User:MSPhelps/Draft of Cloudkicker

Cloudkicker
Origin	Colombus, Ohio, USA
Genres	Instrumental, Progressive Metal, Post-metal
Years active	2008-Present
Labels	None
Members	Ben Sharp
Website	cloudkicker.bandcamp.com

Cloudkicker is an instrumental progressive metal band from Colombus, Ohio consisting solely of musician Ben Sharp. He has gained significant notoriety amongst the Internet music community, and releases all of his music for free under a Creative Commons license. He has released 8 LPs and EPs on his Bandcamp.

History

Ben Sharp began writing music under the moniker BM Sharp, or Ben the Sharp, In 2005. He began releasing short, ambient tracks, for free download around once a week. A desire to write something "heavier and more in depth" led him to write a 15 minute song, which he performed with a small garage band. The piece was received well, encouraged him to continue.

He began releasing material under the pseudonym Cloudkicker in 2008, beginning with his first full-length album The Discovery for free. He borrowed the name from the character Kit Cloudkicker on the TV show TaleSpin. He followed this album up with three shorter EPs: The Map is Not the Territory, Portmanteau, and ]]][[[. In September 2010, he released his second full-length album, Beacons, via Bandcamp. This was his first release available for purchase, using a pay what you want scheme. Additionally, this was his first release available on CD as well as vinyl. Sharp has said this is a result of a constant deluge of requests since he began Cloudkicker.

Sharp remains unsigned to any label, saying

I don't like touring and I don't want to have to pay the bills by making music, that would suck all the fun out of it for me. At this point I'm not sure a label could offer me anything I can't already do for myself, and other people seem to be perfectly happy to promote Cloudkicker on their own.

Musical Style

Cloudkicker's sound is often compared to the progressive metal style pioneered by Meshuggah. Sharp has acknowledged their influence, saying "I think I have probably listened to Catch 33 a hundred times since it came out. Clearly that’s where I picked up the odd-time-signatures thing." His work has also been compared to the post-metal sound of bands such as Isis and Long Distance Calling. He has cited Jimmy Eat World, The Appleseed Cast, Jeremy Enigk, Radiohead, The Books, Sufjan Stevens, Tycho, Death Cab for Cutie and Glassjaw as non-metal influences on his work, as well as minimalist composers such as Steve Reich and Phillip Glass.

Sharp describes his style of music as "listenable" and not related to any particular musical scene. He maintains a commitment to the quality of his work, saying his goal is to "not make anything that's bullshit while...also not creating the same thing over and over again."

He records and produces his material by himself, recording directly into his computer and programming drums using Superior Drummer.

Discography

• The Discovery (2008)
• The Map Is Not The Territory (EP) (2008)
• Portmanteau (EP) (2009)
• A New Heavenly Body (EP) (Previously known as ]]][[[) (2010)
• Beacons (2010)
• Loop (EP) (2011)
• Let Yourself Be Huge (EP) (2011)
• Fade (2012)
• Subsume (2013)
• Live with Intronaut (2014)
• Little Histories (2014)
• Woum (2015)

External Links

• cloudkicker.bandcamp.com - Cloudkicker's home page
• blogkicker.tumblr.com - Cloudkicker's blog
• myspace.com/cloudkicker - Cloudkicker's myspace
• sites.google.com/site/benthesharp/musicistight - Ben Sharp's earlier work as B M Sharp
• got-djent.com/band/cloudkicker - Cloudkicker discography at Got-Djent.com