Transglobal Underground
Transglobal Underground |
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Transglobal Underground (sometimes written as Trans-Global Underground or simply as TGU) is a London-based music collective who specialise in a fusion of western, oriental and African music styles (sometimes labelled as "world fusion" or "ethno-techno"). Their early albums featured Natacha Atlas as lead singer and their single "Temple Head" was used in a Coca-Cola advertising campaign for the 1996 Olympic Games. [1]
Biography
The group was formed in or slightly before 1990 by Tim Whelan (aka Alex Kasiek, [2] keyboards/guitar/programming), Hamid Mantu (aka Man Tu, drums/percussion/programming) and Count Dubulah (bass). Although the group has always had a fairly fluid line-up (and also deliberately clouded their identities for many years with multiple pseudonyms and obscure credits), others who have been long-time members or associates include singer Natacha Atlas, dhol player Johnny Kalsi, rapper Coleridge, vocalist/percussionist TUUP (aka The Unorthodox Unprecedented Preacher), sitar player Sheema Mukherjee and percussionist Neil Sparkes. Artists who have made guest appearances on their albums include Aki Nawaz and Trio Bulgarka. [3] Their remix albums include mixes of their songs by Dreadzone, Lionrock and Youth and they in turn have remixed tracks for Banco de Gaia, Fun-Da-Mental and Pop Will Eat Itself.
The first recording by the group was the single "Temple Head" which was shopped around various labels before eventually being released by Nation Records in 1991. Although not a major hit, it was named "Single of the Week" in Melody Maker and heavily featured at clubs such as Whirl-Y-Gig. [1] The group was quickly signed to Deconstruction Records, for whom they recorded an album. The label, however, declined to release the album, [4] which eventually saw the light of day on the Nation label as Dream of 100 Nations. This album marked the group debut of Natacha Atlas, formerly of Jah Wobble's Invaders of the Heart.
After two more albums Atlas left to concentrate on her burgeoning solo career, with which the core TGU members were already heavily involved as producers and remixers, and Dubulah and Sparkes left to form Temple of Sound. After a period of inactivity a new TGU line-up emerged with the album Rejoice Rejoice and toured Europe supporting Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. The band subsequently left Nation Records and, after releasing the album Yes Boss Food Corner on Mondo Rhythmica (part of the Ark 21 label), set up their own Mule Satellite label for their 2004 album Impossible Broadcasting. [3] The band remains a popular live attraction and its members also continue to work as DJs and remixers.
Discography
Albums
Bold numbers indicate peak positions on the Official UK Albums Chart
- Dream of 100 Nations, 1993, 45
- International Times, 1994, 40
- Interplanetary Meltdown, 1995 (remix album)
- Psychic Karaoke, 1996, 62
- Rejoice Rejoice, 1998
- Backpacking On The Graves Of Our Ancestors, 1999 (greatest hits album with some new tracks and mixes)
- Yes Boss Food Corner, 2001
- Impossible Broadcasting, 2004
- Impossible Re-Broadcasting, 2007 (remix album)
References
- ^ a b World Music Central article
- ^ There seems to be some debate as to whether Whelan and Kasiek are indeed the same person (see, for example, this article) however this article, which was apparently compiled from official band sources, states that they are one and the same.
- ^ a b Review from inthemix.com.au
- ^ Article at global-trance.co.uk