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Airwaves

MusicBlog

Location: Madrid

Bio: This is the story of Jonny Spencer, a genius or a madman? Probably both. Riding an alternative current, on a journey through cycles of distortion, ... (more) constantly metamorphosising. Jonny knew something had to change with one too many recreational psychedelic drug experiences and all things rave, the endless side projects, the identity crisis. Time to focus and so was born Airwaves...

It's been a few years since Jonny burst onto the music scene under the name Psychedelia Smith via Mr Norman Cook's Beat Up The NME' mixtape that some may recall, and although the same 60s sampladelia, Northern Soul stomp and anything goes attitude is still at the heart of Jonny's new band Airwaves, the highly anticipated debut LP "Infomaniac" marks far wider and more ambitious musical territory than ever before.

Initially rooted deeply in club culture and formed in Stafford, UK, Jonny and former band member Dean Meredith produced their first two dubplates which landed them not one but two recording deals. "Give Me My Auger Back" named after Jonny's vain attempts to retrieve a record he'd lent to B.R.A. surfaced on Norman Cook's Southern Fried imprint and the equally unique track "Fixy Jointy" followed rapidly courtesy of Athletico Records. With DJ Cook shamelessly hammering both tracks, frontrunners Jonny and Dean were catapulted from obscurity to feverishly tipped cult status almost in a matter of weeks. A long term deal with Athletico was inked, but soon after the record label experienced financial problems, Dean left the ranks to concentrate on "Chickenlips", Jonny expanded the band into a spectacular live five piece, playing triumphant dates in Europe (joining Tricky, The Black Crowes and Metallica at a huge festival in Madrid).

Airwaves are an amalgamation of raw funk, lush sexy rifts, unique twists, honest songwriting and studio wizardry designed to raise a laugh rather than impress with very skilful and intelligent programming, "Infomaniac" is the sound of a fantastic new improved band rampaging through 40 years of the finest music in search of the most decadent, cheeky, infectious and downright twisted sounds around.

Demos of the album landed in the hands of Ignition Records, who were so blown away with Jonny that they immediately traveled to Stafford to meet the guys in person. "That was an essential factor," Jonny reckons, "Ignition came up here, heard us play and then spent time telling us their take on it all. Money didnÂ’t come into the equation, which was such a refreshing change from the rest of the record companies whoÂ’d just tried to impress us by flashing their cheque books around."

Songs were written & others tweaked, candidly autobiographical lyrics penned for tracks like the wave-tinged "Junk Mail" and the funky, shuffling, 60s garage styled "Monster". Eighteen months later "Infomaniac" finally making it into the public arena.

The frequency has been up, down and around – it's certainly been a long time coming – but well worth the wait. Airwaves are crystal clear and tuned in!
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