Wizards of Twiddly

Formed in Liverpool 1988 the Wizards of Twiddly stuck out like a sore thumb. Creating wildly ambitious music from a vast and colourful palette with large chunks of humour and theatricality. On their own Fracture for Pleasure label they produced two idiosyncratic albums 'independent legs' (1992) and 'man made self' (1994). Largely ignored by the mainstream music press ('Scouse Gets' NME 1993) they managed to attract a collection of committed supporters including Cardiacs' Tim Smith, Radio One's Mark Radcliffe and the late,great Vivian Stanshall.

In 1994 the Wizards of Twiddly embarked on a year long collaboration with the very legendary Kevin Ayers. In 2000 Market Square records released the live 'Turn the Lights Down - Live in London 1995' with the band accompanying Kevin on some of his greatest tunes. Wizards of Twiddly also collaborated with Kaboodle Theatre Co (Threepenny Story1991/2) Liverpool scrap musicologists Urban Strawberry Lunch and comedian Terry Titter. In 1993 the band won the best band at the first Liverpool Echo Arts Awards.

Since 1996 a Twiddly or two can be found on Shack's latest album (2006), The Coral's 'Magic & Medicine' (2003), Gorky's Zygotic Mynci 'Moon Beats Yellow' (1995) & 'Barafundle' (1998) and Super Furry Animals classic debut 'Fuzzy Logic' (1996) and countless releases by Zappa specialists The Muffin Men. Wizards of Twiddly reformed in 2004 and hope to release a new studio album at the end of 2008

Website: www.myspace.com/wizardsoftwiddly
Email: wizardsoftwiddly@googlemail.com

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wizards of twiddly - man made self (cd)

The second Twiddly album, from 1994, saw the band continuing to uniquely combine elements of jazz, metal and punk.

However, the writing and performances were considerably more ambitious than on their debut, with the extended outro of 'Large Geographical Features', the Bowie fronts Crimson mayhem of 'Man Made Self', and the Kurt Weil flavoured 'Abnormal Man' (where the band are joined by Liverpool's Brasshoppers providing extra brass for a stirring close to the album) suggesting powerful new directions.

The album was highly acclaimed by Vivian Stanshall ('The Best Thing I've heard All Year' MOJO) and Canterbury legend, Kevin Ayers (who toured with the band throughout 1995).

REVIEWS:

'...a collection that includes jazzy TV themes gone haywire, yobboik punk numbers, outrageous guitar heroics and the most blissful sixties-drenched pop' - Facelift Magazine

'21st Century Schizoid Swing' - Ptolemaic Terrascope

Tracks

1. make em smile
2. incapable of clear thought
3. the blob
4. your knife in their glands
5. herods creche
6. septic tank
7. hollywood lies
8. large geographical features
9. schnuzola baby
10.man made self
11. jazz ian
12. young man motorway
13. anti septic tank
14. because its there
15. murder most foul
16. abnormal man

Credits

Carl Bowry - guitar
Andy Delamere - drums,vocal, backing vocals
Andy Frizell - vocals, bass guitar, alto sax, trombone, flute
Simon James - vocals, flute , saxophone
Martin Smith - trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion, vocal

plus



Keith Lancaster - vocals (7 & 16)
Paul Gillespie - piano (4)
Benjamin F Tin & Ambrose Reynolds - percussion (12)
Dominic Starkey - piccolo trumpet (8)
Dave Edge - alto sax (16)
Keith 'Tank' Sharples - tuba (16)
Toby Rathbone - tenor sax
Martin Dobson - trombone (16)
Lyn Graham - clarinet(16)

Produced by Wizards of Twiddly & Carl Brown
Engineered by Carl Brown with Graeme Stewart
Administration by Pete Goddard

Reviews

The best band you've never heard

Not much new to report today, but here's a little something for you music lovers out there.

Now and then you stumble upon these great bands that for some reason has stayed completely under the radar of the mainstream. British rock/jazz/pop/whatever combo Wizards of Twiddly released two albums of beautifully mashed up genres in the early nineties, and then seem to have disappeard for about a decade. Until quite recently you could barely find a word about them on the web. But now they have finally got their act together and actually made it possible to buy their albums in a brand new webshop. They even have a couple of gigs booked. What do you know...

Head over to their home on Myspace to check out a few songs, try "Large Geographical Features" - a superb little altpop gem. Highly recommended for anyone who want to have their music served al dente.

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