London Elektricity

London Elektricity
London Elektricity performing in September 2009
London Elektricity performing in September 2009
Background information
Born (1961-04-28) 28 April 1961 (age 63)
OriginLondon, England
GenresDrum and bass, liquid funk, electronica, breakbeat, acid jazz
Years active1996–present
LabelsHospital Records
MembersTony Colman (production, keyboards)
Past membersChris Goss (production, keyboards, guitar)
Liane Carroll (vocals, keyboards)
Jungle Drummer (drums)
Andy Waterworth (bass)
Landslide (drum pads)
Robert Owens (vocals)
Diane Charlemagne (live vocals)[1]
Stamina MC (rapping)
SP MC (rapping)
MC Wrec (rapping)
Websitelondonelektricity.com

Tony Colman (born 28 April 1961), better known by his stage name London Elektricity, is an English electronic musician and the co-founder and CEO of Hospital Records.

History

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The first incarnation of London Elektricity was the duo Tony Colman and Chris Goss.[2] Founders and backbone of Hospital Records, they also pursued parallel projects under the monikers Peter Nice Trio and Dwarf Electro,[3] but it was their tune "Song in the Key of Knife" under the guise London Elektricity that first gained them widespread recognition.[4] In 1999, they released their debut album Pull the Plug on Hospital Records.[5] Although session musicians contributed a wide range of live instruments (double bass, electric guitar, brass section, flute, strings), and jazz singer Liane Carroll provided vocals on two tracks, the LP was essentially a studio work, under the control of producer/DJ duo Colman and Goss.

In 2002, Chris Goss departed to concentrate on managing Hospital Records, leaving it a solo project of Tony Colman.[6] The second album Billion Dollar Gravy was released in 2003.[7] During the making of the album, the session musicians began to coalesce into a band, and Colman decided to take the band live.[8] The line-up included Colman, Andy Waterworth, Landslide, MC Wrec, the Jungle Drummer, Liane Carroll and Robert Owens, amongst others.[9] In 2004 they released a live DVD entitled London Elektricity: Live Gravy, which was recorded in October 2003 at the Jazz Café.[10]

2005 saw the release of their third album, Power Ballads, using the same line-up as the live band.[11] London Elektricity announced at Pressure (the University of Warwick's drum and bass event) on 2 December 2005 that they had no plans to play live in future. They were joined on stage for the announcement by former member Chris Goss. As of 2006 Tony Colman now produces and DJs drum and bass solo under the name of London Elektricity.[12]

Colman presents the Hospital Records podcast. It generally features many releases from Hospital Records, and a wide spectrum of drum and bass from around the globe. The podcast recently won 'Best Podcast' at the BT Digital Music Awards, and has over 30,000 downloads a show.[13] The podcast regularly involves special guests who are signed to Hospital records such as Logistics. Colman also hosted the Forza Horizon series' in-game Hospital Records radio station, alongside Goss, in Forza Horizon 2, 3,4 and 5 .[14][15][16]

In 2007, London Elektricity won the BBC 1Xtra Xtra Bass award for best live act.[17][18] London Elektricity's fourth album, Syncopated City was released in September 2008.[19] The month before this marked his Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1.

London Elektricity's fifth album, Yikes! was released in April 2011,[20][21] followed by "Are We There Yet?" in November 2015.[22]

Influences

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According to his MySpace page, Tony Colman's influences include a large array of musicians, such as Talking Heads, Fela Kuti, Kraftwerk, Brian Eno, Led Zeppelin, and others. Jazz, soul, Latin, dub, rock, and punk[23] are present in many of London Elektricity's songs, such as "Rewind", "Attack Ships on Fire", "South Eastern Dream", "Do You Believe" (and its Dub version, "Dub You Believe"), "Main Ingredient", "Remember the Future", "Round the Corner", and "Song in the Key of Knife" (featuring an acoustic bass line).

Discography

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Studio albums

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DJ Mixes

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Live albums

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  • 2004 – Live Gravy
  • 2006 – Live at the Scala
  • 2017 – Live in the Park
  • 2017 – Live at Pohoda

Compilation albums

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  • 2006 – Medical History
  • 2007 – The Best of London Elektricity

Remix albums

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  • 2006 – Facelift The Remixes
  • 2011 – Yikes! Remixes!!
  • 2016 – Are We There Yet? The Med School Scans
  • 2021 – Rebuilding Better Worlds
  • 2023 – Billion Dollar Remixes

