Ballroom of Romance presents

BALLROOM OF ROMANCE # 82

Transduction Records Night

featuring

LITE (Japan)
54-71 (Japan)
The Spook of the Thirteenth Lock

Whelan's, Wexford Street, Dublin
Saturday, 11 October 2008, 7.30pm
Tickets €12 from WAV and tickets.ie

http://www.ballroomofromance.com
http://www.transductionrecords.com

The Ballroom of Romance welcomes LITE back to Dublin as part of a Transduction Records night. Already a firm favourite with Irish audiences, LITE return for their third visit to these shores in support of their recently released album "Phantasia". Joining them will be Transduction label mates The Spook of the Thirteenth Lock and 54-71 (also from Tokyo, Japan).


LITE

The last twelve months have been eventful for Tokyo-based instrumentalists LITE. After the critical acclaim for their debut "Filmlets", the band have toured Japan constantly and embarked on their second UK & Ireland tour last September. Following an appearance at Fuji Rock Festival, the quartet released a split CD with Funanori (Go! Team guitarist Kaori Tsuchida and Mike Watt) and teamed up with Watt again in February this year to host his Brother's Sister's Daughter Japan tour.

Although darker in parts to its predecessor, "Phantasia" runs the gamut from Crimson-esque jazz-rock to full-scale guitar assault as on "Contra" or the blistering opener "Ef" which has been re-recorded and reignited with the fury of its live rendition.

"Captivating from start to finish, Phantasia comes highly recommended" - Rock Sound

"Mind-bendingly complex guitar tessellations and frenetic polyrhythms forming an endless series of thrillingly complex patterns" - Uncut

"LITE, like Battles, have twisted and turned the formula on its head to deliver a genuinely exciting instrumental album that finally makes post-rock respectable again" - Rock-a-Rolla

http://lite-web.com
http://www.myspace.com/liteband


54-71

For almost a decade, 54-71 have been ferociously touring in and out of Japan, justifying their reputation as one of the most groundbreaking bands that have ever come out of the country.

Formed in 1995, Shingo Sato (vocals), Takuya Takada (guitar), Hiroyuki Horikawa (drums) and Kentaro Kawaguchi (bass) are set to release their eight full length album, "I'm Not Fine, Thank You. And You?", which was recorded at Electrical Audio in Chicago with Steve Albini and is their first to be officially issued outside Japan.

Always wowing audiences with their sheer concentration and explosive energy on stage, they are said to have one of the tightest rhythm sections in the world, playing distinctively stoic yet juicy beats, with influences ranging from hip hop to soul to funk and to rock. This is complemented with carefully placed guitar lines and inimitable blasts of rapping, which goes back and forth between thrilling tension and sly humour. Simply put, they utilize minimal means to maximum effect.

The strength of their live performances has to be seen to be believed, and has so far led them to tour Japan and US with the likes of Deerhoof and Battles. They have also been invited to share the bill with a wide range of artists including The Roots, Why?, Joanna Newsom, Hella, Gang Gang Dance, No Age, Om and Unsane.

http://www.myspace.com/fiftyfourseventyone



The Spook of the Thirteenth Lock

The Spook of the Thirteenth Lock is music from Dublin, Ireland. Named after a poem about a haunted canal lock, the Spook plucks banjos and twangs guitars, he yelps and he drones and sings songs about doomed revolutionaries, brave partisans, corrupt politicians and constant struggle.
Live the Spook plays solo with guitar, banjo and effects or swells to full band with bass, guitars, drums.

The eponymous debut album see songs in the Irish folk tradition expanded into the realms of psych, prog and post rock, channelling amongst other things, the diverse yet kindred spirits of Lift to Experience, 16 Horsepower, Thin Lizzy and The Chieftains.

"an album that combines vitality, bold vision and vivid imagination. Time to ditch those tired old Celtic-rock retreads. This is the real stuff" - Rock and Reel

"One of the best pieces of contemporary Irish rock music we've heard in an age" - The Irish Times

"The best album I have heard from Ireland since Fionn Regan's 'The End Of History' and like that masterpiece this a record that is exceptionally beautiful and inspired yet truly deeply disturbed" - Americana UK

http://www.myspace.com/thespookofthethirteenthlock