Some more news on the line up for X-LAB:VL.

Loopz bring their experimental/edgy musical explorations along to the party. Loopz is Steve Price – a long time friend of and collaborator with Orbital who has worked with U-Ziq, Venetian Snares, Higher Intelligence Agency, Frog Pocket, Chevron and Ochre. He tells us that he “…very much enjoys the art of experimentation” so opening the night for the Project X Presents X–LAB(oratory):VL evening should suit him just fine!

See you on Friday!

http://www.myspace.com/loopzmusic

Preparations for X-LAB:VL continued apace over the weekend with the completion and testing of two Object X pieces. The Light Wheel will occupy the mirrored passage that leads to the back room of the venue where the “echo to infinity” effect of having two mirrors facing each other is already quite impressive. Once the Object X interactive exhibit gets installed that area will become something else entirely. We can’t wait to see it in situ.

Additions to the line up for X-LAB:VL include Vix n the Kix – a bostin’ brand spanking new band bursting with talent and brimming with sexy, burlesque-y yumminess fronted by Vix (ex Fuzzbox). Expect lashings of candy-coated rock ‘n’ roll and melody-filled loveliness.

The performative aspect of the evening will feature live video feeds to the screens in the venue. VJ Chromatouch has amassed a selection of found video clips that will be manipulated with FLIXER software. Expect interpretations of anything from 1970’s public information films to Tangerine Dream at Coventry Cathedral.

See you on Friday!

A few years ago a band called Lash Frenzy took to the stage at a packed Flapper & Firkin.

Lash Frenzy is a sound art project from Birmingham musician Andrew Moscardo-Parker. Under the name Lash Fenzy Andrew has an outlet for the more unstructured elements of the Black Sabbath influenced song writing and performance techniques that he has been perfecting (with some considerable success!) since the fateful day many years ago when he first heard Tony Iommi’s detuned powerchords.

In 2007 Andrew’s involvement with Project X Presents (as a member of Einstellung) led him to revive Lash Frenzy. Discussions about Einstellung’s contributions resulted in PXP’s invitation for Andrew to curate an Aural Fight sequence for the 2007 show. The result featured Andrew and his Matamp amplifier (as well as the rest of Einstellung’s arsenal of valve driven analogue backline) “against” Mort The Sonic – a digital musician who converts text and image files to sound on his lap top and amplifies the resulting industrial tones.

Read more…

Project X Presents is now set up both as a group and a persona on facebook, so if you are too, do please hit us up, it’ll be a great way to keep in touch.

One thing you’ll find on our page is a media player with some music from various Project X Participants (and more to come) – it also features an excerpt from Radio To Go – an excellent podcast featuring fine music and informed comment on the Midlands music scene from Robin Valk – a key player himself on the scene for many years.

The most recent issue features a very engaging review from Robin of an early part of our recent event which has proven a favourite with audience and participants alike – the transition from Rich Batsford’s contemporary piano music, through a section featuring string quartet and solo cello, thence via a short piano break to Einstellung’s acoustic set which melded seamlessly into the Qawwali style set from Aashiq al Rasul. But Robin describes it much, much better than that, so do check it out.

Some sad news from the fine band 360 – main singer/songwriter Ross Lydon has sufferred a recurrence of the back trouble which saw him receive surgery earlier this year, and consequently the band has had to pull our of our event.

our very best wishes go to Ross, his family and the band at this difficult time.

Fortunately for the Project X Presents, a local outfit currently splitting their time between Birmingham and London have stepped in at short notice to fill the big Ska shaped shoes left by 360.

Offering a indie/punkish take on the guitar driven Ska rhythm, Dexter should prove an energetic and lively addition to the bill causing much dancing and excitement to contast nicely with the powerful but more meditative tones of our other guitar band, Einstellung.

360

We are proud to confirm the last significant piece in the puzzle – 360 are to take part in our event on November 3rd.

A stunning and exciting 8 piece band, 360 represent all that’s best about the Birmingham music scene – diverse, talented, down to earth and exciting to watch.

The band comprises no less than three guitars, a number of vocals and a great brass section – guaranteed to lift the energy level of the night and get people dancing.

As those who follow the local music scene will know, 360 have been out of action for a while, due to illness of the lead singer songwriter Ross Lydon, so its exciting to welcome them back to the stage as part of Project X Presents.