Andrew Hargreaves (The Boats) Exclusive

We are delighted to welcome Andrew Hargreaves (one half of the fabulous The Boats) to the Fluid Radio mix installments, presenting a bespoke selection of unusual and abstract soundscapes…

‘My original idea was to create a mix called “Sequences out of Control”, but I think my mood changed. Anyway there
are quite a few sequencer lines in their and lots of synthesisers which we can all be thankful for’! – Andrew

Track List:

Klaus Nomi – Nomi Chant
Ryuichi Sakamoto – The End Of Asia
François De Roubaix – Survol
Giorgio Moroder – Chase
Moebius, Plank, Neumeir – All Repro
The Units – High Pressure Days
John Carpenter with Alan Howarth – 69th Street Bridge
Irmin Schmidt & Bruno Spoerri – Two Dolphins Go Dancing
Monoton – Minibeat
John Surman – Edges Of Illusion
Human League – Almost Medieval
Visitors – V-­I-­S-­I-­T-­O-­R-­S
Sparks – Tryouts For The Human Race
Tony McPhee – The Hunt
Screamers – Matar Dolores
Bruce Haack – Invocation And Dance Of Death
Flying Lizards – Trouble
Eno, Roedelius, Moebius – The Belldog
XTC – Somnambulist

Following the release of the wonderful Words Are Something Else and while preparing for a series of live shows in the UK and Japan, Craig Tattersall and Andrew Hargreaves decided to compile an overview of unreleased and rare Boats material. The result is Sleepy Insect Music, a sixteen track compilation of material recorded between 2003 – 2010…

Opening with a laid back track peppered with slow moving subtle tones, Sleepy Insect Music then goes on to cover a whole spectrum of material.

Chris Stewart and Elaine Reynolds join the duo on vocal duties, giving contrast to the moody instrumentals and beat driven ambience. Danny Norbury of Le Lendemain also makes an appearance on cello, his mournful strings adding yet another dimension to this release.

The tracks hold the listeners interest with inventive beats, complemented by a wide array of instruments and breathtaking vocals. Always unhurried, the tracks retain a feeling of space, with notes ringing out and echoing.

Where other performers might content themselves with one stylistic idea per track, Tattersall and Hargreaves eclectic songwriting technique is enthralling and leaves one wanting to spend time exploring the tracks fully, each sitting revealing something more to enjoy.

It’s difficult to mix such disparate ideas, and compilations often suffer from a lack of cohesion, but Sleepy Insect Music has been compiled with great care and attention. Working with restraint, the duos songwriting instincts are inspired and when put together, the tracks feel like one body of work.

Highlighting the many changes in direction and style by The Boats, Sleepy Insect Music is a well executed compilation of impressive scope and variety which will continue to hold the listeners interest over time. Review by Adam Williams for Fluid Radio

Available from Home Normal here
Also from the flau store here
Also through Experimedia here

www.oursmallideas.co.uk
www.myspace.com/bepputheboats
www.homenormal.com
www.flau.jp