A.R. Kane announces plan to play a fest this summer

A.R. Kane announces plan to play a fest this summer

Update: TMT contacted Rudy for further details, and he clarified that this is not a “reunion,” among other things: “Well, we have yet to finalise the details - it is a festival in the south of England is all I can say right now — very small, very artistic. I have yet to sort the players, the set list, the rider (hee hee) but I am very excited and looking forward massively.”

The revered abstract-pop band A.R. Kane have announced plans for a show in the upcoming summer. The English duo, who coined the phrase “dream pop,” revealed its intentions to assemble a new touring band and to play at least one show in England in August via a Facebook post. A.R. Kane had officially broken up in 1994, which would make this their first foray into the spotlight in over two decades. So far at least, Rudy Tambala seems to be the only original member involved.

Putting together some players and playing a gig this summer.
It will be A.R.Kane material.
It will be noisy. Mostly. And a bit quiet. In places.
Details to be confirmed almost soon.

Naturally, more details are yet to emerge, but the duo is known for its ability to spin brilliance out of thin air: A.R. Kane was birthed as the joke Tambala invented to explain how he knew Alex Ayuli (a childhood friend, in reality), and when they were suddenly signed before even writing a song, on the basis of their description of the band’s sound as “a bit Velvet Underground, a bit Cocteau Twins, a bit Miles Davis, a bit Joni Mitchell,” they managed to put together a convincing-enough band with their friends and siblings, when requested to audition. The point is, we have evidence to remain optimistic, despite any documented “dreams.”

Formed in 1986 by Alex Ayuli and Rudy Tambala, A.R. Kane sits in the intersection of ethereal pop and groove-based music, mastering dream-pop’s sensual elegance, but also breaking ground for shoegaze, trip-hop, dubbed-out ambient, and even post-rock with their mixture of experimental rock, hazy melodies, and psychedelic currents, held together by an otherworldly veneer. Ahead of their time and unable to fit neither in the late post-punk narrative nor in the indie scene (and perhaps stifled by a racially prejudiced environment — the dreadlocked, feedback-sculpting duo was affectionately nicknamed “the black Jesus and Mary Chain”), A.R. Kane had released three strong albums before splitting up, none of which quite managed to strike them a large following. Working with financially-troubled labels didn’t help either, explaining the band’s ephemeral — albeit influential — career. Unsung for a very long time, A.R. Kane have begun to consolidate a cult status via reissues (including the Pump up the volume single, their collaboration with 4AD-labelmates Colourbox under the M|A|R|R|S name). A show this summer would be a nice way to further A.R. Kane’s consecration.

• A.R. Kane: http://arkane.co.uk

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