Longstone - Kabuki

West Country electronic experimentalists Longstone return to Ochre Records for the release of their 6th studio album, Kabuki. The experimental electronica of Mike Cross and Mike Ward blends organically with improvised woodwind, percussion, and guitar, creating a fascinating suite of music - ranging from alien soundscapes, through to Krautrock infused, beat driven workouts. The album also features GUILLEMOTS member Chris Cundy on bass clarinet, saxophones, recorder, gadgets and voice changer, 90 DEGREES SOUTH’s Kev Fox and Stuart Wilding (who has collaborated with numerous improv performers including Keith Tippett, Lol Coxhill, Hugh Metcalf). In the twelve years since Mike Ward and Mike Cross began working as Longstone they have been prolific. Without the luxury of a major label budget they have released 6 albums, 2 studio mini albums, 2 live recordings. The performance at the New York CMJ festival was released on Ochre as a 10” whilst the performance at the Garage in London with ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN’s Will Sergeant appeared on the ‘Archive’ album. They also play live around the U.K. on a regular basis (including appearances at the 2008 Cheltenham Jazz festival and Stranger songs festival) both as Longstone and in other guises, including The Serpents (which included members of SUPER FURRY ANIMALS and GORKYS ZYGOYIC MYNCI) and Brickwerk. They have worked with a multitude of other artists and musicians including BUNNYMEN’s Will Sergeant, SPECTRUM & SPACEMAN 3’s Sonic Boom (who provided a remix on ‘Archive’) and WILD SWANS / TEARDROP EXPLODES founder member Paul Simpson. The group are currently collaborating with members of the Guillemots on studio and live projects. Longstone have received healthy airplay from John Peel and Mary Anne Hobbs on Radio 1 and crossed over to Radio 3 with plays on Mixing It and Late Junction. Longstone have also contributed a themed, two hour special for Resonance FM. They have enjoyed press coverage in a wide variety of publications such as the Wire (including a track on the Wire Tapper 17 CD), Future Music (including a featured interview and track on the cover mounted CD) and a two-page article in the Guardian about the recording of The Serpents album.

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