Mad Racket is excited to announce the return of HERBERT. After last year's amazing performances, Matthew Herbert is coming back with two of his friends to deliver the Herbert Show live. The London-based trio is comprised of Dani Siciliano on vocals, Phil Parnell on keyboards and Herbert on samplers and various other instruments - the combination which worked so well on the "Around The House" album.
Matthew Herbert has been doing music since he was four, and since then has explored many types of music and recording techniques to come up with what many regard as a unique "Herbert" sound. He is so respected in parts of Europe that they have sections in record shops dedicated to his music and there is a slew of soundalikes that have been inspired by his unique vision. Herbert is in demand around the world, with his schedule covering all parts of Europe as well as North and South America. Herbert also records as Doctor Rockit, Wishmountain and Radioboy, guises that express different sides of the same style. He has remixed dozens of artists - from Sven Vath to Moloko to Motorbass, and while he is prolific and eclectic, his work has a common element - the use of sampled sounds from his immediate environment. A snare may be made from a banged saucepan or a hi-hat from a bag of chips being scrunched. These sounds are manipulated into integral parts of his tracks. This use of "real" sounds combined with Herbert's unique swingin' rhythms gives his music an organic/robotic feel. While Doctor Rockit and Radioboy represent more experimental techno, Herbert's house projects have become more live and jazz-oriented. "Around The House" highlights Dani Siciliano's gorgeous quirky vocals and adds live instrumentation, showing Herbert's increasing passion for jazz keyboard. Anyone who witnessed his Radioboy show last year will not easily forget a small man in a jumpsuit eating chips, drinking water, boiling a kettle, listening to the radio and generally jumping about, doing his sampling on-the-spot and delivering an awesome wall of sound. This year's show is set to go even further. While most live PAs unfortunately fall into the category of "boffins on stage twiddling knobs", leaving you wondering why they bothered carting tonnes of equipment when a DAT would do, this show is closer to a jazz performance oozing soul. With Herbert tinkering, Dani crooning and Phil beating the keys, this is what a show should be like - real music being made on the spot. This is a show not to be missed - a performance pushing the boundaries of what electronic music can do. Herbert will perform live at Mad Racket at Marrickville Bowling Club on Saturday May 20th alongside regular racketeers Zootie, Simon Caldwell, Jimmi James and Ken Cloud. Herbert will also DJ on the night, and any who witnessed last year's set won't want to miss his unique style on the decks. Tickets will be available from Reachin Records, Acetate and So Music, Newtown. Limited capacity. $28 + b.f. 10 p.m. - 7 a.m. We are also pleased to announce two shows at the Basement, Circular Quay - Sunday 21st May and Sunday 28th May. Book a table, come for dinner and enjoy a more intimate show. Also playing on those nights will be local live acts and DJs including All Funked Up DJs Trevor Parkee, Kid Dolphin and The Continental dropping their sounds in the back room. Bookings through The Basement. $20 + b.f. $25 on the door. 8 p.m. (dinner starts) - late.
