The Star & Shadow presents, as part of a February of kickass gigs, a jaw-dropping line-up with some of the pioneering figures in experimental and electronic music over the past 30 years, featuring:

REFORMED FACTION

Pioneers of the ambient music genre who have collaborated with some of the most important figures in experimental music and the Krautrock scene

+ BRUCE GILBERT

Founding member of legendary post-punkers, Wire, widely acknowledged as one of the most ground-breaking bands that come out of the UK punk scene and leading into such genres as post-punk or ‘art’ punk

+ an appearance from Newcastle’s very own EMERGENCY LIBRARIAN providing a glimpse into the fine electronic music produced by some of our contemporary local musicians.

Reformed Faction

Reformed Faction are drawn to the kind of spontaneous composition favoured by Can.

Incidentally, Reformed Faction played with the Damo Suzuki (previously Can’s vocalist) to a sold out Star & Shadow back in September, and they will be joined here by their other two collaborators from that night: Oscar Ruiz Fernandez (Onoma) and Christian Alderson (Helictite, The Long Lonesome Go).

Using live improvisations as a basis for their music, Reformed Faction cut and paste, in the grand tradition of studio pioneers such as Holger Czukay of Can to create compositions.

Unconventional Sources

At the heart of the sound is the use of unconventional sound sources; children’s musical toys, ethnic instruments, homemade gadgets and sound processors. Bagpipe chanters, flutes, stringed instruments, percussive instruments and the effected tones of the human voice are all utilised. Reformed Faction are Robin Storey and Mark Spybey.

In 1979 Robin Storey formed the pioneering industrial group: zoviet*france. Also a noted visual artist and animator, Storey's work has been exhibited throughout the world and is in the collections of many major galleries.

As well as producing his own abstract animated films he has also produced work for soundtracks for Independent films including Randy Grief's award winning film “the Three Trials” and award winning film by NY independent artist Nadine Shamounki with her film “Effaced.”

Collaborations: Damo Suzuki of Can, Faust, Michael Rother, and more

Storey has collaborated widely and has produced albums with artists including Joachim Roedelius (Cluster,Harmonia), Nigel Ayers (Nocturnal Emissions) Randy Grief and Russian Folk singer Tatyana Stepchenko aka.Toloka. He has also collaborated in live work with numerous other musicians including Damo Suzuki (Can).

Mark Spybey was also a member of zoviet*france in the past. He collaborated widely, toured and was vocalist of the acclaimed band Download (ex-Skinny Puppy). He was also a member off Sofortkontakt!, led by the late Michael Karoli of Can, appearing at all of Can’s 30th anniversary shows.

Spybey has worked with a variety of artists who inspired his music, including Damo Suzuki of Can, Faust, Michael Rother (Neu!, Harmonia and Kraftwerk), cEvin Key (Skinny Puppy,Download), Mick Harris (Scorn, Napalm Death), James Plotkin, Not Breathing, Jarboe (Swans), Chris Connelly (Ministry, Fini Tribe), Pigface, Martin Atkins (PIL, Killing Joke), Dieter Moebius (Cluster and Harmonia), Simon Fisher-Turner and Genesis.P.Orridge (Throbbing Gristle/Psychic TV).

http://www.myspace.com/reformedfaction

Bruce Gilbert

We can’t emphasise enough how excited we are to have confirmed Bruce Gilbert – founding member of Wire and a pioneer solo artist in the experimental noise scene - on this bill.

Always an innovative figure, his work has been described by The Wire as "a forceful piece of work which sounds like nothing else around", while other critics widely acknowledge “his experimental edge, his knack for combining elements of noise and composition, his slight pop leanings and his attention to rhythmic qualities that is evident in most of his work.” (Wireviews.com)

Apart from pushing the boundaries within experimental music, Gilbert has pursued a wider-ranging course, embracing installations and performance art as well as composing a dance soundtrack for Michael Clark, enfant terrible of British ballet who would also work with The Fall’s Mark E Smith. Gilbert also DJs under the moniker DJ Beekeeper.

“For anyone with a fascination for synth noise, or even the less-trod areas of the British experimental underground…” – BBC Music website

Some of his music can be heard here:

http://www.last.fm/music/Bruce+Gilbert

And this link will provide you with an in depth interview, as well as some great links to other Bruce Gilbert and Wire-related stuff:

http://www.stereosociety.com/bgintmt.html

Emergency Librarian

Some say Emergency Librarian were created in the labs of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop by Delia Derbyshire and Ron Grainer and transported into the future by Patrick ‘GamesMaster’ Moore… others say they’re a couple of lads from Whitley Bay…

Whatever the truth their futuristic take on the sounds of the early electronic pioneers will be oscillating the air waves of the cinema on the night of the 17th.

http://www.myspace.com/emergencylibrarianmusic

More links

Oscar Ruiz Fernandez and Christian Alderson are playing with Reformed Faciton tonight.

You can check out Oscar Ruiz Fernandez’s other project, Onoma, here:

http://www.myspace.com/geometryoftorchsongs

And Christian Alderson’s other projects here:

http://www.myspace.com/thelonglonesomego

http://www.myspace.com/helictite

You can buy advance tickets online to secure a place at no extra cost from: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/535334199 Or pay £5 on the door