SPOKEN WORD

: A lyrical text accompanied by accordion

These pieces of satire, parody and story-telling are complimented by an 'orchestrated' accordion part.  The mood is intimate, beguiling.  The time is just before bedtime and you're tucked up with a milk moustache.

In more depth: The lyrical text may be a poem or story that is delivered in a songlike and rhythmical fashion.  The musical accompaniment is set to enhance or juxtapose the spoken word and its style may range from orchestral, (I love Nelson Riddle's arrangements for Frank Sinatra...), a film soundtrack or a skiffle band.  It's playful and simple in its' parts but taken as a whole, it offers a complex, more engaging live experience. Due to the limitations imposed by the use of microphones, physical movement is kept to a minimum.  However, the exploration in and love of rhythm is the basis for all this material.

Sounds like: a less Cockney Ian Dury mixed with a less child-friendly Danny Kaye

Key Influence: "One Night in Bangkok" by Murray Head, from the musical "Chess".

Other Influences: Gil Scott Heron, Johnny Cash, James Brown, Hans Christian Andersen, Doris Day, Danny Kaye, and of course, Prince.

Sounds a lot like this:

In Pictures:

As seen in: The Cobden Club, Bethnal Green WMC, Bistrotheque, Bardens Boudoir, The Rhythm Factory, Turnmills (RIP), The Spitz (RIP), Komedia Brighton, The Hanbury Club Brighton, Half Moon Putney, Guilfest, Germany, Denmark, Holland, USA, Canada, Japan.