2 by bukowski

2 by Bukowski is a post-rock band from Thessaloniki, Greece, but members live in London, UK. They first formed in 1998.

As band member George once claimed, “if we saw each other all the time, we might have written 30 albums a year”. So with the long distance relationship going, the new album Yzordderrex, the follow-up to 2003’s Drink From My Bastard Grail, took a modest 2-years to make.

Despite the band’s reluctance, 2 by Bukowski were constantly being described as Europe’s answer to Godspeed You! Black Emperor. The two bands, sharing perhaps the grand and magnificent landscape of their music, but the similarity ends here.

Recently George said that they are not playing as 2 by Bukowski anymore but have a new outfit called Voyr in the works.

DISCOGRAPHY:

2001
What a long strange journey this has been
CD/LP (Poeta Negra, LP limited to 500. PN14)

2003
Drink From My Bastard Grail
CD LP (Poeta Negra PN22CD)

2005
Yzordderrex
CDLP (Very Friendly Records. VF011CD

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Interstellar Overdrive

The core of what was to become interstellar overdrive was formed around 1998 in Athens, Greece; since then little or no resemblance exists. The genre changes dramatically with every new project.

In 1999’s ‘Battle of the Bands’ contest (held in Athens) the band was awarded with the first prize leading to the realisation of the debut album (Pegasus Records, 2000), which was recorded from May 1999 to June 2000 at various times.

From April 2002 to January 2003 the band, with a different line up this time, records a second album titled ‘Surface b’ again for Pegasus Records. The genre is a lot different than the debut with influences ranging from indie to post-rock. Yet, within this album there is evidence of a more experimental and less commercial approach to music.

From May 2003 the band stabilizes its line up (Catherine Papahristou, Pepy Kosma, Alex Sakellariou, Orestis Karamanlis) and records a series of pieces for different occasions. Within Spring 2003 “A short piece for the poison–man” is ‘exhibited’ along with the homonymous painting of Stefanos Rokos. In July, ‘Pop+Rock’ Magazine hosts the same song in a collection. In March 2005, ‘Pop+Rock’ Magazine hosts ‘Happy Hour’ in a collection for the Greek English-spoken scene.

In November 2005 the band records a series of pieces for the painting/engraving exhibition of Stefanos Rokos in Athens at “Agathi Hall of Art”. The music was intended to accompany the catalogue of the exhibition titled “Noise and Useful Objects” and was reproduced in 1500 copies. It consists of a mixture of electroacoustic sound and songs divided in 9 parts. The album was recorded in Cambridge and Athens and mixed by George Priniotakis at ArtRacks studio. It was disposed free at the opening day of the exhibition.

In January 2009 the band’s 3rd official album - titled “Hibernation” - was released by Studio2 Records. This is by far the most elaborate work to the present day. It was produced in 3 countries (Greece, England and Ireland) within the span of 5 years. It has been co-produced at SARC, a research center on sonic art, implementing also new methods for musical expression and human-machine interaction.

The music of interstellar overdrive has also been used in film and theatre.

At the moment the band continues to undertake an even more experimental approach investigating alternative ways to produce music using new media (even though its members are scattered).

http://www.interstellaroverdrive.gr/

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Misuse

Formed sometime in 2001 - Played several gigs in Athens at various venues, including support gig with Mogwai at Ark No.6 on April of 2003, after being selected by Mogwai themselves - Also played in other towns including Antiparos, Lehaina and Tripoli - Songs of Misuse are included in the now very hard to find compilations: “Mad Athens Presents Pop Scene 01” by Rubber, “Civil Cinder REgalia Vol. 1” by Tobruk Records & “In The Junkyard vol. 1” by Spinalonga - Misuse’s song “Progyria” has been choreographed by Nefeli Stamouli. The choreography has taken part in the World Choreography Contest In Varna, Bulgaria in August 2006 & has also been presented at HELEXPO International Exhbition in Thessaloniki in an event of the Hellenic Dance Company in association with the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, in Aristotelous Square on September 2006.

After the release of yet another compilation that features Misuse, “In the Junkyard vol.3” by Spinalonga Records, Misuse released their awaited self-titled full length album in May 2008 through Puzzlemusik and Spinalonga Records getting critical acclaim in the local press and gaining new fans!

Sadly, on September the 18th 2006, Christos Kormalis, who was the original drummer and founding member of Misuse lost his life in a motorbike accident. Though he didn’t play with them for the last 5 months, he was, and is, always considered as member by the group. It is him playing on Misuse’s Locked in a bar He will be missed…

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Electric Litany

The story of the band started, when Alexandros and Richard met in London. Alexandros moved from Corfu to London, while Richard was leaving Devonshire for London in search of forming a band of his own. Duane was the last member to join the band, since he was found by Alex and Richard through an ad.
Their first rehearsals were taking place in some pretty unusual places, like abandoned and derelict buildings. Since the rehearsals saw progress, they soon attended their first live concerts. Their first demos were recorded in an old pub by the name “Fallen Angel” (that was soon turned into an illegal studio, in need of a place for rehearsing).
Electric Litany have created their very own characteristic sound, that is very difficult to define and settle under genres. Though the fans usually refer to their sound as experimental.Over these years the band has managed to build a kind of reputation around their name and have created a fan base of their own.
In July 2009, the band started working on their first studio album. Recordings took place in an abandoned church of 1895, that has a very good acoustic quality. They only lasted 3 days and all songs were performed live under recording phase.
Soon enough the value of Electric Litany was appreciated by label Inner Ear Records and signed the band. Their first effort ” How To Be A Child & Win The War ” was released by Inner Ear on February 1st, 2010.

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2L8

2L8 is the project of K the Clown and a team of collaborators and musicians based in Thessaloniki, North Greece.



The 2L8 debut "Armed Angels, Frustrated Youth, the Art of Self-Deceit and Music Industry" (Poeta Negra Records, 2005) made a major impact on both critics and public in Greeece. Most reviews considered it as a "masterpiece" and described it as a document of contemporary musical expression, as the debut of the year! Post punk, pop, rock, hardcore, post rock and
at the same time nothing like that.

"HE & SHE, Angry Enough to Keep Loving in the Dark Ages" (Inner Ear Records, 2008) is 2L8's second release. All the songs in the album jump in a ritualistic way, without the insistence in a specific musical form, that means there is a balance between post-rock and minimalism. The bursts of guitars, the sharp stringed instruments, the gloomy atmosphere and the opera vocals introduce a fanciful and lyrical work. All these elements in combination with the fine-crafted production create an avant-garde piece of music.

 

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