Alex Neilson
Encyclopedia
Alex Neilson is an English
drummer, percussionist and singer who is currently based in Glasgow
but grew up in Leeds. He has performed alongside a large number of bands and artists including Lucky Luke, The One Ensemble Of Daniel Padden
, Ashtray Navigations
, Alastair Galbraith, Isobel Campbell
, Bonnie Prince Billy, Ben Reynolds, Matt Valentine, David Keenan
, Alasdair Roberts, Tanakh
, Six Organs of Admittance
and Taurpis Tula
as well as Directing Hand and Scatter, both of which he founded. However, he is probably best known for his continuing collaborations with Richard Youngs
and for his work with elusive American singer/songwriter Jandek
, for whom he has drummed regularly - four of these live performances have been released by Corwood Industries
on the Glasgow Sunday
, Newcastle Sunday
, Glasgow Monday
and Glasgow Friday
on both CD and DVD. He also drummed for Will Oldham
, firstly on a Scottish tour in April 2006 and then again for a US and Canadian tour later the same year.
In early 2007, Neilson left his position at Glasgow based record shop and distribution company Volcanic Tongue
and rejoined Oldham for some tour dates and subsequently spent much of this year touring with Alasdair Roberts, with Ben Reynolds (as Motor Ghost), with David Keenan
(as Tight Meat) and with a fresh incarnation of Directing Hand consisting of himself and vocalist/harpist Lavinia Blackwall.
In 2008, he toured with Baby Dee
- he is heard on Dee's recent 'Safe Inside The Day' record - and Current 93
. He has already appeared on a handful of Current 93 releases and has been confirmed on their Durtro webpage as a participant in various forthcoming recordings. A new Will Oldham live album featuring Neilson has also been released.
Neilson has spent much of late 08 and early 09 concentrating on his latest project Trembling Bells
. The band consists of Neilson on drums and vocals, Lavinia Blackwall on lead vocals & guitar, Big Mike Hastings on guitar and Simon Shaw on bass guitar. Their debut LP "Carbeth" released on Honest Jon records to widespread critical acclaim in the spring of 2009. The 2nd long player is due out in the Spring of 2010. Neilson also has spent considerable time on tour with Ben Chasny
and his ensemble which makes up Six Organs of Admittance live.
:
Directing Hand:
Tight Meat Duo/Trio:
Trembling Bells
:
Richard Youngs
& Alex Neilson:
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
drummer, percussionist and singer who is currently based in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
but grew up in Leeds. He has performed alongside a large number of bands and artists including Lucky Luke, The One Ensemble Of Daniel Padden
The One Ensemble Of Daniel Padden
The One Ensemble is a British musical group, based in Glasgow. The project was initially conceived by Volcano The Bear member Daniel Padden as a vehicle for his solo work, and their first three albums were released under the name The One Ensemble Of Daniel Padden...
, Ashtray Navigations
Ashtray Navigations
Ashtray Navigations is an English psychedelic noise group centered upon Phil Todd, active since 1991.Colloquially referred to as "Ash Nav", The group operate out of Todd's home in Stoke-on-Trent, England, from which he also ran the record labels Betley Welcomes Careful Drivers and, subsequently...
, Alastair Galbraith, Isobel Campbell
Isobel Campbell
Isobel Campbell is a Scottish singer, cellist and composer in the indie and rock genres.-History:Campbell was a member of Belle & Sebastian from their formation in Glasgow in 1996 until 2002, when she departed the band for personal reasons. She played cello and keyboards with the band, and sang...
, Bonnie Prince Billy, Ben Reynolds, Matt Valentine, David Keenan
David Keenan
David Keenan is a Scottish author, critic and musician. He is the author of England's Hidden Reverse, a biography of Coil, Current 93 and Nurse With Wound, a regular contributor to The Wire since 1995, and proprietor of Volcanic Tongue, a shop, distributor, record label and mailorder business that...
, Alasdair Roberts, Tanakh
Tanakh (band)
Tanakh is the name of a musical collective from Richmond, Virginia as well as a reference to the music produced by the group. The collective was formed in 2000 by its primary songwriter, producer and recording engineer Jesse Poe.- Background :...
