RandomK(e)

From Tag Team Records:
In initially describing any band we industry types inevitably fall back on the use of generic labels; Tortoise were ‘post-rock’, Jefferson Airplane ‘acid rock’ and Coldplay ‘incontinence-core’. Genres are unavoidable and generally helpful. But once in a while bands pop up that defy genres or, at the very least, incorporate ideas from so many different genres in their music that pigeonholing becomes impossible. RandomK(e) are one such a band. Magazine writers desperately searching for that one perfect adjective that forever pins them in place have described RandomK(e) as everything; post-rock, post-punk, stoner rock, angry hippies, mellow punks, lao wai, post-lao wai, noise rockers and dubby krautrockers with unconscious Shellac leanings. They've even been called 'slippery bastards'. All of these are perfectly accurate descriptions... until the next song starts.
Photo: Matthew Niederhauser
Formed in 2004, RandomK(e) are quite possibly the burliest group of dudes ever to assemble on a Beijing stage…ever. The band benefits from the wildly disparate musical backgrounds of its constituent parts. Vocalist/ Guitarist Richard Todd brings slabs of punk and DIY/ post-punk to the party, despite singing like a down-to-earth Ian Gillan with emphysema; Bassist Adam Pillsbury plays his instrument like the bastard child of Bootsy Collins and Charles Mingus; double-bassist/ laptop terrorist/ gadget fiddler/ knob twiddler general Jackson Garland adds unobtrusive electronic textures to the music while thickening the sonic soup with the double bass and while drummer Jon Campbell's hair screams Grateful Dead, his beats can whisper Buddy Rich or wail Bill Ward.
Out of this collision of seemingly uncomplementary influences, RandomK(e) create a sound that is very much their own; a shifting, nebulous sound that nonetheless has at its core an intensity and willingness to go out on musical limbs. Apparently simple love songs can turn on a penny and become pummeling, evil beasts that take no prisoners. Words and lyrics are used sparingly, occasional anchor points amidst RandomK(e)'s musical tempest. Emotions are conveyed through the music and, in song, RandomK(e) are more often pissed off than not.
To be honest, Richard Todd probably describes the K(e)’s sound/ aesthetic a lot more eloquently, and certainly more efficiently than we, or anyone else does:
"We want to push boundaries, use texture, arrangement, surprise, contrast and, most importantly, space in music. That’s not to say we don’t like songs, we do, but there’s room for a lot more playing with ideas that are not tied to 'verse, chorus verse' ideas."
Confused yet? Curious? Good! Maybe it’s best that you take a break from the inter-web and get yourself out to a RandomK(e) gig as soon as humanly possible in order to make up your own damn mind as to how the band really sound.
The band has recently released its debut album, "Waiting", on Tag Team Records. For ordering info, check out www.tagteamrecords.com, www.wa3.com, music shops across China or come on out to a gig and grab a disc!
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