AMP

(Dedicated to the loving memory of ticky le Chat 1989-2006)
We have put together a new live album from a gig we did in 2006 in Darmstadt Germany. It is available from our website as a download for the modest price of £3. the album is called 'Oetinger Villa' and is a recording of the entire concert with a running time of well over 85 minutes. (also available as a CDR version for £15)
Here is a link: Oetinger Villa ampbase shop page
The new track we have added onto myspace "interstate5 theme" was written for an art movie entitled 'Interstate 5' about the eponimus road in California the chaps who made the film are currently in post production with it, hopefully it should get a release on DVD or/and screenings...it is a beautifully shot film and deserves to be seen...They contacted us as they wanted to use a couple of tracks 'Transmissions' and 'Lost I-III' (by ampstudio) we also created this new track for the film as well which you can now listen too. The cover image for the track is the cover shot from the film and is by Michael Maier. Michael also shot the movie.
there is a clip of this film on youtube, plus a few live clips of Amp in concert
Goto amptheband on youtube
Motus is our current release, its a digital only release, and is available from our site ampbase.net/shop or itunes,
dowload Amp in session on ResonaceFM... Amp live session on the GalssShrimp show on ResonanceFM June2007 (31Mb zip file)
There is an interview with Richard from Amp posted at the Somewherecold.com webzine, check it out...
somewherecold.com Amp interview
The new 3xCD released on the RROOPP label is out Now, or rather it should be!. it is called "All Of Yesterday Tomorrow" go and order your copy now!:) Cat no is RR02PP and the main distributer is Cargo Records (UK)
Free Ringtones to download at www.toneshared.com
cool tones by Amp and others such as Pan American and KK Null are available from this site: Toneshared
CHECK OUT THE AMPBASE SHOP!
Where you you can get CDR's of hard to find and new releases by Amp
As well as CD's, LP's and Singles etc of most of our releases.
Plus mp3 clips galore to listen to and download!
click on the link below
Ampbase.net/shop
Also our music is available via itunes
The Amp itunes page
..
The AMP STUDIO itunes page
..
The Richard Amp itunes page
..
Thanks to everyone who came along to Corsica Studios, for our gig on the 24th June 2007! you all made it a very enjoyable evening:)
BIOGRAPHY
AMP formed out of the musical wanderings of Richard Walker (b. England) formerly in The Secret Garden with Dave Pearce now of Flying Saucer Attack. They recorded together the Distance project from which one track November Mist finally saw the light of day on the FSA album Distance in 1994.
The first Amp release was an audio- cassette, accompanied by a short story, written and recorded in 1992, entitled Green sky Blue Tree. In London 1993/94 Richards Green sky inspires singer Karine Charff (b. France) and after joining Richard, AMPs first single Get There is released on Lindas Strange Vacation Records. Both initially recorded some material at home and in Wales with friends Matt Elliiot of Third Eye Foundation and Matt Jones of Crescent. The first two singles were released in 1995, the album Sirenes was released in 1996 in the UK and USA.
Amp douse their folk melodies in oceanic effects, with a commitment to fidelity so low it would make a philander blushAmp have created a soundtrack that actually attempts to address their imaginary film they are scoring Christopher Porter, Alternative Press 1996.
After the two members Matts departed to work on their respective projects. Karine and Richard recorded some more material in London and Wales with G. Mitchell and G. Cooper resulting in the first album for the Kranky label Astralmoonbeamprojections released in 1997.
.... Amps Kranky debut is a panoramic sweep of experimentation, encompassing cavernously loud soundscapes, murmured vocals and a paradoxical blend of violent ethereality Tom Ridge, The Wire.1997
.... Amp is the most beautiful band currently in existence. Their music, ideas and approach to the art of sound is incredibly honest to an immaculate end Eric Kowalski, Millk 1997.
1998 saw Amp restructuring more closely around bi-polar forces of Karine and Richard. They work with Olivier Gauthier from France for programming, Producer Robert Hampson (Loop/Main) and together record the album Stenorette.
