Spartacus R
While Spartacus R have much local industry and musician support, the music … Read Full Bio ↴While Spartacus R have much local industry and musician support, the music itself differs considerably from that around NZ at the moment. It follows a lineage of music with histories more likely to be found in parts of germany, England or the states. Taking inspiration from bands such as Radiohead, Can, and Pink Floyd.
To get the most out of a 3D film with a live quadraphonic soundtrack, first find a seat smack-bang in the centre of the speakers. Then slip on the funky 3D shades and wait for the show to begin - the show being Spartacus R performing a soundtrack to the trippy flick they've made for the occasion.
The one-off Wellington Fringe Festival performance in February was a return to the festival for the six-piece Wellington band. This year, as with the last, they staged an extraordinary multimedia experience with film from Giles McNeil, and audio engineer Lee Prebble behind the mixing desk and driving the joystick.
That's right, a joystick. A quadraphonic joystick built by bassist Tim Prebble that his brother Lee uses, joyfully, to pan their music around the room for 360 degrees of sound. The psychedelic technique first thrilled the kids at early Pink Floyd and The Who gigs, now Spartacus R augment the effect with stereoscopic (3D) film and visual art. At last year's Fringe show, the band treated their audience to an unprecedented 'octophonic' show. Requiring 15 speakers and eight amps, such generous performances can be prohibitively expensive but it's what this band do best. It is also where their hearts lie.
"Music should be visual as well as aural. It should take on as many of your senses as possible," says Ben James, who plays the Rhodes piano, synthesisers and horns.
On the night of this interview the band are relaxing after a jam with a few games of ping-pong in one of The Surgery studio's cavernous rooms. Ben and Ryan Prebble (brother of Tim and Lee on vocals, Rhodes and guitar) put down the paddles to talk about the show, their album, and the beauty of old-school sound technology and vintage instruments around the kitchen table.
The room stacked with instruments closest to the kitchen is illuminated with soft lamplight - the Black Seeds' room Ryan tells me. Spartacus R have an equally equipped and comfortable den that has been a second home to the band throughout the months spent conceiving and recording their debut album 'When the Fever Takes Hold'.
"Yeah, a fair few games of hallway cricket and ping-pong were played during that time. And computer games," Ben says. "But that's the beauty of The Surgery. This is Lee's studio, and we are lucky to have such a large working space that is so conducive to creativity."
Due for release February or March, 'When the Fever Takes Hold' was written in the studio with the intention of making a cohesive and flowing album.
"We wanted to make an album that, like a book, you can sit down with at the start and let it take you on a journey," explains Ben. "Do not expect a collection of radio-friendly singles." Ryan advises first-time listeners will need to play to the album a few times, and not to be put off by the "long song with the crazy synths" in the middle of the eight-track album.
Lee agrees that the album won't appeal to everyone, but nonetheless reckons that Spartacus R make the "kind of music that everyone should listen to".
"Sit back in a comfy chair with a nice drink, turn off the phone and let it envelop you," is his recommendation.After recording and mixing at The Surgery, 'When the Fever Takes Hold' was later handed over to Don Bartley for mastering, the Sydney-based producer who has mastered INXS and Metallica albums as well as those from The Black Seeds, The Phoenix Foundation and OdESSA. Not simply a sonic experience, it comes with a flash, die-cut sleeve that DIY enthusiasts will appreciate. The design allows you to select and insert images and thus create your own scenes.
In conversation Ben and Ryan are eloquent about the music they most admire, and that they make themselves - music that is "made for music, and with friends for friends". They look to early psychedelia, to analogue greats of the past, and the timelessness of albums like 'The Dark Side of the Moon'.
Their subtle, cinematic songs are well-liked by fellow musicians. Little Bushman's Warren Maxwell is on the record as saying he is "completely musically turned on by Spartacus R. Their music is well-crafted and intricately sincere. Fresh, contemporary retro, and completely unpredictable... beautiful".
Together since 2003, Spartacus R are aware that they are starting to make a name for themselves, and sparkling sets this summer at the Parihaka Peace Festival and a free Wellington waterfront show at Frank Kitts Park late last year are sure to have won new fans.
