The Harlequin Dynamite Marching Band are a raggle taggle bunch of musicians from Liverpool UK who make brass & drum heavy mobile disco grooves.
The band were first amassed by Stealing Sheep drummer Lucianna Mercer in the summer of ‘11 for a special performance for the annual colourful carnival festivities of the Kazimier’s Krunk Fiesta.
Based around Lucy’s adaptations of her own songs arranged for many drums and horns with the aid of Simon Knighton and Martin Smith, the performance was hailed a success and opened the doors for future mobile marching movements.
The Harlequins’ lineup, repertoire and existence has shifted and shuddered, expanded and become more vividly distinctive over the last few years, taking their unique blend of melodious, tribal, krunked out party grooves to venues and spaces all over Liverpool and beyond.
The band released their single “JONAH” on Kazimier Records this May and are set to release a new single ‘Loneliness’ on December 1st.
We had an early listen to their second single ‘Loneliness’ Here’s what we thought:
Starting off with an eery squeeze and a haunting air, the rhythm soon chopsticks itself into view like the clattering cannibalisation of a shuttling steam tractor. Brass gleams and steam vents open ands close rapidly. The mannequin vocal flickers to life like a valved telly – blinking and shimmering.
That Aunt Sally voice is papery thin and rosy. It is set against a military rat-a-tat-tat and an eager horn sound that squelches with a self-confident and rude suggestiveness. This is a fairground fantasy - brilliant, eccentric and quite indispensable.
- © Neil_Mach September 2013 -
Link:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Harlequin-Dynamite-Marching-Band/517178101662392
There will be a release show at Mello Mello, Liverpool on 30th November for Loneliness (www.mellomello.co.uk) and a London show on the 5th December at the Finsbury (www.thefinsbury.co.uk).