, Six Organs of Admittance
Six Organs of Admittance
Six Organs of Admittance is the primary musical project of guitarist Ben Chasny. Chasny's music is largely guitar-based and is often considered new folk, however it includes obvious influences, marked by the use of drones, chimes, and eclectic percussive elements...
and Taurpis Tula
Taurpis Tula
Taurpis Tula is a Glasgow-based band currently comprising David Keenan, Heather Leigh Murray and Alex Neilson. Initially a duo of Keenan and Murray , they expanded to a trio in 2005 with the Steel Rods Bruise Butterflies CDR on Chocolate Monk being the first document of this incarnation...
as well as Directing Hand and Scatter, both of which he founded. However, he is probably best known for his continuing collaborations with Richard Youngs
Richard Youngs
Richard Youngs is a British musician with a prolific and diverse output, including many collaborations. Based in Glasgow since the early 1990s, his extensive back catalogue of solo and collaborative work formally begins with Advent, first issued in 1990...
and for his work with elusive American singer/songwriter Jandek
Jandek
Jandek is the musical project of an anonymous outsider musician who operates out of Houston, Texas. Since 1978, Jandek has self-released over 60 albums of unusual, often emotionally dissolute folk and blues songs without ever granting more than the occasional interview or providing any biographical...
, for whom he has drummed regularly - four of these live performances have been released by Corwood Industries
Corwood Industries
Corwood Industries is a Houston, Texas-based company whose only output would appear to be the music of Jandek. It is not known what other ventures, if any, that Corwood Industries may be involved with....
on the Glasgow Sunday
Glasgow Sunday
Glasgow Sunday is the second of four albums released in 2005 by musician Jandek on Corwood Industries, as . His 41st overall, it was recorded live on October 17, 2004 at The Arches, Glasgow, as part of the Instal festival...
, Newcastle Sunday
Newcastle Sunday
Newcastle Sunday is the 45th release by avant-folk/blues singer/songwriter Jandek, released by Corwood Industries. It is a recording of his second ever live performance, recorded at The Sage Gateshead, England....
, Glasgow Monday
Glasgow Monday
Glasgow Monday is the 47th release, third live album, and second-ever double album release, from avant-folk/blues singer/songwriter Jandek. It is his fifth release of the year and features "The Corwood Representative" on piano and vocals, along with the same rhythm section he performed with at...
and Glasgow Friday
Glasgow Friday
Glasgow Friday is a live album by Jandek released in 2008. It is Jandek's 53rd release. The album was recorded on 14 October 2005 at The Arches in Glasgow. Jandek was performing as part of the Instal festival, the same festival and venue at which he had made his unannounced live debut in 2004...
on both CD and DVD. He also drummed for Will Oldham
Will Oldham
Will Oldham , better known by the stage name Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded under variations of the Palace name, including the Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, and Palace Music...
, firstly on a Scottish tour in April 2006 and then again for a US and Canadian tour later the same year.
In early 2007, Neilson left his position at Glasgow based record shop and distribution company Volcanic Tongue
Volcanic Tongue
Volcanic Tongue is a record shop, distribution company and record label located in Glasgow, Scotland. It specialises in underground music from the UK, US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan...
and rejoined Oldham for some tour dates and subsequently spent much of this year touring with Alasdair Roberts, with Ben Reynolds (as Motor Ghost), with David Keenan
David Keenan
David Keenan is a Scottish author, critic and musician. He is the author of England's Hidden Reverse, a biography of Coil, Current 93 and Nurse With Wound, a regular contributor to The Wire since 1995, and proprietor of Volcanic Tongue, a shop, distributor, record label and mailorder business that...
(as Tight Meat) and with a fresh incarnation of Directing Hand consisting of himself and vocalist/harpist Lavinia Blackwall.
In 2008, he toured with Baby Dee
Baby Dee
Baby Dee is an American performance artist, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter from Cleveland, Ohio.-Early career:In the 1970s, Baby Dee began her musical career as a street performer, but soon decided to take work as an organist at a Catholic church in the Bronx...
- he is heard on Dee's recent 'Safe Inside The Day' record - and Current 93
Current 93
Current 93 is an eclectic British experimental music group, working since the early 1980s in folk-based musical forms. The band was founded in 1982 by David Tibet .-Background:Tibet has been the only constant in the group, though Steven Stapleton has appeared on...
