- what / Group
- likes / Techno, House, Drum and Bass, Dub, Breaks
No newcomers to this music making biz, Ebb's triumvirate of talented individuals draw upon extensive experience in a range of musical sectors. Lisa, the vocalist, has been a singer for life, her spellbinding presence the result of many years as a professional vocalist for Wellington-based bands.
Iain, the musician, has an impressive resume which includes artistic direction of 1998 Wellington International Festival Of The Arts event LAGO - an acclaimed "live ambient graphic opera" fusing classical and modern musical styles; as well as regular ivory-tinkling for noted Wellington all star live acts Bongmaster and Fat Freddy's Drop.
Reuben, the all-rounder, doubles his knob-twiddling duties for Ebb with similar musical exploits in breakbeat funk collective Hairy Lollies, is responsible for Ebb's striking visual presence, and is an award winning music video director frequently enlisted by the likes of Shihad and Weta.
In recent years Ebb's live performances have assumed somewhat legendary status in New Zealand's dance music circles. Utilising lavish stage sets, costume designers, visual projections, guest musicians and extensive technical crews, the trio's live audiovisual demonstrations are an experience quite like no other, as they transform environments and push performance boundaries to redefine live dance music for their audiences.
One such set in Wellington's Town Hall last year saw Lisa enrapturing the crowd from atop a podium-raised round silken-sheeted bed, and a guest organist incorporated into the line-up - firing up the Hall's old pipe organ to awesome effect. For their next tour, with visiting international DJ Common Factor, a full hotel room setting was recreated on stage, setting the scene for a sexy soiree in a small club setting.
Ebb's latest outing was the most ambitious of all... the all-night audiovisual extravaganza Plush Bomb took place in Wellington's most majestic picture palace - The Embassy Theatre. Offering a sophisticated evening's entertainment including dinner, drinks, a movie and dancing 'til dawn, the event sold out well in advance. The 800-odd people lucky enough to gain admission were treated to a revitalised Embassy Theatre space and another astonishing Ebb performance. In their 'War Room' environment created beneath the Embassy's giant screen, Ebb thrilled a star-studded crowd for hours, as Reuben's visuals danced on the screen above. Plush Bomb was a triumphant event, touted by many as Wellington's electronic music event of year, in spite of the city's regular throughput of big name international DJs.
On record, Ebb are no less riveting an act. Their select few recordings to date have captured well the essence of Ebb's divine musicality. With Lisa's gorgeous vocals leading the way, the group explore expansive soundscapes composed of organic instrumentation, blistering beats and lashings of extra special studio effects. A pair of debut tracks surfaced from Ebb's own Chinatown Studios via LOOP Magazine's successful cover CD series and were quickly picked as hits by listeners of b.net radio stations across the country. Ebb's debut release proper, the five track Plush Bomb EP, has just dropped to unanimous critical acclaim and audience adulation. The independently released disc delves deep into different directions in dance music, and rises to the top of local releases in recent memory. With a major record deal declined due to the group's unwillingness to compromise their musical vision, but another equally attractive international independent release also on offer, Ebb look set to explode onto the global stage and put original, innovative New Zealand dance music in the spotlight. Catch them on Transmat's Time:Space 2 Comp out now!
Contact: the soft sell
Lily Chalmers PH: + 64 21 48 2818 or teth@soft.co.nz
