| |
David Edwards started making music during his long lazy university days spent studying Swansea's record shops like a poor man's DJ Shadow. This was the late 90s, and there was nothing to lose. Except an education. Luckily, he hooked up with a like-minded student who taught him the rudiments of computer music and lent him an Atari. Which he sold. He still feels guilty about that, especially since said student recently got in touch.
Upon returning to the motherland (Bristol, UK), he hooked up (demo-wise) with the embryonic Manchester label, Melodic. Let's ignore the geographical issues there for now. Melodic were suitably impressed and were really excited to release the first Minotaur Shock record, the Bagatelle EP.
"Think: Boards Of Canada. And then think of something far more beautiful" NME
Things went from good to better, and shortly afterwards the Motoring Britain EP was released to more applause.
The debut album, Chiff-Chaffs And Willow Warblers, was released in 2001 and it's blend of kindly electronics and toasty acoustics won it plaudits from all corners.
"Warmth, not trickery, is Minotaur's aim, a target struck with confidence and skill" Q
Hailed as a frontrunner in the hastily coined (and hastily denied) ‘Folktronica' genre, Chiff-Chaffs did the job nicely. Recruiting a band which straddled Bristol's underground indie and hip hop scenes (with members of both Movietone (Domino) and Hombre Records' head honcho) David played numerous live shows, including a headline slot at one of the stages at the Sonar Festival in Barcelona.
The Rockpoolin' EP followed the release of the album, which was followed by a collection of the early Minotaur Shock EPs on a compilation called Rinse.
Since the release of Rinse, David has been concentrating on writing pop music with his extra-curricular band Bronze Age Fox, who are busily carving their own particular furrow with their blend of traditional songwriting, skewed production values and oddly shaped singles. The Bronze Age Fox Compilation, released in 2004, compiled the band's output to date.
"Possibly our classiest leftfield pop band – a British answer to Phoenix" NME 8/10
Having completed Bronze Age Fox's as yet unreleased debut album proper, David turned his hand back to Minotaur Shock, refreshed by the cleansing power of pop music, and ready to go it alone once more.
|
|
|
|
