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Kingbastard's News

Posted by Kingbastard - March 29th, 2019


Borders (Special Edition)

Borders (Special Edition) Exclusive to chrisweeksmusic.com


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"Borders (Special Edition)" includes five extra tracks. 

Exclusive to chrisweeksmusic.com 


There are notable cyclical occurrences which can permeate all facets of existence. Whilst it’s never a carbon copy, we often witness history repeating itself. This is perceivable when musing upon the misguided and poorly handled political predicament of Britain leaving the European Union. Commonly known as “Brexit”; a crudely manufactured term and process which, for the past three years, British people have had rammed down their throats. The deadline for this dissociative devolution was originally March 29th 2019 (the release date of this album). However, behind closed doors, ‘negotiations’ are ongoing... 


The mood of the general public is reminiscent of a period in British politics during the “Thatcher Years”. Thatcher's tenancy as Prime Minister was primarily served throughout the 1980’s, and one particular event, which I think reflects the current political quagmire, was the implementation of the “Poll Tax”; a divisive policy which highlighted inequality, the “class-divide”. Without going into great detail, the Poll Tax caused widespread outcry, with protesting and rioting across the UK. 


“Borders” is primarily, but not solely influenced by the polarised sociopolitical climate in the UK. Across the country there is a palpable sense of tension. Fear, anger, confusion, bigotry, nationalism, the resurgence of racism and xenophobia, misguided beliefs, pompous patriotism and propaganda are all prevalent. 


Sometimes I wonder if we are unwittingly playing-out an Orwellian plot to a 1980’s dystopian science-fiction movie. “Welcome to the end of the future”... 


This notion was my initial inspiration for the album. I set out to score the soundtrack. To create and express a reflection of the current oppressive atmosphere engulfing society, juxtaposing this with a representation of its mimicry of the politically induced mood of the 80’s. This gave “Borders” its overarching style. An interplay between the old and the new. A melancholic enveloping darkness, interspersed with flickers of hope. 


In striving to evoke this tone I layered tracks, or elements therein, through a chain of fx. The result of which was designed to suggest the sound of the music being played back via a worn video tape. To me, this is indicative of the 80’s, yet to my ears it also serves as an ideal sonic representation of the current situation we find ourselves in. The distorted and warped nature reflects not only the general mood, but the skewed realities we envisage when being spoon-fed bullshit across multiple media platforms. 


Polarising Political Posturing is everywhere! 


In a time when the human race should be coming together; a world without borders, we are being knowingly driven apart; segregated, compartmentalised & controlled by egomaniacal narcissists and greed-mongers. These self-important puppets of “Big Business” are morally bankrupt peddlers of lies who usurp the true democratic process and manipulate it for personal gain. 


It truly feels like we teetering on the brink of a new Dark Age. 



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Posted by Kingbastard - October 19th, 2018


Pop! Goes the People [Remastered - 10th Anniversary Edition] by Myheadisaballoon

Pop! Goes the People” was originally written and recorded in 2008, although a ‘condensed version’ of the album did not see the light of day until much later, in 2012. (Due to reasons I won’t bore folks with)  


This year sees its ten year anniversary, so I decided to pull the old ten track version, restore it to its original sixteen track running order and have the whole album remastered. For me it’s been given a new lease of life and I’ve enjoyed rediscovering these songs, which serve as an audio-diary of a time in my life that I won’t soon forget.  

The album and tracks therein hold a special sentimental significance. These songs are among the first pieces of music I wrote/recorded after finally being free of an addiction that had plagued me for many years. As such it is an album of heartfelt and honest themes. Anxiety, society and escapism, in one form or another. The songs are introspective and autobiographical, centring around a theme of letting go of old ways and trying to face up to and overcome my personal demons; starting over, learning to appreciate the little things in life.  

So here it is, the full sixteen track version in its original running order with a fresh new sound and artwork. I hope the music will be enjoyed by both those who heard it first time around and new listeners alike. 

Chris Weeks 


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Posted by Kingbastard - August 31st, 2018


https://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/822146

Just found this older live jam, a hardware only piece from 2015 which was written/performed during the making of my Kingbastard EP 'DATA'. It never made it onto the EP as it was not quite the right fit. Thought I would upload and share it for shits n giggles...

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Posted by Kingbastard - May 22nd, 2018


I found a collection of old CDs containing many of my older Kingbastard tracks; written between the years 2000-2004. These are tracks I thought I had lost forever; tracks that were originally posted and hosted on the Newgrounds Audio Portal.

I couldn't recall the correct names for all the tracks, but I know most are accurate. 

This era was when I was first getting to grips with making more electronic-based music. The quality is not great, but they have a certain charm (for me at least). They were created using a Roland SP808ex, Yamaha DJX, an acoustic guitar & an old AKG mic I found at a car-boot-sale. They are what they are. 

It was a nostalgia trip for me stumbling across these CDs and I hope some of the original Newgrounds Audio folks find their way to this page for a listen & reminisce. 

40 tracks, two hours of tunes. All free to download.

https://kingbastard.bandcamp.com/album/kb-00-04


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Posted by Kingbastard - May 5th, 2018


 


Posted by Kingbastard - May 4th, 2018


 

 


Posted by Kingbastard - May 1st, 2018


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WIN! “Kingbastard - Standalone” Prize Draw!
Be in with a chance to win this exclusive prize from Ambidextrous Records & Kingbastard.

Kingbastard’s new Vinyl EP ‘Standalone’: “...crunched up leftfield sonics for the machine-loving crowd…” has recently been released on Ambidextrous Records; pressing & distribution via Juno Records

https://www.juno.co.uk/products/kingbastard-standalone/678122-01/

Click on the image/link below for more info on how to enter. (it's very simple;)

 


Posted by Kingbastard - February 8th, 2018


I will finally be getting my first vinyl release, a four-track EP called 'Standalone', released on Ambidextrous Records and Distributed by Juno Reords on April 16th 2018

Kingbastard - 'Standalone' 12”, 180 gram Audiophile Vinyl coming soon on Ambidextrous Records Distributed by Juno Recordshttps://www.juno.co.uk/products/kingbastard-standalone/678122-01/

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Review:

With a subject matter of an unsettled consciousness and the schizophrenic tendencies of the Artificial-Intelligence-Era, 'Chris Weeks', aka Kingbastard, has crafted a unique terrain for himself on his new EP, 'Standalone'; a beguiling workout of mind-bending, hardware-based electronic sounds.

Weeks fuses Techno sensibilities with an array of Experimental-Electronic techniques, producing an EP which echoes the genius of Aphex Twin & Autechre; making the UK-based Producer one of the most adventurous heirs of the Warp label.

The tracks found on 'Standalone' perfectly embody their titles, with glitch infused Techno, IDM innervation and fidgeting-synth flourishes, evoking the electronic-claustrophobia felt from living in our all-encompassing post-Snowden surveillance dystopia.

Championed by the likes of Bleep, Tom Ravenscroft (BBC 6 Music), Rob da Bank (BBC Radio1 & 6Music), CLASH Magazine, Igloo Magazine, IRM (Indie Rock Mag), Future Music Magazine.


Posted by Kingbastard - April 8th, 2016


Norman's Lament - Taken from my forthcoming album 'Iris & Norman'. Released by Odd John Records on Limited Edition CD & Digital Formats from Friday the 6th of May, 2016. chrisweeksmusic.com


Posted by Kingbastard - March 25th, 2016