Critically acclaimed UK outfit UNKLE will bring their innovative and constantly evolving sound to New Zealand, for the first time since their Big Day Out appearance in 2008.
Formed in 1994 by James Lavelle – founder of the innovative record label Mo’ Wax and a pioneering force in British dance music for almost two decades – UNKLE has experienced numerous incarnations. Members have included Tim Goldsworthy (DFA), DJ Shadow, Richard File, and Lavelle’s current collaborator Pablo Clements. The band has also utilized a staggering array of vocal talent, including Mike D (Beastie Boys), Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Richard Ashcroft (The Verve), Josh Homme (Queens Of The Stone Age), Ian Astbury (The Cult), Jarvis Cocker (Pulp), Brian Eno, and 3D (Massive Attack).
UNKLE’s new album Where Did The Night Fall is a big, deep, kaleidoscopic record. It’s both widescreen and intimate, propulsive and reflective, drawing in influences as diverse as Krautrock, psychedelia, techno and Afrobeat.
It continues UNKLE’s history of collaboration with a dynamic roster of collaborators, including gravelly voiced legend Mark Lanegan (formerly of Queens of the Stone Age and Screaming Trees); San Francisco psych-scene darlings Sleepy Sun; Texan based drone rockers The Black Angels; member of cabaret punk trio Celebration and long-time TV On The Radio collaborator Katrina Ford; ELLE J of dark folk-rockers Dark Horses, and the Los Angeles based art noise-pop trio Autolux.
The album also featured former South frontman Joel Cadbury, and former Clayhill vocalist Gavin Clark, both of whom will join UNKLE for their only New Zealand appearance, which is presented by 95Bfm.
Described by Lavelle as “an upbeat, more optimistic record”, Where Did The Night Fall, is released independently on Lavelle’s own label, Surrender All (distributed in New Zealand by Rhythmethod.) “For me it is all about doing our own thing and keeping some semblance of control in an ever changing world,” says Lavelle. “With this record we really feel like we are at the beginning of our careers. The last 15 years have been our education and now we are about to go out into the real world.”
Thursday 5th May 2011 - The Powerstation, Auckland (R18)
Pre-sales available from Ticketmaster Tues 8th March 9am, sign up at www.thepowerstation.net.nz
General Public tickets on sale Thurs 10th March 9am from Ticketmaster & Real Groovy unless sold-out prior.
