Loka - Passing Place (CD) (UK Import)

Loka is an ever evolving band, drawing on influences from jazz to classical to BBC radiophonic to 60’s psychedelia and much more. Loka released their first EP Beginningless in 2003 and their first album Fire Shepherds followed in 2006 both released through Ninja Tune. Loka is evolving, but continues its compelling and innovative journey which is immune to trend. The eagerly awaited second album Passing Place, due for release in November 2011, is beautifully dark and disorientating with haunting vocals and brass interludes. Passing Place features an array of guest musicians and vocalists all complimented by a complete brass section from the welsh brass band Beaumaris Seindorf Band.

Loka evolved from studio experiments between Mark Kyriacou and Karl Webb back in 1999. The duo signed to the Ninja Tune label a year later and their first track "My Life's In These Bottles" appeared on Ninja Tune's Xen Cuts Compilation. The single "Beginningless" followed, and in 2006 Loka released their debut album Fire Shepherds to rave reviews. Gigs and a radio session for Giles Peterson's Radio 1 show followed, as well as a live performance at the Colchester Signals Film Festival (Signals embarked on a big video competition) and a headline performance at the jazz night of the Liverpool Music Week. Loka also took on remixing duties on Blockhead's seminal track "Sunday Séance", turning it into a breathtaking 6 minute full on live jazz drum-orchestrated epic.

Since Fire Shepherds in 2007, co-founder Karl Webb left Loka, leaving Mark Kyriacou to carry the Loka banner. Mark re-grouped with members of the Loka live set up, and went about sketching out ideas later to become Passing Place. The initial sketches were knocked out in 2008 in a rented rehearsal space in the old Big Issue building in Liverpool. These sketches were then taken to Thighpaulsandra’s (of Julian Cope, Spiritualised and Coil fame) Aeriel studios in the depths of South West Wales for colouring in. Thighpaulsandra played an integral part to the making of the album as he engineered, co-produced and assisted in the scoring out of the brass band layers. Once the foundations were recorded the additional layers were added over the following year. The album was mixed and completed back at Aeriel Studios. The album features vocals by Columbian Lido Pimiento, Canadian Eleanor Mante and Welsh vocalist Jaci Williams. The Welsh Brass Band ‘Beaumaris Seindorf Band’, and other guest musicians provide the woven additional layers.

Loka current live line up consists of founder member Mark Kyriacou (keyboards, electronics and compositions), Tom Sumnall (bass), Ian ‘Budgie’ Jones (drums) Stu Macdonald (guitar)Jaci Williams, Eleanor Mante (vocals) and the Seindorf Beaumaris Band. The new and refined Loka line up will be taking Passing Place on tour November 2011.

Source: Discogs