Biography
Ex-Wise Heads are
Colin Edwin: Basses, Guimbri, Programming.
Geoff Leigh: Flutes, Soprano Saxophone.
Ex-Wise Heads is the result of a chance meeting between bassist Colin Edwin, of innovative rock band Porcupine Tree, and multi-instrumentalist and reed player Geoff Leigh, best known for his work with the legendary Henry Cow. Since forming the band as a duo in 1998, Ex-Wise Heads have given their own curiously English and refreshing take on improvised and world influenced music, with sporadic but intense live appearances, and three CD releases on their own “Hard World” label.
First album “No Grey Matter” (2000), recorded live with the addition of master afro percussionist Vincent Salzfaas showcased an unembellished and successful blend of unlikely personalities, and paved the way for the more developed and expanded second album “Time and Emotion Study” (2003), where the band was joined by guest violinist Peter Knight (Steeleye Span).
2007 album “Holding Up the Sky” sees a revitalized duo augmenting the raw and uninhibited Ex-Wise Heads sound with electro/ambient textures and sounds, without losing the primal and spontaneous feel of the earlier releases. Guest musicians are Ian Dixon (Ape/Ute/Irmin Schmidt) on trumpet and Rick Edwards (Guitar Orchestra/Hossam Ramsay/Porcupine Tree/No-Man) contributing sensitive and intricate percussion.
With their fourth album "Liquid Assets", Ex-Wise Heads create a subtle blend of timeless and contemporary sounds. The addition of guest guitarist Rajan Spolia adds further depth and Indian inspired colour to this unique album.
A focused development of the band's unique approach, "Liquid Assets" intelligently blends ambient atmospheres with elemental rhythmic structures, striking solos, and refreshingly unusual instrumental combinations, all underpinned by Edwin's trademark powerful, deep, basslines.
2009's "Celestial Disclosure" on Tonefloat Records took a different tack, with Edwin and Leigh exploring much expanded forms, originally being two long tracks, one for each side of the vinyl, although this was augmented by another 11 minute long tune "Manikarnika" on 2010's CD re-issue.
Latest release "Schemata" on the band's own label, continues the duo's ever developing fascination with minimalism, atmospherics and improvised forms.
Releases:
“No Grey Matter” (2000)
“ Time and Emotion Study” (2003)
“Holding up the Sky” (2007)
"Liquid Assets" (2008)
Celestial Disclosure (2010)
"Schemata" (2011)
Also available “Everything is Hear” a collection of early recordings, and "Celestial Disclosure" a limited edition vinyl release, available online from burningshed.com
Artist descriptions on Last.fm are editable by everyone. Feel free to contribute!
All user-contributed text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.