The Amp duos second album for Kranky marks an obvious change in approach from 1997 Astralmoon Here Amp makes conspicuous use of electronic beats to provide solid structures for the glacial beauty of their music Tom Ridge, The Wire Jan. 99.
After releasing the second Album on Kranky Records, Amp toured Europe in 1999 as a duo centred around Richard and Karine.
Space Age Recordings is Amps new home in 2000, from which we can find first release of Saint Cecilia Sinsemilla a collection of Live recordings during their European tour in 1999 including a radio session for VPRO Radio 5 in Amsterdam.
... Hearing Amp in what is (for most people) a new context, creates a new perspective for looking at not only this release, but previous releases. I have found myself returning to their other albums and enjoying them even more than before Pete Baumann, Fake Jazz.com. Oct.2001.
Lamour Invisible was released in June 02 on Space Age Recordings. Recorded in London with Richard Walker, Karine Charff and Olivier Gauthier. Around this time the band toured Europe more often.
And with LAmour Invisible, I finally discovered this truly eclectic leftfield band. What they present to us in just over an hour is amazing in variety and quality. Never have I heard a band that combines different musical styles so easily as Amp Bas Ickenroth, KindaMuzik. Oct 2002
‘US’ was released in Feburary 2005 on Very Friendly.Records on CD (Cargo/UK) The new album marks another development in their sound, to one which is bolder and more direct. Richard and Karine are joined by Marc Challans, Donald Ross Skinner (Julian Cope) and Ray Dickaty (ex. Spiritualized). Challans leaves the band in 2004 before the release of US.
‘… Expansive in its claustrophobia, propelled by its own density and darkness,, it is a panegyric to a transatlantic apocalypse.” Nick Southgate, The Wire April 05.
‘Transmissions Phase1’ 2xCDR was released on Ampbase.net, Autumn 2005. Amp’s own imprint via their website, prior to a conventional release, as yet tbc. Transmissions is a return to the landscape of ‘Perception’ and is intended as a kind of follow up release. Preformed by Richard, Karine and Ray.Performed 1 concert at ‘La Zone’ in Liege Belgium in November 1995 with Richard, Ray, Karine, Donald, and Jason Rivers (on loan from the Summer Sang) on bass.
Amp Toured Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and Holland early in 2006. with this line-up minus Ray (who had other commitments with the Solar Fire trio).
Amp played recently the ‘Croma Festival’ in Tenerife in September 2006 as a 3 piece: Richard, Karine and Kevin Bass (of Snow Pony) on Drums.
Released on the 2nd July 2007, a 3xCD compilation of Amp rarities and un released tracks. entitled "All Of Yesterday Tomorrow" on the RROOPP label (RR02PP) This release has generated great reviews.
“For many, this writer included, the loose collective that birthed Flying Saucer Attack, Crescent, Third Eye Foundation, Movietone and Amp offered a window onto a new world of possibilities informed by a quietly confident reimagining of rock history... As this excellent three disc collection of rarities illustrates, the music instigated by Richard F Walker under the guise of Amp epitomises this movement's preoccupations and preferences.”
“Little of the material here sounds dated, and what does is affectingly so, like a faded childhood photograph or a half-remembered TV theme. For the most part, Amp's cavernous drones and unanchored plaints are disarmingly present in their refreshing lack of affectation or calculation. It's a pleasure to make their acquaintance once again.”
–The Wire
“A mind-expanding 3 CD set... the music does just what it's creator intended.” “Some of the tracks featuring vocalist Karine Charff err towards conventional song structures while the looped and treated field recordings of 'Wild Wine Gaze' churn away like a vast weather system. 'When You Have Love' is quintessential Amp, with Satie-like piano ceding to a billowing blur of electronics and unrecognisable sounds, flecked with fragments of melody.”
– Mojo
“This triple CD survey of Amp's work from 1992 to the present is especially valuable.” “Richard Amp started out at the tail end of the UK shoegazing movement but heard in sequence like this, his music distils the scene's most appealing elements. It's surprisingly diverse: from the brooding isolationism of 'Lutin' to the Portishead-style trip hop of the recent 'Fine Day', whose elegiac mood recalls late-period TalkTalk.” – Uncut
Currently Amp is working on new materials for their next album.