Member Since: 19/06/2006
Band Website: idiotsavantgarde.com (to be updated soon...)
Band Members: MATTHEW R. DAVIS
Vocals, bass, theremin etc.
PAUL HUTCHINSON
Guitars
OWEN GILLETT
Keyboards, vocals, samples
TOM KILSBY
Drums
D. LAWRENCE ASH
Guitars, vocals
Influences: Everything every day in every way... but more specifically, here's what we've been cranking lately:
AUDIO:
Sunno))), "Dimensions And Monoliths"
Jane's Addiction, "A Cabinet Of Curiosities" box set
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, "Henry's Dream"/"Tender Prey"
The Smiths, "The World Won't Listen"
Jimi Hendrix, "The Ultimate Experience"
Godflesh, "Selfless"
Kate Bush, "The Whole Story"
Meshuggah, "ObZen"
VISUAL:
Torchwood: Children Of Earth (2009)
Knowing (2008)
Zombie Strippers (2008)
Reefer Madness (1934)
Midnight Movies (2007)
Withnail & I (1986)
PRINT:
On Writing/Wolves Of The Calla (Stephen King)
Scars And Other Distinguishing Marks/Created By (Richard Christian Matheson)
Transformers: Devastation (Simon Furman/EJ Su)
Blood Sisters (Matthew R. Davis)
Sounds Like: www.mp3.com.au
www.triplejunearthed.com.au
www.musicsa.com.au
www.hotsource.com.au
"A HYMN FOR HUMANITY LIVE @ CROWN & ANCHOR HOTEL"
Amber & Ashes montage clip
..
How best to describe Champagne Tragedy, the debut album from local lads Blood Red Renaissance? Words like diverse, adventurous, deranged and unhinged spring readily to mind but simply don’t do justice to what is an absolute collision and explosion of different musical styles.
All too often bands that attempt to combine many different elements into one album lose focus and direction as the emphasis shifts away from the songs. That is definitely not the case here. Blood Red Renaissance have come up with an exhilarating album full of challenging, fully-formed songs. To give you an idea of what to expect there are elements of industrial, metal, gothic, electronica, hip-hop and more within the BRR melting pot.
Opening track “Not Dead Yet†is crazed industrial metal straight from the Ministry manual. This is followed by the frantic “Boring!â€, a dance/hip-hop/rock number propelled along by buzzsaw guitars and samples. Next up funk and punk make an appearance in “Encyclopaedia Self-Destructicaâ€, before “Binary†combines epic, almost progressive elements with a soaring chorus and keyboards reminiscent of Faith No More.
“Don’t Walk Alone†has a funky bassline and sinister keyboards lurking in the background, while “Twice Bitten, Thrice Shy†is a mellow, whimsical but sinister ballad. Even a theremin and apparently a fire extinguisher (?) make an appearance on the morbidly humorous “Cemetery Girlâ€, a track very much in keeping with the album’s gruesome, blood-drenched cover art. I could go on, but suffice to say there are plenty more gems of various hues on offer.
Congratulations to a local band that have the courage of their convictions and have managed to come up with a brilliant debut album. To paraphrase a well-known idiot, do yourself a favour. Grab a copy of Champagne Tragedy, and catch Blood Red Renaissance at a venue near you.
[James McKenzie, dB Magazine]
.. ....> BLOOD RED RENAISSANCE in Miscellaneous Songs ..>
Record Label: idiotsavantgarde
Type of Label: Indie