Minibus Pimps is a duo featuring the legendary John Paul Jones -- former
bassist in Led Zeppelin -- and prolific electronic musician, improviser, and
producer Helge Sten (Deathprod, Supersilent), which has existed since its
first performance in 2011. The debut album Cloud to Ground contains seven
tracks, all recorded live at different venues, from London's Caf? Oto to venues in
Norway and Denmark. The secret of Minibus Pimps' colossal sonic gas giants is
their use of the Kyma computer system (created by Symbolic Sound). Instruments
such as guitar, bass and violin are fed into the system and radically transformed
by self-designed digital instruments and processors until their sources are barely
recognizable. This method continues John Paul Jones' experiments with computer
music which began as far back as the late '70s. With titles referencing what
scientists call ''remarkable luminous phenomena in nature,'' the tracks are
scintillating exercises in bending timbres and refracting sound signals. ''Black
Aurora'' is an electronic suite in four movements, pulsing and hovering like some
collapsing dark star. The title-track is a monstrous duet for icicles and cathedral
organ, and the other pieces are masses of sound and noise explored in different
densities. John Paul Jones played as a session musician with Donovan,
Herman's Hermits, Jeff Beck, Fran?oise Hardy, and many others until cofounding
Led Zeppelin with Jimmy Page. He has collaborated or produced a
range of artists including Diamanda Gal?s, R.E.M., Foo Fighters, Peter
Gabriel, Paul McCartney, and many more. His most recent group is Them
Crooked Vultures. Helge Sten has been making electronic music since the early
'90s, both under the name Deathprod and, since 1997, as a member of the
improvising group Supersilent. One of Norway's most innovative and
uncompromising artists, his ''audio virus'' has spread across the music of many
collaborators including Motorpsycho, Susanna, Biosphere, and more.
TRACKLISTING
A1. Black Aurora Pt. 1-4
B1. Cloud to Ground
B2. Arc
B3. Superbolt