'The Disappearance of Becky Sharp' by Kites

The Disappearance of Becky Sharp by Kites

Vanity Fair: A Song Without a Hero

Allow me to provide some rudimentary explanation on how Kites’ latest demo – The Disappearance of Becky Sharp – came into being.

I occasionally attract criticism for my love of highfalutin and hyperbole. Such comments are wholeheartedly deserved and I will not attempt to defend myself here. I simply want to put into context the unusual sight of my being struck dumb by the ramblings of another. During the early developments of the aforementioned demo, Rich (Kites’ electronic wonder-kid) sent me an email which I presently reprint in-part for your benefit:

"I’ve made a track using my 1985 vintage Roland JX8P synthesizer and Roland TR707 drum machine. Because of the nature of the synth (the JX8P is monotimbral - it can only play one sound at one time) I had to record each part separately and multi-track it. The result is a spacey italodisco tune. I used the PG800 for quick-and-easy editing of the JX-8p as it allows me to control parameters with an easy-to-use traditional sliders; a must have, since the JX-8p employs a tedious system of editing with only one slider. It's quite funny how design was more important then than functionality [is it!?]. Anyway, let me know your thoughts and if you have a vocal idea."

Do you have any idea what Rich is talking about? Yep, me neither! I will happily award a medal to the first person who can translate the above extract for me. I doubt even the Egyptologists who deciphered the Rosetta Stone would be able to make much sense of this!

Hopefully, however, hearing the actual demo will impart some meaning into Richard’s ludicrous patois.

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Acoustic Variation of 'Yellow Letter' by Kites

Matthew Phillips and a drum machine perform an 'ad hoc' rendition of Yellow Letter.  Captured by Matthew's brother on a handheld camera and edited by Merrington.

Drown me in Carrot Juice. It’s time to face the New Year.

A military general would be a fool to announce an invasion in December.

A gardener would not seed their flower beds in July.

A bat would not dream of hibernating in May

So too, would a band be apparently imbecilic to schedule a performance on 5^th January.

 

The conditions are decidedly unfavourable.

Let’s consider the landscape: workers have recently awoken from a festive haze and been dragged kicking and screaming to their respective offices. As the winter lethargy descends upon the nation, people are more likely to be found wrapped in a blanket with a cup’o’soup, rather than down the local club with a Flirtini. I can hardly blame them; my Christmas exile in the countryside had not been the restorative retreat I had imagined. Instead of regular yoga exercises and Gregorian chanting, I had submerged my head in flagons of ale, tumblers of whiskey, and bowls of burnt black coffee.

Kites therefore arrived at the Notting Hill Arts Club feeling somewhat bedraggled and despondent.

Imagine then our surprise when, as we alighted onstage, the dance-floor began to overflow with heaving, sweaty bodies. The band roared through a pacy set with Taio spending a good deal of time playing his guitar from within the audience!  Without doubt, it was one of the most energetic live performances that Kites have had the privilege to partake in.

I’m not known to be superstitious but, if I were, this surely signals a good omen for Kites in 2011.

I, for one, am moist with anticipation.

Thank you to all those who came.