Stuart Bannister - Bass
Richard Morris - Keyboards/Drums
Neil Turpin - Drums
Influences
Nina Simone, Dirty Three, Sun Ra, Alice Coltrane, Black Sabbath, John
Fahey, Sonny Sharrock, Can, Tom Waits, Herbie Hancock, Fela Kuti, Sly & The Family, The Meters, Parliament, Bonnie Prince Billy, John Coltrane, David Bowie, Eric Dolphy, Neil
Young, Jimi Hendrix, Billie Holiday, Freddie Hubbard, Max Roach, Fairport Convention, Slint, The Shadows, Nina Nastasia, Bob Dylan, Neu!, Elvin Jones, Charle Mingus,
Lungfish, King Crimson, Miles Davis, Kraftwerk, Hella, ZZ Top, Free, Led
Zeppelin, AC/DC...
On the surface, Leeds trio Quack Quack seem to exist in some animated part-prog, part-post-rock indie hinterland, but closer inspection reveals a tight-knit instrumental trio who, in absorbing and acknowledging everything from dub, jazz, funk, and electronic music, subvert all tidy enclosures of prog-this or post-that.
Keyboardist/drummer Richard Morris (also of Two Minute Noodles and Chops), bass player Stuart Bannister, and veteran drummer Neil Turpin (also of Bilge Pump) are the core unit of players/engineers whose music - typified by chirpy synth, droning rumbles of bass and a keen sense of groove -- explores dynamics and refined interplay with a ceaseless, sprightly invention. Their self-titled EP and 7", both produced by Richard Formby, are a winning seven-song introduction, throughout which the trio build upon a series of deceptively-simple ideas and offer intuitive responses, their individual contributions often subverting and off-setting (though never overwhelming) each other. And yet, their experiments are far more playful than studious, always respectful to the core elements of rhythm and sound while investing the whole instrumental (albeit guitar-less) "rock" shebang with a rare sense of fun.
While a great many instrumental bands still favor the 'quiet-loud' axis as their main dynamic, a hallmark of nearly every Quack Quack song is the 'striking moment', often comprising some subtle juxtaposition, dynamic change or breakaway where the band lock into something skewed or unexpected. It's there in the finale to "We Need The Eggs", where a bass drone subsisting over a spluttering jazzy drum breakdown suddenly lunges into a synchronized, dual-drum workout of slow-burn funk. It's there in the joyously melodic breakdown halfway through "Cut Me Some Slacks" or the sudden stop-out, long pause and crash-in of "Bravo 150", it's there in the startling multi-rhythmic shifts of "Mars", and it's there in the collision of Bannister's juddering bass riff with Morris's videogame arpeggios ("Conversations"). Such moments seemingly arrive as fleeting, subtle breakdowns in amidst the driving rhythms and plinking, hummable melodies, but as with Lemmy's all-out utterance in Motorhead's "Ace of Spades" ("That's the way I like it baby, I don't want to live forever") these moments often come to encapsulate the whole song. There are dozens of these moments spread across the seven songs, making it safe to assume that Quack Quack's instinctual dynamism makes far more sense in a live setting. And yet, as with the best electronica, hip-hop and dance music, they're songs that come alive on headphones and make your stereo sound good.
It's all too temptingly simplistic to compare Quack Quack to the likes of
Can, and not solely for the fact that all three members have contributed to Damo Suzuki's Network. Both bands build around uncompromising, driving rhythms, exact their subtle-yet-arresting dynamics with calm fluid restraint, are comprised of individually talented musicians who subsist collectively within a unique and uncategorizeable sound, and who each recognize the recording environment as an instrument in itself. But even so, Quack Quack sound nothing like Can whatsoever. Or anyone, in fact.
Hi there!
How's it going? We now run our own night at the hop in Wakefield on the last Friday of every month called two by four. Check out the page for it in our top friends, I hope you can make it down. The first one us on 27th of nov, might see you there!
Cheers
Here is the information regarding the last few CHOPS gigs of the year 2009! Some sweet treats! See you shaking it up at the front!
We're also thinking hard about recording again, as well as concocting a new video excursion with our buddy David Lynch to follow up to our sunrise performance live on the now demolished Leeds International Swimming Pool.
Peace and love! x x x
Saturday 14 November @ Rock and Roll Circus, Leeds - Cops and Robbers benefit party! BILGE PUMP CHOPS CLUB
Saturday 28 November @ Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, £6 - Brew Records Present DJ SCOTCH EGG CHOPS NOPE Poster by Pete Murgatroyd
Thursday 3rd December Chinchilla and Room237 are rather happy to present... Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 8pm doors, first band 8:15 prompt LIGHTNING BOLT a.P.A.T.t. ACTION BEAT CHOPS Tickets £7 (plus booking fee) Available from 2nd November from behind the bar at the Brudenell (50p booking fee fund-raiser for cops and robbers), Jumbo and Crash Records in Leeds, and wegottickets.com Poster by Jon Nash
Thursday 10th December - Upset The Rhythm @ The Dome, 178 Junction Road, Tufnell Park, N19 5QQ - £9 LIGHTNING BOLT DRUM EYES CHOPS
Friday 18th December I Am Your Barber - The International Gallery, Liverpool TEAM BRICK CHOPS STIG NOISE
22 Oct: Glasgow, Nice N Sleazy (supporting Johnny Flynn) 23 Oct: Birmingham, Glee Club (supporting Johnny Flynn) 24 Oct: Leeds, Brudenell Social Club (supporting Johnny Flynn) 25 Oct: Manchester, Deaf Institute (supporting Johnny Flynn) 27 Oct: London, Water Rats 31 Oct: London, 93 Feet East 11 Nov: London, Bath House (supporting The Brute Chorus)
DECAPANTE play hella loud noise rock and hail from Madrid,
SPAIN. Their tunes are ultra sludgy, super slow and riddled with demonic slabs
of riff madness! They create this almighty racket harnessing the power of two
bass’s and a big old drum sound. Sorta remind me of the early Ruins/Melvins/Big
Business with hints of Shellac for good measure.
COWTOWN are three handsome young chipmunks with a taste for
party tunes and library jumpers. Recently described as Rod, Jane and Freddy
mixed with Melt Banana. New album ‘Excellent Domestic Short hair’ out soon.
Hey! We've added a new demo here on our page. Its of a track we've been playing called Little Lost Lamb. Do please feel the noise and give it a show! x Thanks x
A
4 track EP, titled Call Signs, it provides the perfect introduction to
the band prior to the release of their debut album, Grappling Hooks, in
early 2010.
Hey, you were great at EotR, one of the best things there... you going to put an LP together? Look forward to seeing you again sometime. Cheers for add. X
..
PB
Online Now!
