Akahum
Encyclopedia
AKAHUM is the brainchild of David Unlimbo, accompanied by Zoltan Finger, Zenga Bloem, Charlie Rascal and Mark Mindflux evolving from 90's space rock jam band Unlimbo
.
including Prahna Fish, Unlimbits and Nine Lives. Akahum was formed in 2005 as a more compact, tourable project with the purpose of writing music for live performance in a music culture that in Unlimbo's estimation was "stagnating under the command of DJs and turntable artistes". The resulting set was toured throughout Europe and the UK from November 2006, following the release of Akahum's debut EP.
It was during their first European tour that Akahum took on board German keyboards player, Uli Diffaith, to supplement Akahum's synths and play percussion in Bloem's absence. Diffaith, however, did not feature on the group's first album release, Electwistery (October 2007) but rejoined as fourth member for a number of live performances at various festivals and venues until December 2008. In the meantime, Soft Machine
and Gong
founder member Daevid Allen
accepted Unlimbo's version of Gong's Fohat Digs Holes in Space, produced under the Akahum banner in May 2008, for inclusion on the Gong tribute album, Zero's Heroes, scheduled for release in 2011.
In April 2009, Charlie Rascal joined Akahum to play drums and percussion, increasing the band's permanent membership to four. The Summer of 2009 was a real boost for the band. Headline or last-but-one slots at festivals like Off the Tracks and The Eden Festival pushed the bands profile a little higher.
Following tours in the UK and a busy festival season in 2009, Akahum have gained a reputation as a high-energy live dance act.
All Akahum tracks are written and produced by David Unlimbo, guitarist and sound engineer. He has worked for Mari Wilson
& the Wilsations, Kim Wilde
and The Enid
and on live production for Ned's Atomic Dustbin
, The Enid
, Solstice, Hawkwind
and Channel Zero (King Prawn). He has played guitar with Jerry Marotta
& Korai Öröm.
Bassist Zoltan Finger has worked with Stan Webb
(ex Chicken Shack) and was a founding member of Akahum, From The Hip and Luna C.
Zenga Bloem, percussionist, was a founding member of London-based funk pop hip-hop band Spicy Goat signed to Pravda records Amsterdam. Zenga is a founder member of Akahum.
Charlie Rascal has played drums with Dexy's Midnight Runners and with members of Portishead, the Au Pairs, George Melly
, Lee Jones, Gong
, Los Squideros, Luna C, the Albion Band and Dutch Lewis and is also a qualified drum teacher.
Mark Mindflux ia a multi-instrumentalist and drummer. Mark also plays in Zubzub, Dream Machine
, Trancient Dreams and Champignon and has played with Ozric Tentacles
, G-Delic and also The Space Pirates. He has also played at the following festivals: Glastonbury Festival
,the Glade Festival, Sunrise Celebration
, Waveform Project, Eastern Haze, Life Festival
(Ireland) and Wickerman Festival
.
Zoltan Finger, bass guitar.
Zenga Bloem, percussion.
Charlie Rascal, drums, percussion.
Mark Mindflux, synths, percussion.
Uli Diffaith, keyboards, percussion (2007–2008)
Unlimbo
Unlimbo was a World / Dub band that thrived on festivals. Six self-financed releases, three globally distributed. Line up; drums, bass, synths, percussion, guitar, samples, decks, ethnic wind and vocals. Derived from such differing genres it was hard to nail down a style...
.
History
David Unlimbo, Zenga Bloem and Zoltan Finger have been playing together since 1997 and released six albums as UnlimboUnlimbo
Unlimbo was a World / Dub band that thrived on festivals. Six self-financed releases, three globally distributed. Line up; drums, bass, synths, percussion, guitar, samples, decks, ethnic wind and vocals. Derived from such differing genres it was hard to nail down a style...
including Prahna Fish, Unlimbits and Nine Lives. Akahum was formed in 2005 as a more compact, tourable project with the purpose of writing music for live performance in a music culture that in Unlimbo's estimation was "stagnating under the command of DJs and turntable artistes". The resulting set was toured throughout Europe and the UK from November 2006, following the release of Akahum's debut EP.
It was during their first European tour that Akahum took on board German keyboards player, Uli Diffaith, to supplement Akahum's synths and play percussion in Bloem's absence. Diffaith, however, did not feature on the group's first album release, Electwistery (October 2007) but rejoined as fourth member for a number of live performances at various festivals and venues until December 2008. In the meantime, Soft Machine
Soft Machine
Soft Machine were an English rock band from Canterbury, named after the book The Soft Machine by William S. Burroughs. They were one of the central bands in the Canterbury scene, and helped pioneer the progressive rock genre...
and Gong
Gong
A gong is an East and South East Asian musical percussion instrument that takes the form of a flat metal disc which is hit with a mallet....
founder member Daevid Allen
Daevid Allen
Daevid Allen , sometimes credited as Divided Alien, an Australian poet, guitarist, singer, composer and performance artist is co-founder of psychedelic rock groups Soft Machine and Gong .-Biography:In 1960, inspired by the Beat Generation writers he had discovered...
accepted Unlimbo's version of Gong's Fohat Digs Holes in Space, produced under the Akahum banner in May 2008, for inclusion on the Gong tribute album, Zero's Heroes, scheduled for release in 2011.
