Representative Albums: "The Fifth Mission (Return to the Flightpath Estate)," "Stay Down," "Tiny Reminders"
Biography
After dissolving his Sabres of Paradise project and label, UK dance-don Andrew Weatherall set up the tripartite Emissions label group and launched his latest, perhaps most prodigious musical venture, Two Lone Swordsmen. A collaboration with Emissions engineer Keith Tenniswood, 2LS was formed in early 1996. The group speaks the same language of warped, downtempo grooves as much previous Sabres work (particularly "Smokebelch" and "Wilmott"), but opts instead for a syntax of minimal electronics and taut, brittle electro-funk for structure and guidance. The group's first full-length release, 1996's The Fifth Mission, was a whopping double-CD/triple-LP, both preceded and followed by additional EPs of new material ("Tenth Mission" and "Third Mission"). A few months later, the group issued two additional LP-length releases (both remix albums under the title Swimming Not Skimming, although the CD and LP versions sported different tracks), and by the end of 1996 had racked up no less than a half-dozen remixes (including Slab, Alter Ego, Sneaker Pimps, and David Holmes). The heavy release schedule continued through the rest of the decade, with an assortment of LPs (1998's Stay Down, 2000's Tiny Reminders) and mini-LPs recorded via a new deal with Warp. They returned in 2001 with the Further Reminders EP and delivered a remix collection, Peppered With Spastic Magic, and From the Double Gone Chapel, an album inspired by post-punk and electro, in 2004. The relatively rock-oriented Wrong Meeting followed in 2007. ~ Sean Cooper, All Music Guide
The Two Lone Swordsmen are BritishhouseDJ and producerAndrew Weatherall and studio engineerKeith Tenniswood. Formed in early 1996, following the dissolution of Weatherall's influential Sabres of Paradisetechno act, the Swordsmen have explored a variety of styles, from electro and 4/4 techno to post punk and downtempobreakbeat. Originally they released material on the label Emissions Audio Output, run by Weatherall. However, the small nature of the operation limited the duo's success and they subsequently signed to Warp Records, making them labelmates with acts such as Autechre and Boards of Canada, as well as setting up the Rotters Golf Club label for their more dancefloor-friendly output under various other guises.
In 2004 they released From the Double Gone Chapel, exhibiting more of a late 1970s dub and post punk sound than their previous work, influenced heavily by groups like PiL. It was released with the single Sex Beat, a cover of the popular Gun Club song. Their latest album, Wrong Meeting, was released in April 2007, with Wrong Meeting II following a month after. Set solidly in the dub rock vein they explored on From the Double Gone Chapel, the duo venture into sleezy country and LCD Soundsystem-style punk funkdisco.
