Musicians


John Metcalfe          viola

Louisa Fuller            violin

Andy Gangadeen     drums

Ali Friend                bass

Simon Richmond     sonic science
> John Metcalfe / Musicians
Louisa Fuller
Louisa Fuller; violin

As leader of The Duke Quartet, Louisa has performed, broadcast and recorded worldwide to great acclaim. The group's versatility and fearless approach to music-making have led them into an unequalled range of projects including dance, education, pop and their own compositions. Collaborations include performances with the likes of Marc Andre Hamelin and Jessye Norman to recordings with non-classical artists such as Blur, The Pretenders and George Michael. They have also commissioned many new works from composers such as Kevin Volans and Graham Fitkin.
Andy Gangadeen
Andy Gangadeen; drums

Andy's huge talents have taken him into many different areas from mainstream pop (touring with the Spice Girls) through trip-hop (recording with Massive Attack) to improvised house and drum 'n' bass with his own band The Bays who tour worldwide building an impressive reputation for a high-octane night. As with everything he is involved in, Andy gives Metcalfe's music awesome depth, feel and drive.
Simon Richmond
Simon Richmond; keyboards, sonic science

The Bays' sonic genius Simon 'Palmskin' Richmond comes complete with fine-tuned keyboard skills and an uncanny sense of timing; not just rhythmic feel but a unique sense for when something is right. Always done with beauty, intelligence and great intensity.
Ali Friend
Ali Friend; bass

With outstanding musicianship, technique and feel Ali is ideal for this kind of project bringing his versatility and distinguished pedigree to bear on proceedings combined with vast experience through touring and recording with artists Red Snapper and his current band Clayhill. 
Live

'A Darker Sunset' live is an intense experience. Equally at home in the South Bank Centre or on festival stages the band's musicianship and technical skill stuns audiences with its passion and visceral focus. 'A Darker Sunset' has already been heard by thousands of people through touring and performances at festivals such as Big Chill and Bestival. More often than not a set from the group provokes descriptions of 'absolutely jaw-dropping', 'brilliant' and 'awesome' on website forums. The press too. Of a recent show at London's ICA John L. Walters of The Guardian stated, "The event starts brilliantly with viola player/composer John Metcalfe. They play a smartly written, sharply defined repertoire (as demonstrated by Metcalfe's album Scorching Bay), but Gangadeen's supercharged style reveals an extra dimension in Metcalfe's material; the drums sit right on top of the beat, synchronising precisely with the urgent attack of the strings."

Onstage everyone features. Generally audiences are accustomed to a focal personality - a conductor, soloist or singer. With 'A Darker Sunset' the whole band are core to the music. The musicians stand in a semi-circle so all are easily visible. This is crucial for the drums and bass which so often sit behind the singer or lead instrument. Strings in electronic music are usually relegated to the back row but here the audience get nothing but in-your-face bionic playing.

In addition the range of performers in the group appeals to a wide spectrum of listener and venue through combining musically adventurous players with diverse musical backgrounds. Gangadeen's awesome drumming style, Friend's deeply felt bass lines, blistering strings from Fuller and Metcalfe and sublime electronics from Richmond results in a unique synthesis of the best elements of classical, dance and electronic genres.

A core of five players is enough to fully realise the music. Drums, keyboards, strings and electronics are all completely live with computer backing only used where an orchestra is not available for budget/space reasons. The beauty of the band's flexibility is the ease with which differing venues can be played from small clubs to outdoor festivals without losing impact.