Keser

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Keser Live in Hamburg
Background information
Origin	Edinburgh, Scotland
Genre(s)	Electronica Post Rock
Years active	2005 to present
Label(s)	Alex Tronic Records
Website	Offical Keser Homepage
Members
Kevan Whitley Gavin Dick

Keser are a Scottish band from Edinburgh, UK. Keser was formed by Kevan Whitley and David Reid, and debuted in 2005. According to Is this music? magazine, they

"achieve in their tracks a new sound drenched in guitar-based electronica...they are able to explore the syntax of electronica with awe and excitement", Issue 24 Winter 2006 .

Fusing an experimental, unique guitar style with synthesised beats has resulted in a new progressive form of guitar-based seraphic electronica.

Keser are signed to UK indie label Alex Tronic Records, their first release being an album consisting of 12 tracks, Esoteric Escape. The album was recorded at the home of Alex Tronic Records with label manager and producer Paul Croan, who also releases music as artist Alex Tronic. He has previously released and licenced music to many labels, notably Koyote/Peyote Records and Cherry Red Records.

The album was then mastered by Geoff Allan at CaVa Studios in Glasgow, Scotland. Geoff Allan's past credits include working with Arab Strap, Lapsus Linguae, Mogwai, Camera Obscura, Franz Ferdinand, Mercury Rev, Fiel Garvie, Sons and Daughters, Fickle Public, Flying Matchstick Men and Malcolm Middleton.

When performing live, Keser lean towards an instrumental, heavy, distorted and energetic approach but will also perform quieter ambient textures within their music. This musical dynamic draws comparisons to genres like shoegaze, art rock, metal and post rock. Their live set up involves electric guitar, bass, drum machines, effects, samplers and a laptop.

Their live sound has been described by Scottish magazine The Skinny as follows; "Comparisons made to Boards of Canada and Mogwai are justified, as Keser's sound has a beautiful, ethereal depth to it, taking the listener on a hypnotic flight through their utopian world. The escapism starts with delicate ambient strings washed over faint vocals and samples. When live, Keser have a dynamic energy full of distorted guitar and crunchy beats backed by some imposing visuals...Proving yet again, what exceptional eletronica is out there in Scotland waiting to be heard"^[1]

Recently Keser have toured Scandinavia with shows in Norway and Denmark during December 2006. Two pivotal shows took place in Copenhagen, one with Icelander Stafrænn Hákon and the other in 12 Tónar record shop.

Originally founded in 1998 in Reykjavík, the record store quickly became a meeting point for musicians such as Björk, Sigur Rós, Múm, and the core of classical composers and performers. They recently expanded their business into Copenhagen.

In 2007, Gavin Dick replaced David Reid as bass player for the band.

Keser recently performed at the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, Germany in September 2007 at Kukuun club. They also performed live and were interviewed during a radio session on Tide/Phonanza 96,0 FM, Hamburg.

Keser have also appeared live on one hour long broadcasts on UK National Radio (Fresh Air FM Edinburgh) on two separate occasions to date; February and May 2007. Current airplay for tracks from Esoteric Escape also include BBC Radio Scotland, Xfm, Radio K in Minneapolis, USA and Leith FM, Edinburgh. Keser track '4_Cycles' was listed as one of the top 10 discoveries of 2007 for DJ Al Chivers of Leith FM.

Keser have recently performed with Ulrich Schnauss at a memorable show in Edinburgh during May 2008.

Alex Tronic Records' distribution in the UK is done by Cargo Records and Arabesque worldwide.

The name Keser was chosen from a graffiti tag seen around Edinburgh with no real meaning intended.