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Medicine
Drum producer and vocalist unveil their
new livetronica project ALCYONE;
summer dates announced.
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San
Francisco-based electronic dance act Alcyone is
fast making a name for itself by producing one
of the most amazing live shows in the genre. It
is a performance where humans, instruments and
computers interact to create a wild “livetronica”
spectacle rarely ever seen at this time of such
musical parody.
For this reason, you won’t want to miss Alcyone
at one of their very special live appearances
throughout the summer of 2005 (See below for list).
With their recent performance at San Francisco’s
Bambuddah lounge (located in the Phoenix Hotel),
Alcyone grabbed the attention of the local dance
community. Alcyone got the place rocking with
a wild two and a half hour set packed with live
deep house, dub, tech-house, trance and breaks.
Technically, this act is on-the-mark. As well
as playing 3 synthesizers (including and old vintage
Moog which creates some crazy sounds), Alcyone
producer Alex Newman also mixes the band live
from onstage. This allows him to put effects on
the percussion and vocals. “I use timed echoes
and foot pedals to create swirling dub effects
- so all in all it's a real live show not just
someone checking their email on stage," says Newman.
Alcyone is also working with VJ Kosho, who projects
onto a giant (14x10) screen during the show. Kosho
does a lot of experimental live mixing and uses
several different techniques - including audio-video
synchronization, effects, and mixing in of footage
he has filmed himself. He really mixes it up so
the content is varied in nature and far from just
repeated graphic patterns. This is all live from
top to bottom!
Those who checkout an Alcyone live show will undoubtedly
hear tracks from their much anticipated debut
LP, The Stars Are Real (released August 23 on
System Recordings.) Emerging from internationally
acclaimed dance act Medicine Drum, producer /
keyboardist Alex Newman and vocalist/composer
Suzanne Sterling draw upon their years of studio
and stage experience to create a sound that is
exciting, sophisticated,
and highly infectious. Are you ready to see something
new? 
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Alcyone’s
upcoming molecular enhancement:
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Sat
Sept 3rd ALCYONE @ the "Retro UFO Convention",
Joshua Tree, CA. www.retroufo.com
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Fri
Sept 23rd 8.00-10.30pm ALCYONE - poolside
@ Bambuddha Lounge, SF. FREE ADMISSION.
ALBUM LAUNCH and SUZANNE's BIRTHDAY PARTY!
3rd in the summer series of free Alcyone
shows @ Bambuddha.
www.bambuddhalounge.com
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Sun
Oct 9th ALCYONE @ San Francisco Decompression
(TBC) - and Alex's Birthday www.burningman.com
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Alex
Newman and Suzanne Sterling bring a rich legacy
of experience to Alcyone from their studio and
stage work as producer and lead vocalist of internationally
renowned, pioneering electronic dance act, Medicine
Drum. Newman produced, co-wrote, and engineered
Medicine Drum’s 2003 third album Original Face,
which was given a rave review by Billboard: “A
Major Thrill... one cool track after another.”
Newman and Sterling have toured the USA extensively
and performed internationally with Medicine Drum
- as keyboardist and lead vocalist - including
the recent Australian tour, shows in Japan, and
as the opening act for popular electronic/live
crossover band Sound Tribe Sector 9 on their 2003
US tour. Alcyone has become a popular choice with
clubbers, festival-goers and all-night party people,
playing peak-time performances at Earthdance,
Harmony Festival, Burning Man’s “Sol System,”
Solfest, Anon Salon’s Sea of Dreams,
San Francisco Decompression and many more events.
Alex
Newman has produced and co-written over half a
dozen albums, and each year his composition, “Prayer
for Peace” is played simultaneously by DJ’s worldwide
in over 100 locations as the pinnacle of Earthdance,
the world’s largest synchronized music and dance
festival.
Suzanne Sterling is an esteemed songwriter and
has received critical acclaim as a performer and
a recording artist. In addition to Alcyone and
Medicine Drum she is well known for her work with
Bhakti, Skyclad, Kali’s Angels and her music has
been commissioned for theatre, film and video.
Joining Alcyone in live performance, percussionist
Jason “Drumfire” brings years of professional
experience and an added sonic dimension. A virtuoso
with Congas, Bongos, Timbales and Djembes, he
has already made a strong impression on the electronic
dance music world as percussionist with internationally-known
live act Afro-Mystik. Although self described
as a “Drum Animal” he plays with precise speed
and grace -
as well as power and groove.
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Alcyone
“The Stars Are Real” Tracklisting:
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1.
Drift
2. Warm Fuzzy
3. Black Arrow Dub
4. Brighter
5. Pan Position
6. The Dunes
7. Reflections
8. Neptune
9. Starfields
For the latest information on Alcyone: www.alcyonemusic.net
or www.systemrecordings.com
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