Description
“Startled Insects was a British New Wave instrumental jazz group. Their music was a unique mix of experimental synthesizer textures and ethnic rhythms”.
Startled Insects began around 1983 in Bristol, England as a collective of three talented producers/multi-instrumentalists, Tim Norfolk, Bob Locke and Richard Grassby-Lewis. Very little information has ever been published about the band — the participants’ names did not appear on any of the album sleeves, nor were any pictures ever published. Nevertheless the band managed to generate considerable excitement with their first self-published EP and single, enough that Island Records signed them to their new Antilles New Directions label. Their first album for Island, Curse of the Pheromones (1987), was an underground hit, and the group performed several well-received multi-media tours
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Greek pressing on Antilles / Virgin label – picture sleeve has die-cut little windows and the photos of the inner sleeve show through them; vinyl record is near mint.
Catalogue Number & label: Antilles/Virgin VG 71467
Made In: Greece
Year of release: 1987
Disc condition: Excellent
Sleeve condition: Excellent
Genre: Electronic, Rock ,Abstract, Ambient, Modern Classical, Avantgarde, Symphonic Rock
Tracklist
1 Creatures 5:32
2 Igors Horn 5:14
3 Underworld 4:50
4 Shrimps in Love 1:23
5 The Fastest Claw 3:41
6 Lost at Sea 2:21
7 The Big Wheel 4:00
8 Loco 3:22
9 Glass Mountain 3:17
10 Moho 5:25
Composed By, Producer – Startled Insects
“Antilles/New Directions, a division of Island Records, Inc., distributed by ATCO Records, division of Atlantic Recording Corporation.”
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1der Fully Weird
Startled Insects was a studio project of three multi-instrumentalists/producers, Bob Locke, Tim Norfolk and Richard Grassby-Lewis 1984-1991. During their short lifetime [before evolving into the mega successful soundtrack ‘band’ The Insects], they released this disc and “Lifepulse,” a BBC-TV soundtrack on Island. They also self-released two EPs and a collaboration with African singer Biggie Tembo
The music is best described as instrumental rock with odd instruments (steel drums, strings, drums, bass, and decidedly non-commercial-sounding synthesizers). Reference points might include the soundtrack work of Thomas Newman (‘American Beauty’) or keyboardist Wally Badarou. As is the case with other studio musicians putting out albums that please themselves, they had absolutely no idea how to market the music so it never reached a market beyond a small coterie of admirers, and Startled Insects have remained undeservedly obscure ever since.
Nevertheless their music remains some of the most imaginative and refreshing ever produced — worth seeking out!
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Music for Under the Sodium Lamps
This collection of instrumental tunes comes straight out of the fever dreams of a sleep-deprived zoo keeper. Strange melodic arrangements, hypnotic percussive interludes, weird string and brass arpeggios held together somehow by an undercurrent of bizarre harmony. The stuff you’d expect to drift out of a Big Top tent at three in the morning after all the crowds have gone home and the circus freaks were hanging out drinking gin and tonics.
Brilliant stuff.
Recommended.
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Fun, smart, unusual
I’m surprised to see the disc offered on Amazon! A buddy turned me on to these guys about 20 years ago, since we both like complex and unusual music, but nothing too far afield from good old pop and rock.
I agree with the idea that they’re under-recognized, but that makes sense. This isn’t your standard ranch stash. If you like bands like Group 87 or Bill Brufords Earthworks, then this is right up your alley.
Strong recommendation!
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Great! Buy it
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