With over 80 years experience collectively Simon Posford and Raja Ram are more than qualified for the exploration into the unclassifiable music frontiers they have ventured into; ‘SHPONGLE’ is a new world of traditional sounds, acoustic guitars, Moroccan drums, Turkish operatic singing, cello, double bass, backing vocals and silver flute blended together with the computer wizardry of Simon Posford's studio production.
Simon Posford has long had a reputation as the, 'Hallucinogenius' a imitable pioneer in sound experimentation, from his seminal first album, 'Twisted' which reached No.28 in the French charts selling over 50,000 copies worldwide, up to his recent Millennium hit, 'Mi-Loony-Um' with its up-to-the minute modem melodies. His international fan base has flowered from country-wide to world-wide in the last ten years, since his humble beginnings at Youth's Butterfly Studios in Brixton, this year alone he has played over 16 sell out gigs around the world, each with a capacity of over 1500 people, in Australia, Israel, New York, Pittursburg, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Moscow, Geneva, Montreal, Tokyo to name just a few. In Tokyo he has received a lot of TV and press coverage for their ambient project, ‘Shpongle’ which has intrigued the Japanese audience with its international blend of traditional world music and modern musical mastery.
Raja Ram, is the innovative sonic co-pilot producing alongside Simon and providing inspirational artwork for the album covers and the website as well as his unmistakable flute solo's in C Major. A founding member of the band Quintessence in the sixties Raja has many years of band experience in the music industry. Not only a band member but also the creator of TIP Records along with their infamous party sound and energy, he is not only a brilliant flautist but the inspirational man behind the ‘Shpongle’ concept.
Shpongle has been a working project since the release of the first album in 1998 filtered out into the underground in which Twisted Records is so renown for its dance music, having sold 30,000 copies without any noticeable press coverage Simon and Raja are now ready to hit the world with their unique sound and have been on a mission to express themselves since finishing the album over the winter, Raja has been playing a series of 16 parties in Brazil as well as tours in Japan and Simon playing all across the globe including his recent appearance in Tokyo. Now finally the UK has a chance to catch up on this worldwide phenomena with the forthcoming release of their second album, 'Tales of the Inexpressible' with its further explorations into diverse sound production they are ready to unleash the multiversity that is ‘SHPONGLE’
The core members of Shpongle are Simon Posford and Raja Ram from United Kingdom, along with many collaborators and guest musicians. Ott is also credited on all albums.
Their Shpongle sound is a mix of mainly eastern ethnic samples and western contemporary psychedelic synth music. Posford is responsible for the synth and studio work while Raja Ram contributes with flute arrangements. They are both responsible for the visionary input. According to one interview, they commonly visualize the music together before and during the creation process.
Shpongle’s first tune, Vapour Rumors, was released on TIP Records’ Infinite Excursions compilation in 1996. Their debut album, Are You Shpongled?, was released 1998 on Twisted Records. The high sound quality, successful mix of samples, instruments and synths along with the story and progress of the music through the album made it one of the most cutting edge releases of that time. Are You Shpongled? and Twisted Records’ first downtempo compilation, Eclipse, made a huge impact on the psychedelic trance scene in 1998.
Simon Posford is also known for his solo productions as Hallucinogen and as driving force of the label Twisted Records UK. He is also part of Dub Trees (with Youth and Dubsahara), Celtic Cross (with Youth) and Younger Brother (with Prometheus).
Raja Ram is also a member of The Infinity Project (with Graham Wood, Anjee Sian and other contributors/collaborators). He was also founder of the indo-prog/raga rock group of the ’60s/’70s Quintessence.
Shpongle (pronounced /ˈʃpɒŋɡəl/) is a psychedelic downtempo or Psybient psychedelic ambient project from the United Kingdom. The core members are Simon Posford (aka Hallucinogen) and Raja Ram (one third of The Infinity Project), but they often collaborate with other artists. Their sound has sampled Eastern ethnic instruments and Western contemporary synthesizer-based psychedelic music. Posford is responsible for the synth and studio work while Raja Ram contributes with flute arrangements. The project was formed in 1996 after the pair viewed a solar eclipse in India. The two went into the studio and attempted to duplicate the experience in sonic form, and the result was a 20-minute track, "...And the Day Turned to Night," which was featured on Shpongle's first album "Are You Shpongled?" and the Twisted label compilation Eclipse - A Journey Of Permanence & Impermanence.
The name "Shpongle" is not a dictionary recognized word; in an interview taking place in Russia, Raja Ram stated that "Shpongle" is an umbrella term for feeling positive and euphoric emotions.[1]
VIDEO LINKS HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge1AByiHrZQ&feature=player_embedded
MORE INFO @www.twistedmusic.com/artists/shpongle
SHPONGLE - 5.7.10
W/ GAUDI
& SAQI + MEMBERS OF M4 MARCHING BAND
Crystal Ballroom
SW 13th & Burnside
Portland, OR
BLUETECH PRESENTS:
SATORI SOCIAL (LIVE BAND)
5/14/2010
BERBATI'S PAN
SW 3RD & ANKENY
6.11.10 - BEATS ANTIQUE & Ott.
Wonder Ballroom
215 NE Russel St.
Portland, OR