R is a six-piece band residing in Wellington. Comprising of Michael Kane (percussion), Tim Prebble (melodic bass), Ryan Prebble (Rhodes, Vocals), Shanti Costa (Vocals), Benjamin James (Horns Keys) and Mataio Daniela (Space guitar) Spartacus R combines a diverse range of musical and stylistic influences, and a penchant for brown shirts, to create a sound that may be described as a "neo-lounge, Groove-laden psychedelia". The origins of this group of wandering minstrels are shrouded in mystery, with members claiming to hail from unlikely areas such as Clive, Christchurch, Takaka and Waipawa. Wherever they came from, since the testing the waters of the local scene in 2002, the have been known to regularly perform under the influence of Can, Soft Machine, Pink Floyd, Trinity Roots, Radiohead, The Doors, and Fat Freddy's Drop at venues around Wellington.
