Solemn Camel Crew

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Solemn Camel Crew
Solemn Camel Crew performing live
Background information
Also known as	The Solemn Camel Crew, SCC
Origin	Somerset, England
Genres	8-Bit, Bitpop, big beat, electro, electronic rock, electronica, alternative dance
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Electric Wax, 1st October Records, Turtle Head
Website	www.solemncamelcrew.co.uk

Members	Jonathan Brammer James Randall Nick Jacobs

Solemn Camel Crew are a British electronic music Bit-Rock band. Their music is influenced by many genres from rock, classical to dance. Incorporating 8-bit synth and sampling the end result is their own unique Bitpop - rock style.

The name Solemn Camel Crew was adopted due to the frequency of cigarette breaks during early production sessions. At the time, both Randall and Brammer smoked Camel cigarettes, according to Brammer.^[1]

Solemn Camel Crew formed in October 2002 and are currently signed to Indie label, Electric Wax.^[2]

History

Formation / early years

Solemn Camel Crew started in 2002 when band members James Randall & Jonathan Brammer met as students of Yeovil College. They began working with a demo version of Fruity Loops 4 to create their first batch of digital tracks culminating in The Gypsy Book & Other Tales From The Phat Kitchen EP. The entire record was recorded and produced on sub standard equipment with demo software that disallowed saving. Consequently, none of the early material has ever been sold or has ever been available for download.

Subsequent recordings were made between 2002 - 2006 to follow The Gypsy Book & Other Tales From The Phat Kitchen. Each with common running themes that have survived to make appearances on later records, namely, Stephen Hawking references and The Tony Bear Theme.

Early recordings

2002 - The Gypsy Book & Other Tales From The Phat Kitchen
2003 - Alpha Metric
2003 - Opium of The Masses
2004 - K
2005 - Rimpton Mixes
2005 - Return
2006 - Pinnacle Tea EP

Later work

Solemn Camel 3000

In early October 2008 after a long break Randall and Brammer got together to write new Solemn Camel Crew material. Introducing 8-bit chip sounds and focusing on an upbeat, up tempo style, Solemn Camel Crew found its feet and its sound. The Citrus Jaboree called Camelnected By Camelepathy "an anthem".^[3] The record paid hommage to earlier records with track eight "The Ballad of Steven Hawking (Episode 2)" and "Exit Music For A Bear" revisiting older themes. The album became a popular electro staple through Last FM Internet Radio.

Finger Party

Finger Party Is Solemn Camel Crew's second studio album. It features more live audio sampling compared to previous release Solemn Camel 3000. New elements such as the use of vocoders showed a development in approach and style alike. Work on the album began shortly after Solemn Camel 3000 was completed in October 2008.

Dodecatuplehedronism

Dodecatuplehedronism is Solemn Camel Crew's third studio album recorded mainly at Electric Wax Sound Studio over Summer 2009.

Beta Metric

Beta Metric is Solemn Camel Crew's fourth studio album recorded mainly at Electric Wax Sound Studio in early 2010.

Kaleidoscopic

From Mid 2010 Randall & Brammer began working on a fifth Solemn Camel Crew album. After several live shows embracing more live instrumentation the album Kaleidoscopic takes the form of a more rock influenced record.

Live shows

When performing live Solemn Camel Crew often introduce extra elements to the live sound that do not feature on studio recordings. James uses an array of gadgets and foot switches to manipulate the electric guitar in often unexpected ways and an assortment of added instrumentation (violin, synth etc.) to produce a "one off" unique performance every show. Synth bass is backed by live electric bass performed by Nick Jacobs whilst sequencing, vocals and synth are controlled front of stage by Jonathan Brammer.

Members

Current members

Jonathan Brammer – guitar, vocals, keyboards, programming, songwriter (2002–present)
James Randall – guitar, keyboards, programming, songwriter (2002–present)
Nick Jacobs – bass guitar (2010–present)

Contributers

John Pitt - Sound FX (Rimpton Mixes)
Oliver 'Duffy' Baker - Vocals (K)
Matthew Tucker - Saxophone (Return & Live performances under the alias "Captain Cardiac")
Nick 'Bazilbean' Barrel - Vocals (Return)
Jack Barlow - Writer "The BlueTooth Introduction" (Solemn Camel 3000), Vocal "Jeremy's Iron" (Finger Party)
John Brindley - Vocals "The BlueTooth Introduction" (Solemn Camel 3000)
Isabella Griffin Reid - Vocal "Childs Play" (Dodecatuplehedronism)

Discography

Studio albums

2008: Solemn Camel 3000
2009: Finger Party
2009: Dodecatuplehedronism
2010: Beta Metric

Compilations

2009: The Best of the Early Years

Track listing

Solemn Camel 3000

1. The BlueTooth Introduction (2:48)
2. Homafrocat (3:15)
3. Camel Toe (1:48)
4. Camelisation (2:16)
5. Camelnected By Camelepathy (3:26)
6. I Have All The Chaos Emeralds (2:16)
7. Turn Off The TV (2:21)
8. I Hate Mono (2:17)
9. The Ballad Of Steven Hawking (Episode 2) (3:18)
10. Time For Bed (2:35)
11. Camel Goes West (2:45)
12. Camel (On The Right Side) (2:21)
13. Exit Music For A Bear (4:27)

Finger Party

1. Night of The Living MegaDrive (1:44)
2. I Want To Play With Lego (4:07)
3. Twist Your 8-Bits (1:18)
4. The Coolest Lunchbox (1:52)
5. Jeremy's Iron (2:17)
6. Finger Party (3:40)
7. Impossible To Let Go (3:04)
8. Japanese Import - Level Complete (0:36)
9. All My Sins Are Forgiven...Thanks (2:05)
10. Overdraft Accepted (2:19)
11. Soviet Assault On My Nes (1:52)
12. Sunday Challenge (3:58)
13. Power Up & Boogie (1:14)
14. Ground Control To Flight Lieutenant Dangerous (1:52)

Dodecatuplehedronism

1. Childs Play (3:39)
2. Pick-A-Boo (3:35)
3. Friendly Neighbourhood Atom (1:52)
4. Peel Off The Skin (2:13)
5. Jabba The Hutt (3:09)
6. I Am The Optimist (1:05)
7. Joyful & Triumphant (3:13)
8. Balzal The Great (2:51)
9. The Mr Beef Waltz (3:32)
10. Electric Me, Electric You (3:21)
11. No Hope For A Savoury Tongue (2:55)
12. Dodecatuplehedronism (2:50)

Beta Metric

1. I Feel Funky (2:47)
2. Crushing Death, The Gentle Revival (2:07)
3. Igloo (2:05)
4. I Face-Plant, You Pick Me Up (2:29)
5. Stephen vs The Minotaur (2:50)
6. Robot Dance (2:28)
7. Montage Music (2:37)
8. Good Morning Everyone (1:10)
9. An Integrated Circuit (5:29)
10. Melancholyflower Cheese (2:24)
11. My maths Is Broken (3:30)

Notes and references

↑ Interview with Solemn Camel, conducted by Danny Miles, published 12-11-08 EBit Magazine
↑ Last FM artist information
↑ The Cirtus Jamboree Ezine

External links

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