django bates

Bio:

When Einstein said, "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler," he probably didn't envisage Django Bates's music, which revels in its complexity like a brainy kitten with a ball of fibre optic cables. But within his own parallel universe (aka Denmark's Rhythmic Music Conservatory), Bates has reduced his simmering brew to its necessary components: sneaky, snarky basslines, asymmetric patterns that groove, sweet vocal melodies, as well as passionate ensemble writing with a sense of humour that redrafts Charles Ives, Spike Jones and Frank Zappa for the age of Britain's Got Talent. Yet Bates is serious too, with such inventiveness, mastery of orchestration and flair that he runs rings around his contemporaries in every genre. The extreme hyperactivity of The Right to Smile, Subjective Hooks and Something Less Soothing is balanced by the spacey Evening Primrose, the oddly Edmundo Ross-like May Day and the joyful Sheep. (**** review in UK press for "Spring Is Here (Shall We Dance?)" by John L Walters, The Guardian, Friday 20 June 2008). Elsewhere in UK news: snow hits england... 'While there were instances of bravery and heroism, there were also examples of stupidity: The emergency services criticised the "mindless idiots" who built a string of solid snow walls across busy roads in Lincolnshire'. For more information visit www.djangobates.co.uk

Member Since:

April 21, 2006

Influences:

Everything. The gamut. The esceton. The whole bloody lot. Bruce Forsyth encouraging Leslie Garret to sing Gershwin really badly to an audience of smirking morons ... from that extreme to the extreme beauty, quality, grooviness and emotion of artists like Elliot Carter, Ikseltaschel, Aretha, both Rebeccas; Martin & Campbell, Dylan (Bates or Bob), Nina Simone, Chief Carrot... I think I'll complete this box later.

Sounds Like:

Well, anyone who fills this box in with any candour is going to regret it. I mean; we're all individuals aren't we? Or at least under that happy illusion.

Record Label:

LOST MARBLE - (also Winter & Winter, ECM, EG etc)