Festival performances including the Cuba St Carnival and the Wellington International Jazz Festival have been pivotal to building the band's reputation - they aren't inclined to release radio singles and you won't see their name on a badge or a sticker unless you make your own. For a city that loves to go out and see bands in the flesh, a convincing live show is as important as a well-produced and attractive album. In a typical Wellington fashion, band members are all involved in a variety of other musical projects. Tim has a reputation as an electronics whiz, building and fixing some of Wellington's more unique and analogue instruments, and plays bass with Luke Buda. Ryan was part of Fly My Pretties, fills in on guitar for The Black Seeds, plays with Safari and Pyramid Scheme and has his own solo project underway. Multi-instrumentalist Ben plays clarinet and glockenspiel with Christchurch duo The Ragamuffin Children and horns and synths with The Night Show. Organ, synth and vocals master Shanti Costar also plays bass and vocals in surf rock outfit Sons of Midas, percussionist Michael Kane plays drums in Date With Doom, and space guitar maestro Mataio Daniela also plays guitar in NZ's only Radiohead covers band. It's all about variety.
The likes of Rhian Sheehan, Module and the Nomad have expressed interest in remixing Spartacus R songs. Although this could be a sure thing in terms of radio play and popularity, some of the band are wary of the twist mixing may inflict on a sound they have strived to achieve, and that they want people to hear.
They have ideas of their own - to make music videos, soundtracks for film, to take their 3D films on tour, and ultimately to make enough money to produce the kinds of shows they want to.
Ryan mentions that they are considering taking out a bank loan to finance the pressing of the album that, at the time we talk, is tantalizingly close to completion. Perhaps they should do so, bend to the pen and apply for a loan - for the sake of those in need of a tangible possession to complement their impressions of dreamy soundscape festival shows and gigs in dark bars after midnight.
Only the hardest of money merchants could refuse a loan to such sincere and likeable blokes with 3D artistic integrity and quadraphonic dreams.
“I am completely musically ‘turned on’ by Spartacus R. Their music is is well crafted and intricately sincere. Fresh, contemporary retro, and completely unpredictable...Beautiful.” Warren Maxwell, Founding member TrinityRoots, Fat Freddys Drop and Th e Little Bushmen.
“I’ve seen Spartacus R grow over the last 5 or so years and have always found their sound exciting, challenging and thoroughly enchanting. I was honored to help them produce their first full-length album and feel that it has truly captured something special, something that often only gets heard in a live environment. Sit back in a comfy chair with a nice drink, turn off the phone and let it envelope you. This album is something special, it won’t appeal to everyone, but it is the kind of music that everyone should listen to.” Lee Prebble, Audio Engineer, The Surgery.
To get the most out of a 3D film with a live quadraphonic soundtrack, first find a seat smack-bang in the centre of the speakers. Then slip on the funky 3D shades and wait for the show to begin - the show being Spartacus R performing a soundtrack to the trippy flick they've made for the occasion.
The one-off Wellington Fringe Festival performance in February was a return to the festival for the six-piece Wellington band. This year, as with the last, they staged an extraordinary multimedia experience with film from Giles McNeil, and audio engineer Lee Prebble behind the mixing desk and driving the joystick.
That's right, a joystick. A quadraphonic joystick built by bassist Tim Prebble that his brother Lee uses, joyfully, to pan their music around the room for 360 degrees of sound. The psychedelic technique first thrilled the kids at early Pink Floyd and The Who gigs, now Spartacus R augment the effect with stereoscopic (3D) film and visual art. At last year's Fringe show, the band treated their audience to an unprecedented 'octophonic' show. Requiring 15 speakers and eight amps, such generous performances can be prohibitively expensive but it's what this band do best. It is also where their hearts lie.
"Music should be visual as well as aural. It should take on as many of your senses as possible," says Ben James, who plays the Rhodes piano, synthesisers and horns.
On the night of this interview the band are relaxing after a jam with a few games of ping-pong in one of The Surgery studio's cavernous rooms. Ben and Ryan Prebble (brother of Tim and Lee on vocals, Rhodes and guitar) put down the paddles to talk about the show, their album, and the beauty of old-school sound technology and vintage instruments around the kitchen table.
The room stacked with instruments closest to the kitchen is illuminated with soft lamplight - the Black Seeds' room Ryan tells me. Spartacus R have an equally equipped and comfortable den that has been a second home to the band throughout the months spent conceiving and recording their debut album 'When the Fever Takes Hold'.
"Yeah, a fair few games of hallway cricket and ping-pong were played during that time. And computer games," Ben says. "But that's the beauty of The Surgery. This is Lee's studio, and we are lucky to have such a large working space that is so conducive to creativity."
Due for release February or March, 'When the Fever Takes Hold' was written in the studio with the intention of making a cohesive and flowing album.