. He has already appeared on a handful of Current 93 releases and has been confirmed on their Durtro webpage as a participant in various forthcoming recordings. A new Will Oldham live album featuring Neilson has also been released.
Neilson has spent much of late 08 and early 09 concentrating on his latest project Trembling Bells
Trembling Bells
Trembling Bells is an English folk rock group formed by drummer Alex Neilson, a musician with a strong history of free and improvised playing with several artists...
. The band consists of Neilson on drums and vocals, Lavinia Blackwall on lead vocals & guitar, Big Mike Hastings on guitar and Simon Shaw on bass guitar. Their debut LP "Carbeth" released on Honest Jon records to widespread critical acclaim in the spring of 2009. The 2nd long player is due out in the Spring of 2010. Neilson also has spent considerable time on tour with Ben Chasny
Ben Chasny
Ben Chasny is an indie rock and psych folk guitarist. His primary projects are Six Organs of Admittance and Comets on Fire . He made his recording debut in 1996 with his heavy, free rock project Plague Lounge on "The Wicker Image", an LP released conjointly between the New World of Sound and Holy...
and his ensemble which makes up Six Organs of Admittance live.
Discography
Ashtray NavigationsAshtray Navigations
Ashtray Navigations is an English psychedelic noise group centered upon Phil Todd, active since 1991.Colloquially referred to as "Ash Nav", The group operate out of Todd's home in Stoke-on-Trent, England, from which he also ran the record labels Betley Welcomes Careful Drivers and, subsequently...
:
- The Love That Whirrs, CD (Last Visible Dog, 2005)
- To Get Beyond Nihilism By Revaluing Combat, CD-R (Hypnagogia, 2005)
Directing Hand:
- Bells For Augustin Lesage, CD/LP (Secret Eye Records, 2005)
- Love Will Waste My Body, CD-R (Memoirs Of An Aesthete, 2005)
- An Old Soul At The Helm, CD-R (Chocolate Monk, 2005)
- What Put The Blood, LP (Dancing Wayang, 2008)
- Songs From The Red House, LP (Singing Knives RecordsSinging Knives RecordsSinging Knives Records is a Sheffield based independent record label. It was established in 2005 by Fiona Kennedy and Jon Marshall of the band The Hunter Gracchus.-Releases:...
, 2008)
Tight Meat Duo/Trio:
- Vanishing Fist, CD, (Bo’Weavil, 2007)
- Tight Meat Duo, 8" (Altvinyl, 2007)
- Ganges Letdown, CD-R (No label, 2007)
Trembling Bells
Trembling Bells
Trembling Bells is an English folk rock group formed by drummer Alex Neilson, a musician with a strong history of free and improvised playing with several artists...
:
- Carbeth, CD (Honest Jon’s Records, 2009)
- Abandoned Love, CD (Honest Jon’s Records, 2010)
Richard Youngs
Richard Youngs
Richard Youngs is a British musician with a prolific and diverse output, including many collaborations. Based in Glasgow since the early 1990s, his extensive back catalogue of solo and collaborative work formally begins with Advent, first issued in 1990...
& Alex Neilson:
- Ourselves, CD (VHF RecordsVHF RecordsVHF Records is an American record label, known for their extensive work with several major experimental artists. The label is based in the Washington, DC suburb of Fairfax, Va., and it initially focused on indie and experimental bands from that region...
, 2004) - Beating Stars, LP (HP Cycle Records, 2005)
- Partick Rain Dance, CD (VHF RecordsVHF RecordsVHF Records is an American record label, known for their extensive work with several major experimental artists. The label is based in the Washington, DC suburb of Fairfax, Va., and it initially focused on indie and experimental bands from that region...
, 2005) - Road Is Open Life, CD (Celebrate Psi Phenomenon, 2006)
- Electric Lotus, CD/LP (VHF RecordsVHF RecordsVHF Records is an American record label, known for their extensive work with several major experimental artists. The label is based in the Washington, DC suburb of Fairfax, Va., and it initially focused on indie and experimental bands from that region...
, 2007)