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Pendulum (drum and bass band)

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For the Australian ambient house band, see Pendulum (ambient band).
Pendulum

Pendulum are an Australian techstep[1] group originally from Perth[2], Australia. In 2003, they relocated to the United Kingdom.

History

Pendulum first released, with the 31 Records record label, a track entitled "Vault" in 2003.[3] While this and several other singles released into the underground circuit met with widespread recognition in that area it wasn't until 2005 that they released their debut album, Hold Your Colour. Critically, the album was well-received in both the United Kingdom and Australia, receiving plenty of air-time on radio stations around the world. In addition, it was one of the biggest selling drum and bass releases of all time. Pendulum have also collaborated with the Freestylers, releasing the single "Fasten Your Seatbelt". MC Spyda and Tenor Fly also feature as vocalists on the collaboration with DJ Fresh - "Tarantula". Pendulum also collaborated with DJ Fresh on the track 'Babylon Rising' on the album "Escape from Planet Monday"

At Pendulum DJ sets in Epsom and also University of Warwick Students' Union in early 2007, it was announced that their new album would be available at the start of November 2007. However, it was later announced on BBC Radio 1, that the album was to be released Q1 2008 during a phone interview with a member of Pendulum. The latest album, titled In Silico, was released on 12 May 2008, the day after they played at Radio 1's Big Weekend in Maidstone, Kent. The second single from the album, "Propane Nightmares", is their biggest hit to date, peaking at #9 in the UK Singles Chart.

On 30 July 2008 the band performed live in Jo Whiley's Live Lounge where they played their current single, "The Other Side", and also performed a cover of Coldplay's "Violet Hill".[4] The performance was very well received by listeners who made numerous requests for the cover to be replayed on subsequent DJ's shows throughout the day. Pendulum then made the single available for download on their official website.

Pendulum have announced another UK tour after success in the UK, this took place in November/December 2008.[5] They also performed on Linkin Park's biggest Projekt Revolution gig to date in Milton Keynes on Sunday 29 June.

On 6 August 2008, to coincide with the launch of their new site, Pendulum released a cover of Violet Hill by Coldplay.[6][7] The cover was recorded as part of a Live Lounge performance on BBC Radio 1.[8]

Pendulum performed on the NME/Radio 1 stage at the 2008 Reading and Leeds Festivals, the King Tut's Wah Wah Tent at T in the Park 2008, as well as the main stage of the Creamfields Festival and the second stage at Download Festival. Pendulum have been booked to appear at the Big Day Out 2009 alongside The Prodigy, Arctic Monkeys and headlining act Neil Young.[9]

Their song "Propane Nightmares" is the official theme song for WWE Cyber Sunday 2008 and came in at #92 in Australias Triple J Hottest 100. Their song "Mutiny" is the backing track for Verizon's launch of the LG Dare cellphone. Their songs "Granite" and "Showdown" are both used in the game Pure. The track "Slam" appears in the PlayStation 3 game MotorStorm, while "Tarantula" appears on the sequel, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift as well as the first series of the Australian television program Underbelly. Their songs "9,000 Miles", "Granite" and "The Tempest" were featured on the game Need For Speed: Undercover

Their song Tarantula featured in the seventh episode of Skins Season 2.

Pendulum filmed a live DVD on the 4th and 5th of December 2008, at the Brixton Carling Academy which Play.com states will be released on the 15th of June 2009.[10] They will be playing Download Festival this June. Pendulum frontman, Rob Swire stated in an interview with Abort Magazine in Vancouver, that he expects their third album to be finished towards "the end of this year (2009), about September-ish".[11] In a recent DJ set by drum and bass group Noisia, a track was played which many fans speculated was Pendulum's work. After much speculation, Rob Swire confirmed it was indeed a Pendulum track called "Ransom", albeit one of about 20 demos prepared for the third album.[12]

Tour of the Americas

Pendulum unveiled details of their eagerly awaited "Tour of the Americas" in early August, 2008. The North American leg of the bi-continental trek kicked off on 1 October at Boston's Middle East. The tour is the band's first ever on American shores, and concluded with a CMJ Music Marathon showcase at New York City's Bowery Ballroom on 26 October. Pendulum had been recognised in the UK mostly because of their second studio album, "In Silico", and were quickly noticed in the U.S. also.[13] The band have embarked on their second US Tour, starting in Vancouver on March 6[14], and finishing in Miami on March 27.[15]

Musical style

The Pendulum sound is typically heavy beats accompanied by low, buzzing basslines, overlaid with synthesized leads. When Pendulum started out as producers in Australia, their sound was considerably more drum and bass-influenced than the work they are known for today. Signature tunes such as "Vault", "Back to You", "Voyager" and "Toxic Shock", which were released on small labels such as Uprising Records, Renegade Hardware and Low Profile Records, have a darker, more melodic air to them which is substantially absent from their later productions, which are generally leaning towards a mainstream, dance-driven sound. Early work such as "Another Planet" however, seems to indicate an early affinity with a more global sound, similar to other Breakbeat Kaos artists such as DJ Fresh and Adam F.

The group has produced various remixes of other artists also; the most well-known being their remix of "Voodoo People", originally by The Prodigy. Pendulum have also been remixed themselves. In 2006, their collaboration with the Freestylers - "Painkiller" - was remixed by NOISIA and released on Against the Grain Records.

Bassist Gareth McGrillen at Hertfordshire in 2007

The group will perform at the V Festival in 2009. [16]

Members

Discography

Main article: Pendulum discography

Studio albums

References

  1. ^ http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=3962
  2. ^ http://www.pendulum.com/about.htm
  3. ^ http://www.pendulum.com/discography.htm
  4. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/livelounge/artist/080730_pendulum.shtml
  5. ^ http://www.pendulum.com/gigs.htm
  6. ^ http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Music-Review/pendulum-launch-new-website-with-coldplay-cover-offer
  7. ^ http://www.ilikemusic.com/music_news/Pendulum_Violet_Hill-5398
  8. ^ http://www.pendulum.com/news,pendulum-cover-coldplay-on-sale-here_5.htm
  9. ^ Adams, Cameron (2008-09-30). "Arctic Monkeys and Neil Young headline Big Day Out". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2008-09-30. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ "Live at Brixton at Play.com".
  11. ^ "Pendulum AbortMag podcast". AbortMag.
  12. ^ http://www.pendulumlive.com/pendulumlive/files/viewthread.php?tid=2098&page=3
  13. ^ "Pendulum: The Exclusive Internet DJ Interview". Mark Shemel.
  14. ^ "Pendulum North American Tour".
  15. ^ "Pendulum North American Tour".
  16. ^ http://www.vfestival.com/lineup/page/4music-2
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