Lo Fidelity Allstars

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Lo Fidelity Allstars
Origin London, United Kingdom
Genre(s) Electronica
Label(s) Skint Records
Website Official website
Members
Andy Dickinson
Johnny Machin
Dale Maloney
Phil Ward
Martin Whiteman
Former members
Dave Randall
John Stone

The Lo Fidelity Allstars are a London-based electronica group who have recorded from the late 1990s to the present. Their earlier work is noted for genre-crossing stylings, distorted, morose, and at times alien lyrics, distinctive funk bass lines, and extensive use of lo-fi recording practices (although it would be a stretch to call the style of the music as a whole "lo-fi", in the more traditional sense). This work is best exemplified by their 1998 debut album How To Operate With A Blown Mind on Skint Records. At this time, the Lo Fidelity Allstars were credited by pseudonyms rather than their actual names. After its release, the band's lead vocalist David Randall (credited as The Wrekked Train) left shortly followed by the keyboard player "Sheriff" John Stone. For their second studio album, Don't Be Afraid of Love, the members of the band discarded their pseudonyms in favor of using their real names.

The departed members set up as a new group called The Big Sleep and did record a live mix for BBC Radio 1's Mary Anne Hobbs show.

Before the split, they found time to record a mix album On the Floor at the Boutique (a follow-up to Fatboy Slim's mix album of the same name) containing an unsurprisingly eclectic selection of tracks, including 2 short tracks recorded by the original line-up especially for the mix: "You're Never Alone With A Clone," and "Bootsy Call". Another track, "Many Tentacles Pimping On The Keys," was also included which was released previously as "Disco Machine Gun Part 2" on the Disco Machine Gun single released in 1997.

Though the group's later work leans more towards pop electronica than the brooding techno sounds of How To Operate With A Blown Mind, the lyrics of the group continue to be at times alien, or at the very least, off-color. The 2002 album Don't Be Afraid of Love includes a number of guest vocalists, including funk legend Bootsy Collins.

The group are currently working on their third studio album "Northern Stomp", featuring the tracks "Northern Stomp", "Smash and Grab World" and "Southside Lowdown" (featuring Greg Dulli).


Contents

[edit] Lineup

[edit] How To Operate With A Blown Mind

  • The Wrekked Train (Dave Randall): vocals
  • The Albino Priest (Phil Ward): decks/samples
  • A One Man Crowd Called Gentle (Andy Dickinson): bass
  • The Slammer (Johnny Machin): drums
  • Sheriff John Stone: additional keys
  • The Many Tentacles (Martin Whiteman): engineering/keys
  • The Disco Bison: "Loves Disco Music"
  • Matt Harvey: keyboards

[edit] Don't Be Afraid Of Love

  • Andy Dickinson
  • Johnny Machin
  • Dale Maloney
  • Phil Ward
  • Martin Whiteman

[edit] Discography

LPs

EPs

  • Ghostmutt (2000) #8 UK Budget Albums Chart

Singles

  • "Kool Roc Bass" (1997) #90 UK
  • "Disco Machine Gun" (1997) #50 UK
  • "Vision Incision" (1998) #30 UK
  • "Battle Flag" featuring Pigeonhed (1998) #36 UK
  • "Blisters On My Brain" (1998)
  • "Lo Fi's in Ibiza" (2001)
  • "Sleeping Faster" (2002) #77 UK
  • "Feel What I Feel" (2003) #101 UK

[edit] External links

Languages