UNKLE

UNKLE is a British musical project, which was found in 1994 by James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy. Trip-hop was chosen to be the main style of the band, but the musicians had never limited themselves and worked with numerous performers whom they invited to work jointly.

During the very first stage of creativity Masayuki Kudo, Toshio Nakanishi, Nigo and Takagi Kan (members of hip-hop crew Major Force), Money Mark (keyboard player from Beastie Boys) and DJs from the Scratch Perverts joined James and Tim. The young band started to work immediately, and their first EP The Time Has Come (which was recorded on Lavelle's label Mo' Wax) was released in 1994. The next year, while preparing material for the debut album, Tim and James had the disagreement in the style. Goldsworthy wanted to stick to the house sound of previous tracks, but Lavelle insisted on working together with new singers, hip-hop and rock performers. That divergence of opinions made Tim leave the band. He started working with Belfast DJ and producer David Holmes. Together with James Murphy Tim co-founded the independent label The DFA. Meanwhile James invited DJ Shadow to collaborate and create the material for the UNKLE’s debut album.

The band’s first record Psyence Fiction was released in 1998 and was certified Gold in the UK. It is worth mentioning that such musicians as Thom Yorke from Radiohead, Mike D from Beastie Boys and Jason Newsted took part in creation of that album. After the Psyence Fiction tour DJ Shadow quitted the band, and his place was taken by the DJs from the Scratch Perverts. The band’s second studio work Never, Never, Land was issued in 2003. Famous musicians, such as Robert Del Naja from Massive Attack, Ian Brown and others collaborated with UNKLE in creation of that record. After three years UNKLE released Self Defence: Never, Never, Land Reconstructed and Bonus Beats. It is a firm compilation, including remixes of compositions from the previous album. By the tradition, many performers were invited to work jointly on the third UNKLE’s album. Among them were Josh Homme, Robert Del Naja, who had already collaborated with UNKLE, and the musicians of London band The Duke Spirit. The record was ready by 2007 and was released under the title War Stories.

Influence of the band spread far beyond the field of music. An interesting exhibition took place in 2008 in one of London galleries: all the artworks were inspired by the album War Stories. The fourth studio album End Titles... Stories for Film was issued in 2008. That time UNKLE collaborated with James Petralli from White Denim, Chris Goss, Gavin Clark and many others. The band created a new sound. Nevertheless, it is possible to compare it with the sound of War Stories and Edit Music for a Film.

The new album of legendary trip-hop band was released in 2010 under the title Where Did the Night Fall.