How do you marry those influences,garnered over time?.... Artists such as Miles Davis, who plugged jazz into the electric mains, and blew the circuits! The intimacy of David Sylvian, and melancholy of The Blue Nile. The jazz/folk/dub of John Martyn and his sweet little mysteries.... The disciplines of King Crimson,and the deep,sweet tones of Joni Mitchell. Snatches of old blues,rock,jazz,folk,heard on the radio. Friends saying "listen to this".... The electronic and ambient pioneers,Eno, Brook, Hassell. The heartbeat of Africa through Fela Kuti,and Manu Dibango. The genius dub of Lee Perry,King Tubby,etc.... A record/tape/cd found for 50p in a sale bin,that delights,and defies description. 20th Century composers,who took classical music,gave it a slap,put on it new clothes,and pushed it screaming, out onto the streets. Film composers who took all of these,and made it into something else. Lets not forget the punk and new wave revolutions,that shook tired old musos,and journalists (not least your parents). Dance....in all its guises.The rediscovery of the primal beat. Now try and do that with a 4 track cassette recorder,a casio,and a atari computer.... After a few hiccups, Fran Kapelle answered an ad for a vocalist, and things fell into place for Tracing Arcs. The first demo tape was demo of the month in Future Music magazine,and subsequently a part of their "best of" for that year. The second demo tape again was featured in Future Music, resulting in enquires,and interest across the UK. After dancing around for labels such as 4AD and "promoters",and others,things had not progressed. At least Richard Barbieri (Japan,JBK,Porcupine Tree) was impressed enough to give us a call.(I thought it was a friend pissing about,sorry Richard). In the meantime Michael Spain (gtr) had joined the band,and a live set written, and rehearsed. After gigging in the usual toilets pretending to be "music venues".Headlining was achieved at venues such as The Powerhaus,London. The Leas Cliff Hall,Create Festival and others.Support to bands Olive, and The Cranes. Then commissions to write for theatre companies, dance companies,art festivals and installations. These resulted in work being used at The Riverside Theatre,London,and other theatres both in the Uk, and in Milan. It was decided to finance our own cd.And this was done at the Sonic Kitchen,London, and mastered at Abbey Road. A C Hill (Big Al) was a friend and collaborater in this,who's credits include Mind over Rhythmn,Plaid,Jack de Johnette,and many others. Radio play and interviews on both BBC and independant radio were happening....then disaster! New homes had to be found for Paul & Fran.This broke the pattern of work,rehearsal,and writing. Things just faded away. A small project called "bird" was an avenue for Paul & Fran to work in pubs and bars,mixing standards with triphop beats,that went over peoples heads. But Tracing Arcs had not gone forever.It was dormant,waiting for its time....THE TIME IS NOW. By taking control of the means of writing, recording, distribution, etc, into their hands,and the concept of free music,allied to the accessibility of the internet. It allowed Tracing Arcs to re-emerge,ready,better,refreshed,excited,confident. And believing again. "here we are again,friends and old toffee" (John Martyn) |  |
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