"We wanted to make an album that, like a book, you can sit down with at the start and let it take you on a journey," explains Ben. "Do not expect a collection of radio-friendly singles." Ryan advises first-time listeners will need to play to the album a few times, and not to be put off by the "long song with the crazy synths" in the middle of the eight-track album.
Lee agrees that the album won't appeal to everyone, but nonetheless reckons that Spartacus R make the "kind of music that everyone should listen to".
"Sit back in a comfy chair with a nice drink, turn off the phone and let it envelop you," is his recommendation.After recording and mixing at The Surgery, 'When the Fever Takes Hold' was later handed over to Don Bartley for mastering, the Sydney-based producer who has mastered INXS and Metallica albums as well as those from The Black Seeds, The Phoenix Foundation and OdESSA. Not simply a sonic experience, it comes with a flash, die-cut sleeve that DIY enthusiasts will appreciate. The design allows you to select and insert images and thus create your own scenes.
In conversation Ben and Ryan are eloquent about the music they most admire, and that they make themselves - music that is "made for music, and with friends for friends". They look to early psychedelia, to analogue greats of the past, and the timelessness of albums like 'The Dark Side of the Moon'.
Their subtle, cinematic songs are well-liked by fellow musicians. Little Bushman's Warren Maxwell is on the record as saying he is "completely musically turned on by Spartacus R. Their music is well-crafted and intricately sincere. Fresh, contemporary retro, and completely unpredictable... beautiful".
Together since 2003, Spartacus R are aware that they are starting to make a name for themselves, and sparkling sets this summer at the Parihaka Peace Festival and a free Wellington waterfront show at Frank Kitts Park late last year are sure to have won new fans.
Festival performances including the Cuba St Carnival and the Wellington International Jazz Festival have been pivotal to building the band's reputation - they aren't inclined to release radio singles and you won't see their name on a badge or a sticker unless you make your own. For a city that loves to go out and see bands in the flesh, a convincing live show is as important as a well-produced and attractive album. In a typical Wellington fashion, band members are all involved in a variety of other musical projects. Tim has a reputation as an electronics whiz, building and fixing some of Wellington's more unique and analogue instruments, and plays bass with Luke Buda. Ryan was part of Fly My Pretties, fills in on guitar for The Black Seeds, plays with Safari and Pyramid Scheme and has his own solo project underway. Multi-instrumentalist Ben plays clarinet and glockenspiel with Christchurch duo The Ragamuffin Children and horns and synths with The Night Show. Organ, synth and vocals master Shanti Costar also plays bass and vocals in surf rock outfit Sons of Midas, percussionist Michael Kane plays drums in Date With Doom, and space guitar maestro Mataio Daniela also plays guitar in NZ's only Radiohead covers band. It's all about variety.
The likes of Rhian Sheehan, Module and the Nomad have expressed interest in remixing Spartacus R songs. Although this could be a sure thing in terms of radio play and popularity, some of the band are wary of the twist mixing may inflict on a sound they have strived to achieve, and that they want people to hear.
They have ideas of their own - to make music videos, soundtracks for film, to take their 3D films on tour, and ultimately to make enough money to produce the kinds of shows they want to.
Ryan mentions that they are considering taking out a bank loan to finance the pressing of the album that, at the time we talk, is tantalizingly close to completion. Perhaps they should do so, bend to the pen and apply for a loan - for the sake of those in need of a tangible possession to complement their impressions of dreamy soundscape festival shows and gigs in dark bars after midnight.
Only the hardest of money merchants could refuse a loan to such sincere and likeable blokes with 3D artistic integrity and quadraphonic dreams.
“I am completely musically ‘turned on’ by Spartacus R. Their music is is well crafted and intricately sincere. Fresh, contemporary retro, and completely unpredictable...Beautiful.” Warren Maxwell, Founding member TrinityRoots, Fat Freddys Drop and Th e Little Bushmen.
“I’ve seen Spartacus R grow over the last 5 or so years and have always found their sound exciting, challenging and thoroughly enchanting. I was honored to help them produce their first full-length album and feel that it has truly captured something special, something that often only gets heard in a live environment. Sit back in a comfy chair with a nice drink, turn off the phone and let it envelope you. This album is something special, it won’t appeal to everyone, but it is the kind of music that everyone should listen to.” Lee Prebble, Audio Engineer, The Surgery.
More Genres
More Albums
Load All
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
nsampaladorman@gmail.com
on -
I wanted choklet wenze zuba but I can't find it