In April 2009, Charlie Rascal joined Akahum to play drums and percussion, increasing the band's permanent membership to four. The Summer of 2009 was a real boost for the band. Headline or last-but-one slots at festivals like Off the Tracks and The Eden Festival pushed the bands profile a little higher.
Following tours in the UK and a busy festival season in 2009, Akahum have gained a reputation as a high-energy live dance act.
All Akahum tracks are written and produced by David Unlimbo, guitarist and sound engineer. He has worked for Mari Wilson
Mari Wilson
Mari Wilson is an English singer, best known for her sometimes quirky, early 1960s-influenced pop music songs, and her beehive hairstyle.-Career:...
& the Wilsations, Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...
and The Enid
The Enid
The Enid is a British rock band founded in 1975 by Robert John Godfrey, Stephen Stewart and Francis Lickerish. Another early member was William Gilmour, who subsequently founded his own band Craft and now plays keyboards in Lickerish's band Secret Green....
and on live production for Ned's Atomic Dustbin
Ned's Atomic Dustbin
Ned's Atomic Dustbin are an English rock band formed in Stourbridge in West Midlands in November 1987. The band took their name from an episode of The Goon Show. The band were unusual for using two bass players in their lineup: Alex Griffin played melody lines high up on one bass, and Mat Cheslin...
, The Enid
The Enid
The Enid is a British rock band founded in 1975 by Robert John Godfrey, Stephen Stewart and Francis Lickerish. Another early member was William Gilmour, who subsequently founded his own band Craft and now plays keyboards in Lickerish's band Secret Green....
, Solstice, Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
and Channel Zero (King Prawn). He has played guitar with Jerry Marotta
Jerry Marotta
Jerry Marotta is a drummer currently residing in Woodstock, New York. He is the brother of Rick Marotta, who is also a well-known drummer and composer....
& Korai Öröm.
Bassist Zoltan Finger has worked with Stan Webb
Stan Webb
Stan Webb is the frontman and lead guitarist with the blues band, Chicken Shack.-Career:...
(ex Chicken Shack) and was a founding member of Akahum, From The Hip and Luna C.
Zenga Bloem, percussionist, was a founding member of London-based funk pop hip-hop band Spicy Goat signed to Pravda records Amsterdam. Zenga is a founder member of Akahum.
Charlie Rascal has played drums with Dexy's Midnight Runners and with members of Portishead, the Au Pairs, George Melly
George Melly
Alan George Heywood Melly was an English jazz and blues singer, critic, writer and lecturer. From 1965 to 1973 he was a film and television critic for The Observer and lectured on art history, with an emphasis on surrealism.-Early life and career:He was born in Liverpool and was educated at Stowe...
, Lee Jones, Gong
Gong
A gong is an East and South East Asian musical percussion instrument that takes the form of a flat metal disc which is hit with a mallet....
, Los Squideros, Luna C, the Albion Band and Dutch Lewis and is also a qualified drum teacher.
Mark Mindflux ia a multi-instrumentalist and drummer. Mark also plays in Zubzub, Dream Machine
Dream Machine
The phrase Dream Machine can have a number of different meanings:*Dreamachine, a light effect*Sony Dream Machine, a line of clock radios by Sony*Dream Machine , a UK-based progressive space rock band...
, Trancient Dreams and Champignon and has played with Ozric Tentacles
Ozric Tentacles
Ozric Tentacles are an instrumental rock band from Somerset, England, whose music can loosely be described as psychedelic or space rock. Formed in 1983, the band has released 28 albums as of 2011, and become a cottage industry selling over a million albums worldwide despite never having major...
, G-Delic and also The Space Pirates. He has also played at the following festivals: Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
,the Glade Festival, Sunrise Celebration
Sunrise Celebration
Sunrise Celebration is an ethical living and music festival that takes place in Bruton Somerset, England on an organic farm. It first started in 2006 over the summer solstice as an alternative celebration to the Glastonbury Festival that was cancelled that year...
, Waveform Project, Eastern Haze, Life Festival
Life Festival
Life Festival is an annual Irish music festival held in Belvedere House and Gardens in Westmeath Ireland. With various arts activities and street performers, from jugglers, fire breathers to magicians...
(Ireland) and Wickerman Festival
Wickerman Festival
The Wickerman Festival is an annual music festival held near to Dundrennan in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Dubbed 'Scotland's Alternative Music festival', the festival will celebrate its 10th Birthday in 2011 on Friday 22nd & Saturday 23rd July....
.
Lineup
David Unlimbo, guitar, synths.Zoltan Finger, bass guitar.
Zenga Bloem, percussion.
Charlie Rascal, drums, percussion.
Mark Mindflux, synths, percussion.
Uli Diffaith, keyboards, percussion (2007–2008)
Albums
- Akahum CD-ROM EP (2006) worldvenue POLY019
- See What You Think ~ remaster (2007) worldvenue POLY020
- Electwistery (2007) worldvenue POLY021