Eardrum

Eardrum's second album, Side Effects, is a testament to the methods of both improvisation - afrobeat, free jazz, musique concrète and carnival street music - and the insularity of studio manipulation. Inspiration comes from Miles Davis, Lee Perry, Fela Kuti, the limitless influence of African music and the aural chaos of London life. Side Effects evokes cinematic imagery, sparked from dark urban and untamed rural counterpoints. Musical textures are in continual flow, a sense of motor drive and movement creating a sensation akin to road hypnosis. Harnessing the talents of diverse musicians from distinct disciplines, Side Effects is the link between the ambient rhythmscape of Last Light and the dynamic, unpredictable energy of Eardrum's live performances. Artwork by v23.

Last Light is the debut album by Eardrum, the group put together by percussionists Lou Ciccotelli and Richard Olatunde Baker. The album is comprised of ten percussion-dominated rhythmic leviathans - the missing link between 23 Skidoo, Afrobeat and Jon Hassell's Fourth World project. Recorded live, the album applies the pioneering attitudes of Lee Perry, King Tubby and Teo Macero as the studio becomes an instrument of manipulation, warping the musicians contributions and electrifying the groove, fusing African concepts of rhythm with dub and electronics.