Spacek (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Spacek Sound System


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Background = group_or_band
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Origin = flagicon|UK London, United Kingdom
Genre = Electronic music
R&B
Hip hop
Trip hop
Techno
Broken beat
Soul
Years_active = 1998–present)
Label =Island Blue
Studio !K7
Sound In color
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.stevespacek.com/ Official Website]
[http://www.myspace.com/spaceksoundsystem Official Myspace page]
Notable_instruments =

Spacek (also known as Spacek Sound System) is a British electronic music band. Its members are Steve Spacek, Ed Spacek, and Morgan Spacek. The group released its debut album, "Curvatia" in 2001 (see 2001 in music), followed by 2003's "Vintage Hi-Tech". Although primarily performing electronic music, the group also fuses elements of R&B, Hip hop, Trip hop, Broken beat and Soul into it's anomalistic soundbed.

Biography

Formation

The trio was formed in the mid-90s by bassist, vocalist, and songwriter, Steve White. Through a mutual friend, White was introduced to guitarist Edmund Cavill and the pair added MC and drummer, Morgan Zarate to the lineup to form Spacek. All three members subsequently adopted Spacek as their surnames.

1998-2001

By 1998, the group had obtained a record deal with British label Island Blue, and began recording in White's Clapham-based apartment studio. Their first release was "Eve", which received a great underground buzz in late 1999. The hypnotic, bass-trembling song was ambiguous in nature; a feature which would become a stylistic trademark for the group. The band caught the attention of acclaimed rapper Mos Def, who subsequently contributed a verse to a re-edit of the song. "Eve" was re-released in 2000, with a remix by producer J Dilla, and a guest appearance from Frank-N-Dank.

After an extended recording period, the group finally premiered their debut album, 2001's "Curvatia", to great critical acclaim, and comparisons to artists such as Massive Attack and D'Angelo. [ [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=16272057 MySpace ] ] "Curvatia" displayed the group's complex and challenging sensibilities and established them as a promising new talent in the British alternative music scene, but it was not a strong seller. The second single was "Getaway" with "How Do I Move?" as its b-side.

2002-2004

The following year saw the group go through some label changes as they began recording their follow up to "Curvatia". The group left Island Blue Records and were picked up by Studio !K7 records. 2003's "Vintage Hi-Tech" saw the group further exploring the more extreme aspects of "Curvatia", such as the minimal use of standard song structures, more experimentation with lead singer White's vocals, and an even more stripped down, and disjointed instrumental sound. The album's first single was "Motion Control", followed by "Starz". Like its predecessor, "Vintage Hi-Tech" was embraced by critics, who called it "a downtempo musical masterpiece that draws no comparison". [ [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=16272057 MySpace ] ] Style magazine even went as far as to call them "the Radiohead of soul". [ [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=22499304 MySpace.com - Steve Spacek - London - Los Angeles - Sydney - Alternative / Ambiance / Soul - www.myspace.com/stevespacek ] ]

2005-present

In 2005, lead vocalist, White, launched a solo career as Steve Spacek, and began recording "Spaceshift", after signing with Los Angeles-based label Sound In Color. The album's lead single "Dollar", produced by J Dilla, became an unexpected moderate hit and was particularly popular in the club and among DJs. The song contained a sample of the Billy Paul recording "Let the Dollar Circulate", and dealt with the pros and cons of living with or without money. Notable producer, and former Digable Planets member, King Britt, described the song as "what Curtis Mayfield would be doing today!" [ [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=22499304 MySpace.com - Steve Spacek - London - Los Angeles - Sydney - Alternative / Ambiance / Soul - www.myspace.com/stevespacek ] ] "Spaceshift" was also popular among mainstream critics, with Rolling Stone magazine noting that Spacek "...gives new meaning to the phrase space funk" [ [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=22499304 MySpace.com - Steve Spacek - London - Los Angeles - Sydney - Alternative / Ambiance / Soul - www.myspace.com/stevespacek ] ] , and Fader magazine calling the group "the most futuristic soul group of our modern age" [ [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=22499304 MySpace.com - Steve Spacek - London - Los Angeles - Sydney - Alternative / Ambiance / Soul - www.myspace.com/stevespacek ] ] .

The group, fronted by White, continues to tour and gig all over the world. Its members now live in Los Angeles, Munich, and Sydney. As of yet, there is no news of a new group or solo album. In 2007, White appeared as a lecturer at the Red Bull Music Academy [http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/DIARIES.18.0.html?act_aced=113&act_dpid=96] .

Discography

Albums

As Spacek
*"Curvatia" (2001, Island Blue)
*"Vintage Hi-Tech" (2003, Studio !K7)

As Steve Spacek
*"Spaceshift" (2005, Sound In Color)

Singles

As Spacek
*"Eve" (1999/2000, Island Blue)
*"Getaway" b/w "How Do I Move?" (2001, Island Blue)
*"Motion Control" (2003, Studio !K7)
*"Starz (Remix)" (2004, Studio !K7)As Steve Spacek
*"Dollar" (2005, Sound In Color)
*"Baby Baby" (2006, Jazzy Sport)
*"I Wanna Piece Of Ur Luv" (2006, Jazzy Sport)

External links

* [http://www.stevespacek.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/spaceksoundsystem Spacek Myspace page]
* [http://www.myspace.com/stevespacek Steve Spacek Myspace page]
* [http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/TUTORS.9.0.html?act_session=251 Steve Spacek RBMA video lecture session pt.1]
* [http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/TUTORS.9.0.html?act_session=252 Steve Spacek RBMA video lecture session pt.2]

References