Singles and EPs

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  • 1996 – "Sister Stalking / "Brother Ignoramus"
  • 1997 – "Ultrasound"
  • 1998 – "Pull The Plug" / Dirty Dozen"
  • 1998 – "Song in the Key of Knife" / "Theme From The Land Sanction"
  • 1999 – "Rewind" / "Rewound"
  • 1999 – "Rewind (Acoustic Edit)" / "Dub You Believe"
  • 2000 – "Wishing Well" / "Elektric D-Funk"
  • 2000 – "Round The Corner"
  • 2001 – "My Dreams" (vs Robert Owens)
  • 2002 – "Cum Dancing" / "Down Low"
  • 2003 – "Billion Dollar Gravy" / "Harlesden"
  • 2004 – "Live at the Jazz Cafe"
  • 2005 – "The Strangest Secret in the World (45 Edit)" b/w "Pussy Galore"
  • 2005 – "The Mustard Song"
  • 2005 – "Hanging Rock"
  • 2006 – "Remember the Future"
  • 2008 – "All Hell Is Breaking Loose"
  • 2008 – "Syncopated City"
  • 2008 – "Attack Ships on Fire" / "South Eastern Dream"
  • 2011 – "Elektricity Will Keep Me Warm" / "The Plan That Cannot Fail"
  • 2011 – "Meteorites" (feat. Elsa Esmeralda)
  • 2019 – "Final View From The Rooftops (feat. Cydnei B.)"
  • 2021 – "Lonely Sirens (feat. Elsa Esmeralda)"

References

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  1. ^ Friction (2 November 2015). "Friction's Radio 1 Show: London Elektricity and Loadstar". Friction's BBC Radio 1 Show: London Elektricity and Loadstar (Interview). Interviewed by Friction. Retrieved 6 November 2015. (35 minutes in)
  2. ^ Patrikios, Adoni (15 May 2006). "London Elektricity: Live and loud". inthemix. Retrieved 14 June 2017.[dead link]
  3. ^ Judge, Jules (25 January 2013). "Judge Jules VS. London Elektricity: The Interview". Big Shot Magazine. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  4. ^ Clarke, Paul (4 July 2003). "We examine Hospital Records". BBC. Archived from the original on 11 August 2003. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  5. ^ Future Music (26 February 2016). "Classic album: London Elektricity on Pull The Plug". Music Radar. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  6. ^ Cooke, Chris (24 October 2012). "Q&A: Chris Goss, Hospital Records". Complete Music Update. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Bass Drop presents London Elektricity feat. Dynamite MC at Factory Theatre". Resident Advisor. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  8. ^ Hospitality (26 January 2015). "In the Spotlight: London Elektricity". hospitalitydnb.com. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  9. ^ Laurent (20 August 2007). "Plug in London Elektricity for 50,000 Watts of pure funk!". Spinscience.org.uk. Archived from the original on 20 August 2007. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  10. ^ Discogs. "London Elektricity – Live Gravy". Discogs. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  11. ^ James (15 May 2015). "Dusting Off... London Elektricity's Power Ballads". HMV. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  12. ^ Toupee, Nic (8 January 2007). "London Elektricity: Learning to change nappies". inthemix. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  13. ^ iZotope. "Stories from a Pro: London Elektricity". iZotope. Archived from the original on 20 July 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  14. ^ "Hospital Records Radio on Forza Horizon 2" (Press release). Hospital Records. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2018. Our station features the familiar voices of London Elektricity and Hospital M.D. Chris Goss, as you race round Europe and the Horizon music festival with Hospital Records and Med School Music as your soundtrack.
  15. ^ "Hospital Records Radio returns for Forza Horizon 3" (Press release). Hospital Records. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2018. Back by popular demand! We've joined forces with Microsoft and Playground Games once again to bring Hospital Records Radio to your virtual radio, hosted by co-founders London Elek and Chris Goss.
  16. ^ "Putting the Force in Forza: Soundtracking a Hit Game". Amsterdam Dance Event. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018. Featuring as an in-game radio station in a Forza Horizon game for the third time, [...t]he in-game, un-lockable Hospital Records radio station is hosted by label co-founders Tony Colman (London Elektricity) and Chris Goss[...]
  17. ^ BBC (2007). "BBC - 1Xtra - XtraBass Awards 2007". BBC. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  18. ^ Willis, Daniel (23 September 2011). "London Elektricity - Faux". Faux. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  19. ^ Tryggvason, Karl (22 October 2008). "RA Reviews: London Elektricity - Syncopated City". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  20. ^ Kmag (11 May 2011). "London Elektricity Interview". Kmag. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  21. ^ Radio Monash (29 May 2011). "Interview with London Elektricity". Radio Monash. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  22. ^ "London Elektricity - Are We There Yet? - Shop - Hospital Records". Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  23. ^ Hospital Records – London Elektricity Archived 21 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Hospitalrecords.com. Retrieved on 2012-12-13.
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Interviews

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