Kumiss
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- For the Mongolian fermented beverage, see Kumis.
Kumiss is an instrumental post-rock band from Southampton.
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[edit] Kumiss History:
Kumiss were formed in 2003 but it took several years for them to find their sound. After experimenting with a singer for a while they settled on their current five piece line-up.
In 2006 Joe White joined the band, to add more guitars, synthesizer and glockenspiel to the core trio of Chris Blakey, Matt Blakey and Josh Carr. Guitarist Chris Blakey had met Joe at college and towards the end of 2005 they started writing music together at the uni halls Joe was living at to study at Southampton University. After introducing him to Josh Carr the quartet had some very successful jams. Joe brought new influences to the music, most noticeably with more electronica and synth based bands like Air. The new instruments also had a diverging effect on the band's sound. During the early parts of 2006 the band started to identify their sound and after several well received gigs in Southampton recorded 'The missing link was previously absent'. This demo was recorded at an influential time for the band as in June 2006 Chris Blakey and Joe White moved into a house in Southampton centre with three other people, one of which was Ben Perry who later joins the band on violin. The summer spent at this house, 78 Milton Road, was very productive for the band as everyone living at the house was a musician. Much of the material for the 2007 ep 'Seventy-Eight Ways' was written at this point and after Chris and Joe's realization of the excellence and extent of Ben Perry's musical ability he was asked to join the band. The band spent the latter parts of 2006 playing new material and barely any of 'The missing link was previously absent'. The violin added great depth and diversity to the band, resulting in some support slots for well established bands such as Yndi Halda, Rival Joustas, UpCLeftCDownCRightCABC+Start and Yolk.
2007 started very well for the band with some headline gigs in Southampton and their first London gig in Februrary. They managed to obtain a support slot for Aereogramme at the Joiners, winning over many fans attending for Aereogramme. In late february they recorded 'Seventy-Eight Ways', their most accomplished recording to date. This first recording featuring Ben Perry on Violin, acoustic guitar and glockenspiel displays a much needed maturity from the band that perhaps 'The missing link was previously absent' lacked. The music is more diverse and less focused on build ups and breakouts that have become a stereotype of the post-rock genre. Track 3, 'Don't worry it was only a minor problem', sees the band experiment with funk, jazz and progressive elements, barely seen in the previous years work. Currently the band are promoting new ep, 'Seventy-Eight Ways', as well as playing headline gigs in and around Southampton.
[edit] The future of Kumiss
Kumiss hope that new ep 'Seventy-Eight Ways' will generate more widespread interest in the band. They plan to play more gigs further afield during 2007, perhaps playing a small tour of the south in July.
[edit] Current Line-up
Chris Blakey
Matt Blakey
Joshua Carr
Joe White
Ben Perry
[edit] List of Albums
| CD Name | Released |
|---|---|
| Forward | 2003 |
| Kumiss | 2003 |
| Aphasia | 2004 |
| Monologues of a sentry | 2005 |
| The Missing Link Was Previous Absent | 2006 |
| Seventy-Eight Ways | 2007 |
[edit] References
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