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The popular genre-mixing band have been blending electronic influence with trip hop psychedelic rock, blues and pop since 1995 when vocalist Skye Edwards and brothers Paul and Ross Godfrey formed the band. Since their debut album in 1996 ‘Who Can You Trust’, The band have released 10 albums and produced soundtracks for legendary Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh. The band’s musical innovation has been evident throughout their discography with tracks ‘Blaze Away’ and ‘Mezcal Dream’ from the album ‘Blaze Away’ showing their 90s psychedelic rock influences in an album released in 2018. Whilst 2021 album ‘Blackest Blue’ combines trip hop, dance and blues sounds. The band released their first single since 2021 in January this year, titled ‘Call for love’. The track has relaxed reverb and emotional electrics which has left fans anticipating their upcoming May album.

The festival will commence after the release of Morcheeba’s album ‘Escape the chaos’ on May 23 which commemorates the band’s 30 year anniversary. UNKLE, who will join them at this event have been touring their Rōnin Live show around the UK throughout 2024 and will bring this to the South Facing festival in August. Their experimental alternative rock trip hop performance is electrifying and produces an undeniable energy which will transform the Crystal Palace Park at this festival which has hosted huge names such as hip hop band The Roots and 60s soul and R&B icons The Originals. Rapper and record producer Skepta has also announced this month that his festival ‘Big Smoke’ will be held here on August 9.

Lavelle explains in an interview with xsnoise his goal with the Rōnin tour, stating that ‘The project started as a DJ-based performance and we aimed to push the limits of what we thought DJing was at the time, incorporating visual elements along with the music. We want people to dance, celebrate and have a great time.’ This is clear by fans’ sharing of the performance on social media.

#UNKLE / @frontonmexicoce / Rōnin pic.twitter.com/oC5TbcTCLA

— Prissssss (@prismejia_) September 24, 2023

 

It will be exciting to see how the two artists’ musical style will pair together and create a sensational atmosphere at the festival, especially with the inclusion of special guest DJ Shadow who rose to fame in 1996 with his iconic album ‘Endtroducing’ which has since been sampled by several notable names from Metallica to Bjork.

This iconic line up is exciting for any trip hop fan and the blend of these prominent names in the scene will make a show to remember.

The project has been titled The Mountain Has Fallen, taking it’s cue from Shadow’s long-awaited 2016 studio album. The EP is four tracks long and avalable to stream now.

The project’s first tack ‘Systematic’ feature’s New York rap lord Nas, and was premiered during the fourth season of HBO’s Silicon Valley tv show, furthering the show’s reputation for outstanding soundtrack choices.

‘Horror Show’ also features Danny Brown, continuing the momentum from 2016’s outstanding Atrocity Exhibition with a 24 karat banger with one of hip-hop’s most respected producers.

‘Corridors’, the EP’s final track is a collaboration with the aforementioned Oscar winner Steven Price, who has scored films like Suicide Squad (boo), Garvity (which he won the Oscar for), and most recently Baby Driver (which is pretty good.

Prior to the EP dropping, Shadow spoke to Rolling Stone, describing the project as a “victory lap” after 2016’s The Mountain Will Fall.

“Prior to the last album, I made a lot of high-risk moves behind the scenes, including walking away from a comfortable major-label deal […] My thinking was, If The Mountain Will Fall LP ends up being successful, I’d be in a much more positive place in my career.

“With everything that’s happened since it came out, I feel like I bet on myself and won. So I guess you could say that this new EP is my version of a victory lap. It’s a celebration, and an extension of those confident steps forward.”

A remixed edition of the Califronia-based DJ’s most lauded album Endtroducing was also released at the end of 2016, to commemorate the majestic album’s 20th anniversary.

Following a set at 2017’s Glastonbury Festival- as well as joining Run the Jewels during their incendiary set on the Pyramid Stage- DJ Shadow is set to continue with a tour of the UK throughout August and most of the Autumn. you can see the full list of dates below.

13/08/2017- Boardmasters Festival-Newquay
15/08- Concorde 2- Brighton
16/08- Concorde- Brighton

28/09/17- O2 Academy- Oxford
30/09- O2 Institute- Birmingham

01/10/17– O2 Academy- Leeds
03/10– O2 ABC-Glasgow
05/10– Albert Hall Manchester- Manchester
06/10– O2 Academy- Bristol
07/10– Roundhouse- London