The Lo Fidelity Allstars are an electronica group who have recorded since the late 1990s. Their members originate from various cities in Northern England where they were formed in Leeds, before relocating first to London where they came to the attention of major record labels. After signing to Skint Records the band relocated to Brighton on the south coast, where that label is based. Subsequent to parting company with Skint, the band liquidated their Brighton studio complex 'The Brainfarm' and the personnel are now based variously in Brighton, the UK's Midlands and New York USA.
Their earlier work is noted for genre-crossing stylings, distorted, morose, and at times alien lyrics, distinctive funk bass lines, and extensive use of lo-fi recording practices (although it would be a stretch to call the style of the music as a whole "lo-fi", in the more traditional sense).[citation needed] This work is best exemplified by their 1998 debut album How to Operate with a Blown Mind on Skint Records. At this time, the Lo Fidelity Allstars were credited by pseudonyms rather than their actual names. After its release, the band's lead vocalist David Randall (credited as The Wrekked Train) left shortly followed by the keyboard player "Sheriff" John Stone. For their second studio album, Don't Be Afraid of Love, the members of the band discarded their pseudonyms in favor of using their real names.
Before the split, they found time to record a mix album On the Floor at the Boutique (a follow-up to Fatboy Slim's mix album of the same name) containing an unsurprisingly eclectic selection of tracks, including two short tracks recorded by the original line-up especially for the mix: "You're Never Alone With A Clone," and "Bootsy Call". Another track, "Many Tentacles Pimping on the Keys," was also included which was released previously as "Disco Machine Gun Part 2" on the Disco Machine Gun single released in 1997.
Though the group's later work leans more towards pop electronica than the brooding techno sounds of How To Operate With A Blown Mind, the lyrics of the group continue to be at times alien, or at the very least, off-color. The 2002 album Don't Be Afraid of Love includes a number of guest vocalists, including funk legend Bootsy Collins.
2007 saw the release on Skint Records of the double CD Warming Up the Brain Farm: The Best of, a compilation featuring tracks from the first two albums along with rare and unreleased tracks.
The group's third studio album Northern Stomp was released on July 27th 2009[1] on Corsair Records, preceded by the single "Smash & Grab World" which was released worldwide in April featuring non-album track "Brand New Friends" and was the band's first new material for four years.
"Northern Stomp" was widely well received by critics and fans alike, with DJ Mag giving 4 stars saying "This is a fully-blown band album dripping with (northern) soul. The Lo-Fis are back and they deserve adoration all over again" [2] and the world's best selling music monthly Q calling it "a dance-tinged hybrid that becomes more fascinating with each listen" [3].
The second single taken from the album is "Your Midnight" which features remixes from Phil Ward's alter ego Lord Warddd and label mate IDC and was released on 31st August 2009.
Solo work and individual projects
When David Randall and John Stone left they briefly set up as a new group called The Big Sleep and recorded a live mix for BBC Radio 1's Mary Anne Hobbs show.
In the gap between work on the second and third albums the Lo Fidelity Allstars took on yet another set of pseudonyms to perform live as the group 'Technically Men'. A 10 track album of the same name has received a limited release.
In 2008 Phil Ward launched a solo project as 'Lord Ward' releasing the singles "Brooklyn Blister" and "Rich Boys In Strip Clubs" on Corsair Records. In 2009 he added some extra 'd's to become Lord Warddd and released several remixes for artists including Matt and Kim and Cubic Zirconia. He continues to play DJ sets around the world under both the Lo-Fidelity Allstars and Lord Warddd banners.
Lineup
How to Operate with a Blown Mind
- The Wrekked Train (Dave Randall): vocals
- The Albino Priest (Phil Ward): decks/samples
- A One Man Crowd Called Gentle (Andy Dickinson): bass
- The Slammer (Johnny Machin): drums
- Sheriff John Stone: additional keys
- The Many Tentacles (Martin Whiteman): engineering/keys
- The Disco Bison: "Loves Disco Music"
- Matt Harvey: keyboards
Don't Be Afraid of Love
- Andy Dickinson
- Johnny Machin
- Dale Maloney
- Phil Ward
- Martin Whiteman
Discography
Albums
EPs
- Ghostmutt (2000) #8 UK Budget Albums Chart
Singles
- "Kool Roc Bass" (1997)
- "Disco Machine Gun" (1997) #50 UK[4]
- "Vision Incision" (1998) #30 UK[4]
- "Battle Flag" featuring Pigeonhed (1998) #36 UK,[4] #6 U.S. Modern Rock [1]
- "Blisters on My Brain" (1998)
- "Lo Fi's in Ibiza" (2001)
- "Sleeping Faster" (2002)
- "Feel What I Feel" (2003)
- "Smash & Grab World" (2009)
- "Your Midnight" (2009)
References
External links
