Mind Split Effect is a french band who plays an alternative rock with progressive and atmospheric touches.
After Introspection (2011), first solo album by Maxime Defrancq, Vincent (bass) & Stephen (drums) Cramard joined him in January 2012, later followed by Elise on Keyboards.
We released our first Ep together in March 2013, The empty sky is my witness, for free listening and download.

Max Richter trained in composition and piano at Edinburgh University, at the Royal Academy of Music, and with Luciano Berio in Florence.

On completing his studies, Max co-founded the iconoclastic classical ensemble Piano Circus, where he stayed for ten years, commissioning and performing works by Arvo Pärt, Brian Eno, Philip Glass, Julia Wolfe and Steve Reich.

In the late 90s he worked with a number of electronic artists, notably Future Sound of London on their album 'Dead Cities". He subsequently collaborated with FSOL over a period of two years, also contributing to the albums "The Isness" and "The Peppermint Tree and Seeds of Superconsciousness". Max also collaborated with Mercury Prize winner Roni Size, on "In the Mode".

In June 2002, Max released his debut solo album, "memoryhouse", recorded with The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. This was followed in March 2004 by FatCat's release of "The Blue Notebooks", with featured readings by Tilda Swinton.

In 2005 Max produced Vashti Bunyan's outstanding comeback album "Lookaftering".

2006 saw the release of "Songs From Before" based on Haruki Murakami texts read by Robert Wyatt. That same year, Max began performing "from The Art of Mirrors", an evolving score to previously unseen Super 8mm films of Derek Jarman.

Max's more recent work continues to stretch the notions of what Classical music is.  ‘24 Postcards In Full Colour’, released in August 2008, is an experimental work made up of 24 composed ringtones.

Max works widely in film music, installation and the theatre, most recently on INFRA, made with Wayne MacGregor and Julian Opie for The Royal Ballet, London. The Ballet was the subject of a BBC 'making of' documentary.

Max was named 2008 European Composer Of The Year for his score to Ari Folman's Waltz With Bashir, for which he was also nominated for the Prix France Musique.

Captain Earnest Bon-Huffington
Madame Francois de Lundenkopf
Esquire Winston Humphries III and Fred

New song 'Run' out now

Management: Info@teamleisurely.com

HUBRO is a record label dedicated to releasing music from the vital Norwegian jazz and improvised music scene. We cherish the album as a physical object.

Distribution:
Musikkoperatørene (Norway)
Proper Note (UK)
Forced Exposure (USA & Canada)
Outhere (France)
Recordisc (Greece)
Broken Silence (GSA / BeNeLux)
Bomba Records (Japan)

ARCANE ROOTS set to release debut mini album, the awesome ‘Left Fire’ on Feb 21st

ARCANE ROOTS are a very new London based 3 piece who came together in 2009 and are now already set to release their quite incredible debut mini album ‘Left Fire’. Influenced by the likes of Fall of Troy, Foals, Refused and At the Drive-In/The Mars Volta this stunning record manages to be ambitious and pop, heavy and epic, comfortingly familiar and something completely unique - fresh in equal measure and all at the same time.

As Andrew (vocals and guitar) explains, the meanings behind the songs do vary, but have a common thread of working out how to understand the world around you. ‘’In this town of such weather’ is about change, starting again and finding something/someone new to put your energy into. The lyrics were written in Amsterdam (hence the Dutch titled intro) during Autumn 2009. The autumn and winter months are always so inspiring and exciting, it’s about being in such a beautiful place at that time of year and finding a new sense of clarity and direction, and not wanting to lose it.’ While he goes on, regarding ‘You Are’, ‘When this song was first written, it was about trying to figure out what you want from a relationship and how futile that is. But it eventually became (after being re-written more than once) a manual of finding what you want by not looking for it and building something strong from the beginning’. And on the awesome ‘Rouen’, ‘The demise of a relationship in a small town in France, and everything that comes along with it’.

The 5 main tracks are ‘book-ended’ by 3 smaller musical pieces (marked i/ii/iii). These blend musically and thematically throughout the whole album, making it more of a seamless journey and far more than just any regular debut record. Mile-high choruses clash against angular 3 way vocal screams and shouts, packed full of hooks and driving, piercing guitar riffs and a rhythm section constantly changing its mind where to drop you off at. A stunning and brilliant release, one where you hear something new and exciting on each listen. ARCANE ROOTS are a band to cherish and be excited about, and this first release is just the tip of their massive potential.
2011 should be prepared for something very, very special.

Live wise, even though they have only been a touring band for a small while, the band have already toured and played shows with the likes of To The Bones, Sucioperro, Tangled Hair, Hold Your Horse Is and Pharaohs. Look out for headline dates and more support tours before and around the mini album release (all TBA in the coming weeks).

"There are so many genres blended together on this new album from...Arcane Roots that it's almost im
possible to describe their sound...One thing's for sure; the quality rarely dips and the delivery is captivating". “Arcane Roots sound so fresh, special, and deliciously unpredictable. Wherever they go next... It’s sure to be a fascinating listen.” [Rocksound] 8/10 

“Arcane Roots are all about the musical muscle, blending their own brand of At The Drive-In grit with massive Biffy hooks...The production of their latest tunes is ruddy huge...” [Total Guitar]

“Surrey Trio with an ear for melody and appetite for destruction...They look set for a big 2011” [Kerrang!]

 “...Had a damn-near fit explaining exactly how brilliant these dudes were. ...after hearing the bands’  metalled-up At The Drive In-esque and anthemic-yet-weird-time-signatured guitar driven erruptions on record we were well and truly hooked.” [Killing Moon Records]

“Arcane Roots have stumbled onto the perfect combination of pop and rock to create a truly awesome sound...the band have done well to catch their musical power on record, having said this it is live where the band really show their true potential, with a blistering show that leaves you mesmerized and begging for more.” [Alter The Press!]

“...Bulldozing it’s way through... the almost math rock nature past the 3 minute mark, where it all seems to lose control, juddering and flailing everywhere like the ghost of Meet Me In St. Louis.” [Keep It Fast]

Mind Split Effect is following