Simian Mobile Disco

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Simian Mobile Disco
James Shaw and James Ford
James Shaw and James Ford
Background information
Origin Bristol, England
Genre(s) Electro house
Years active 2005–present
Label(s) Kitsuné Music, Wichita Recordings
Website Official Website
Simian Mobile Disco at MySpace

Simian Mobile Disco are an English production and remix team. Formed from the ashes of Simian in 2005 its members are James Ford and James Anthony Shaw.

Contents

[edit] History

Early in their career, they released a number of low profile singles, such as "The Count" on Kitsuné Music, but arguably gained more fame for their remixes of artists such as Muse, Klaxons, The Go! Team, Air and others. In 2006, Kitsuné released SMD's underground hit "Hustler", which features a vocal performance from New York singer Char Johnson.

Musically, Simian Mobile Disco are known for heavily stylized tracks—often with minimal instrumentation—that associate themselves with a particular hook (vocal or instrumental—see mix of "Whoo! Alright, Yeah...Uh Huh" by The Rapture), which is repeated throughout the track. There is often a breakdown (occasionally more—see mix of "Magick" by Klaxons) comprising noise, drums and sometimes synths and vocals.

There are rumours[citation needed] of a further collaboration with Arctic Monkeys whose second album James Ford produced in late 2006.

Although rumours surfaced regarding the band signing with Interscope subsidiary Kickball Records, SMD's debut album, Attack Decay Sustain Release was released on 18 June 2007 on Wichita Recordings. Among the tracks included on it are "Hustler", "Tits and Acid", "I Believe", "Hot Dog" and lead single "It's the Beat", which features Ninja from UK indie band The Go! Team on vocals. The album contains five new tracks, and the European version includes a bonus disc. The album was preceded by two mix compilations in April and May, for the "Bugged Out" and "Go Commando" series respectively.

SMD have just finished mixing the covermount CD for Mixmag which will come free with the January 2008 issue of Mixmag.

SMD performed a live act for the first time in May in the UK to promote the album.

Their song "I Believe" features in the FIFA 08 video game.

SMD recently supported Klaxons at Brixton Academy on the 5 December 2007 and The Chemical Brothers at Aintree Pavillion on 9 December 2007 and Brighton Centre on 12 December 2007.

They have announced that they will release a collection of remixed SMD originals entitled Sample and Hold, which will contain eleven tracks and be released in the UK on July 28. No North American date has yet been announced.

[edit] Releases

[edit] Albums

[edit] Mix compilations

  • Mobile Disco 2003 (Disc 2 of The Cornerstone Player Volume 039) (2003)
  • Bugged Out! Presents: Suck My Deck (April 2007)
  • Go Commando (May 2007)
  • I'm A Cliche/The Tokyo Tapes (2008)

[edit] Singles

  • "The Mighty Atom / Boatrace / Upside Down" (2004, I'm A Cliche)
  • "Piggy in the Middle" (2005, Cassette Records) (backed with "I Freak" by Christine)
  • "Pulse" (2005, Click Click Bang)
  • "The Count" (2005, Kitsune Music) (backed with "Morse Code From The Cold War" by Dieter Schmidt)
  • "Hustler / Clik" (2006, Kitsuné Music)
  • "Tits & Acid / Animal House" (2006, White Label)
  • "It's the Beat" (March 2007, Wichita Recordings) (with remixes by Graham Massey, Luke Vibert, Riton and Siriusmo)
  • "I Believe" (July 2007, Wichita Recordings) (backed with "System" and remixes by Switch and Prins Thomas)

[edit] Remixes

[edit] External links

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