Music

So sick

This is a piece from the band's debut album 'Limbo', released on the Astral label. A brooding, atmospheric beginning with a groove that builds and builds. The album was recorded over two sessions in the studio in Lemon Lane in St Paul's, Bristol, that the band shared at various times. It was- and is- a crumbling, leaking Georgian house in a neighbourhood that is being gradually gentrified, but at that time the area was still haunted by skeletal prostitutes, crack dealers and deep, dark shadows; behind decayed stone facades the lurking ghosts of Bristol's past were slowly fading... The album was recorded onto a digital eight-track, with engineering and production by members of the band, and the album was edited and mixed by Jon Wygens; the album tracks were selected from about three hours of music, recorded over two days. The music is entirely improvised, with the album providing a record of the processes and interplays of spontaneous composition. You can buy the album from the 'shop' page on this site.
Epigram, the Bristol University magazine, reviewed the album. They said:
"This album, from the Bristol based six piece, brings us just under an hour of down tempo experimental jazz. The name Limbo and the label Astral are incredibly apt words for the album as you are taken away by these highly melodic and massively improvised sounds.
Roger Mills (composer of the music for the documentary "Lonely Planet") is a joy as always on the trumpet, and is beautifully complemented by the rest of the band. The percussion and bass roll off each other well and although the style is some what scatty in its nature, all the instruments come together to give a full sound. This is seen at its best in 'In The Zone (Part1)', it just couldn't feel any more right.
One to look out for on the live stage as they improvise to a mix of digital media and film, recent dates have included Espionage at Thekla, and the Cube.
This wonderfully relaxed album is a great way to get into the style, and a must have for fans of experimental jazz; it's a real joy to find such home grown talent.
Rating: * * * *"

Seven Types of Ambiguity

This is from the band's second album 'Seven types of ambiguity'. The recording was made in a proper studio this time- the J&J studio in Mivart St. in Easton, Bristol. A much more salubrious environment than Lemon Lane, and far better equipped; there was an engineer too, Jim Barr, so no more lost masterpieces... The recording took place on two days; at the end of the first day everyone was a bit irritable and tired, but decided to record one last piece. This beautiful, lucid, drifting elegy was the result. Pianist Dan Moore played on this album, with John Garden off touring; there was a nice grand piano in the live room. If you want to buy this album, go to the shop page, and if you want to be informed of any new releases, gigs etc, join the mailing list.

Headlong

This is an out-take from the recording of 'Seven types of ambiguity'. A strange intro reminiscent of early '70's sci-fi music opens up into a joyous outburst from Dave Perry.

limbo movie (7.4Mb)   This is a short film of Limbo playing live, filmed and edited by Reuben Knutson, a visual artist and photographer. The film is in the Quicktime format; if you don't have it already, there's a link below to a site where you can get Quicktime for free. The first trumpeter you see on the film is Pete Judge, who has played with Limbo on a few occasions when Roger Mills was away. But it's Roger you see later on, and his cool, clear, elegant melodies that you can hear on the soundtrack.

Download Quicktime here- Mac and Windows versions available