Something Wicked...
Herbaliser at the Montreal’s International Jazz Festival
The title of Herbaliser's new album, Something Wicked This Way Comes, should give you a good idea of what to expect come their show at Montreal’s International Jazz Festival—Saturday June 29th—at Club Soda.
Often approached about their live shows being so different than their albums, Herbaliser duo Jake Wherry and Ollie Teeba have decided to add more instruments, make their own samples, and have their live band, The Easy Street Orchestra, more involved in the whole music making process. “It is the pinnacle of our achievements so far,” says Teeba. Although still reminiscent to the Beatnik and Fat Cat style used on previous albums, this one, as the cover seemingly suggests, plays more in the murky and mysterious side of HipHop in defining underground culture. Something Wicked has a cinematic feel to it—like an aural raod trip— spinning it round transports you to a psychedelic soul movie from the sixties.
Curiously enough, similar production techniques paved the road to success for roster team-mates, Cinematic Orchestra. “If you want to make albums as a whole instead of hits here and there there’s bound to be a bit of cross-over in style, “ confirms Phillipa Klein, co-creator of the Montreal-based Ninja Tune label—especially when the ultimate aim of both artists is to do movie soundtracks.
Fortunately for the Herbaliser, their maturity and experience is giving them a one up: remixing for such artists as Jaffa and Nigel Kennedy, and making music for PlayStation’s NBA Street and Guy Richie’s Snatch is paying off. A contract to do a full-length U.K. film seems to be in the works (“knock on wood,” Klein reminds me to add).
Now then, why the Jazz Festival?
Because artists from Ninja Tune are always asked, as simple as that. For those of you who don’t recall, Kid Koala teamed up with A-Trak for a mesmerizing “Grands Événements” performance a few years back and Cinematic Orchestra performed as recently as last year. After tours all over Europe and North America, with shows in Glastonbury and Montreaux, Herbaliser and the Montreal International Jazz Fest are the logical suite.
So enjoy.
For more information, see the schedule at the Montreal International Jazz Festival site
Herbaliser play at Club Soda Saturday, June 29th at Midnight.
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