RETURN OF THE BAT
Specimen will bring their special brand of glam mayhem, The Batcave to London again.
After last year’s wildly-successful 25th anniversary Batcave event, The Batcave returns to its original spawning ground of London’s West End on Sunday July 19 for another night of blasphemy, lechery and blood.
Specimen (Fresh from a fantastic show at Leipzig’s Waves Gotik festival), the original Batcave instigators will headline the lurid frolics at the Embassy Club, (29 Old Burlington St, London W1S3AP) Also on the bill are original Batcavers Sexbeat, with DJs Hamish and Cavey Nick, cavorting from decks to decadence with the usual brutal, trouser-dropping surprises & suitably confronting & barbaric entertainment.
The 2009 Batcave will feature installations from exciting new artists of the ‘Dark London Underground’ and visuals from the upcoming ‘Welco
THE RETURN OF THE BAT
Specimen will bring their special brand of glam mayhem, The Batcave to London again.
After last year’s wildly-successful 25th anniversary Batcave event, The Batcave returns to its original spawning ground of London’s West End on Sunday July 19 for another night of blasphemy, lechery and blood.
Specimen (Fresh from a fantastic show at Leipzig’s Waves Gotik festival), the original Batcave instigators will headline the lurid frolics at the Embassy Club, (29 Old Burlington St, London W1S3AP) Also on the bill are original Batcavers Sexbeat, with DJs Hamish and Cavey Nick, cavorting from decks to decadence with the usual brutal, trouser-dropping surprises & suitably confronting & barbaric entertainment.
The 2009 Batcave will feature installations from exciting new artists of the ‘Dark London Underground’ and visuals from the upcoming ‘Welcome To The Batcave’ book, along with this year’s bitcrushed message from the creature in t
I'm gutted, been waiting to see you again for ages and when you're set to play at the Colosseum im being flown to bloody Venice with my job!!! AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!! Hope its a quality night for anyone else lucky enough to go & hope you're about in London again soon
So pleased you're on here Martin, as I've mentioned before on your own website. You're the biggest influence on me as a musician, since the old mamba and willing sinner days. Hopefully your fans/followers can hear the effects you've had on my writing and career. I look forward to seeing you and Kimberley live again. All the best, David Simnel x
hi there if you ever find yourselves nottingham way,please let me know as i wpuld love to still se you live.hope you are well.....is billy mcgee on mys....take care ppxx
The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep. And miles to go before I sleep. Did you hear me butterfly?........Robert Frost Love Beste
i'm dreadful at giving thanks to those whom i should ~ i'm not even certain of who i've yet thanked or not ~ so - thank you & merci & grazi & gracias & on & on for all the magic you create
may Love & acceptance of things we do not understand be bestowed upon us all
be well & know you are appreciated for what you do
Hi there dear Martin just wanted to drop by to listen to your beautiful music once again i really wish you can come to play Argentina this year i can totally picture you playing "Tango Money" in the streets of Buenos Aires
best of luck with your music project since you're one of the most interesting musicians i've heard in a very long time
The McCarricks music is like two beautiful cats singing to each other! It has inspired my next choreography which I will be filming and dedicating to these two lovely people as a thank you for creating this wonderful music. All the best to you both! Luv Beatrice xxxx
I'm so lucky! Thanks for adding me, you guys are extraordinary! Please consider the possibility to perform in Mexico City! Best regards and the best luck!
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