As a prime mover in the Sheffield improv scene, Martin Archer has played with a great number of musicians and is constantly exploring new combinations. In 2016, having played with both Nick Robinson and Steve Dinsdale individually, he put this trio together with the idea of exploring a “motorik” vein.
Steve’s relentless drumming (and occasional keyboards) providing a basis for Nick’s guitar motifs / loops and Martin’s soaring woodwind & keyboards to interact and explore the sonic and atmospheric possibilities. Recently, we welcomed in Jon Short on bass, who will appear on our forthcoming (4th) album “Veer”.
Described in a recent review – “a pure heavenly euphoria, to put simply, astounding. Progressive music in the truest sense of the term, transcending the oft-clichéd sobriquet ‘prog’. They walk in the footsteps of the rock/jazz/fusion gods of the 70s but make their imprints deeper, more unshapely, and longer-lasting. Ears be blown here, folks. Godlike.” Their two albums and the newly released “Laik Tors” are available on Discus Music and as downloads via Bandcamp, Amazon and Apple Music
Starting with proto jazz-rockers March the Third and playing cello on a Pulp single, Jon Joined Nick in the 80s for a promising outfit called “Harriet”, with a singer who later wrote for Tina Turner and won awards.
Sadly it fell through and Jon formed Deep Sky Divers, a feted ambient duo.
Chosen by Das Rd not only for his consummate playing but also because his surname matched a letter from the band acronym!
One of England’s only professional origami artists, with over 100 books on the subject to his name. His early musical career included Typhoon Saturday, (who spawned chart-toppers “Living in a Box”) who had a deal with Polydor and released 3 singles to minimal success.
Another band was Dig Vis Drill. Those that saw them in the early 80’s felt this band were destined for greatness. They had a unique and awesome sound, a live act second to none, they were confrontational, challenging, intelligent and fronted by motor-mouth Ogy McGrath, a cross between Woody Allen and Attila the Hun.
From the mid 80s, Robinson began to explore improvised music (supporting Archer’s band “Bass Tone Trap” at a local gig). His path led to his current main activity performing and recording solo, looped guitar soundscapes.
You can check out his discography on his site, along with extensive information, audio, video and a blog covering midi, ableton and live looping amongst other topics. You can find more of his music on his Bandcamp page and his solo CD is released by Discus Music in early January, attracting rave (pre)views from Adrian Belew, Steve Hackett and several others .
Robinson and Archer had played a variety of gigs together in different formations so when Martin suggested bringing drummer Steve Dinsdale into the mix, Das Rad was born.
A composer / improviser who is equally at home on stage or in the studio. His own distinctive saxophone playing is rooted in AACM jazz. Through his use of keyboards and electronics, and as a studio producer, he extends this interest into extended song form and leftfield rock music. His principle music work is the Discus Music label, the imprint for his various releases, notably by the groups described below.
His recent jazz based projects include the electric Miles era influenced Anthropology Band, the improvising group Deep Tide Quartet (with Laura Cole, Kim Macari and Walt Shaw), and Engine Room Favourites (currently a 4 drummer, 14 piece big band). Archer has a long running recording duo project with veteran vocalist Julie Tippetts.
Archer’s main live performance vehicle is the duo Inclusion Principle with Herve Perez. The group operates in a space between electronics, nu-jazz, contemporary electroacoustic music and free improvisation. In performance you will hear pure jazz skill, electronic beats and areas of texture and abstraction all seamlessly woven into a fascinating and constantly shifting tapestry of sound.
The sprawling Orchestra Of The Upper Atmosphere was formed by Archer as an improvising rock group with shades of Terry Riley, Magma, Alice Coltrane and Sun Ra, very much in the progressive / krautrock tradition, and noted for its large scale string, horn and vocal arrangements.
Also in rock music, Archer is a member of the USA based heavier than plutonium prog / sludge / zeuhl group Combat Astronomy under the direction of Jamie Huggett. Surprising, delighting and occasionally alarming audiences for a number of years now, Juxtavoices is a 30 piece choir for mainly untrained voices co directed by Archer with Alan Halsey which has racked up dozens of performances and issued three CDs.
Archer put together the Das Rad line-up with a view to exploring the concept of “motorik thru abstraction”.
Drummer/Keyboardist cut his teeth on the Teesside and Sheffield music scenes before moving to London in the late 80’s. Drummed with Honey Smugglers who recorded indie-classic single `Listen’ in 1990, and who are still asked regularly to appear on period compilations.
Joined T.V. Eye alongside ex-members of Eat and future celebrity-botherer and `Game Of Thrones’ star Paul Kaye. Gave up dreams of stardom after returning from holiday to find that said singer had gone off to live on a Kibbutz, and the guitarist was suddenly number one in the charts with a record he’d arranged for an unknown female singer with an eye patch.
Formed electronic improvising trio Radio Massacre International playing keyboards, electronics and drums with oldest friends and collaborators Duncan Goddard and Gary Houghton, who over a 25-year career have played dozens of concerts in the UK, Europe and USA as well as appearing on an MTV Europe co-host. The discography currently stands at some 60 or more releases including a trio of albums for acclaimed US label Cuneiform, and five solo albums made over the last ten years.
Performed as Drummer and/or Floor Percussionist with the Damo Suzuki Network on some half dozen occasions, one of which has led to a number of collaborations with Martin Archer including Orchestra of the Upper Atmosphere which was founded in 2009 and has since made four albums, and Engine Room Favourites the 10-piece Jazz ensemble.
And now…Das Rad.