| That was then...
Back To The Planet were a band who grew from the underground festival
scene to flirt with mainstream pop culture (three top 50 singles
and a top 30 album) before returning to the independent sector.
They ruled the scene at a time when dance music was having a bigger and
bigger influence, and they too grew to incorporate techno alongside their
beloved dub and ska. Four consecutive Glastonbury appearances,
Torpedo Town and most notoriously Castlemorton did not fail
to have an effect on the South London five piece and they continued to
tour successfully throughout the UK and Europe. |
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| ... But this is now..
Fil was always the focal point of the band, both musically and
politically. She was the group's lyricist, mouthpiece and visual magnet.
A truly original performer, she combines the sweetest of voices with untouchable
charisma and a rare song-writing flair. Following Back To The Planet's
demise she has regrouped and emerged all shiny and new back into the light.
The sound is new - a combination of techno with trance, dub with drum
'n' bass, the underground with pop sensibilities. Fil has taken her new
project straight out on tour, weaving backing tapes, vocals, live instruments
and percussion into a bewitching whole. Pick out any one tune and it would
tear the clubs apart, put them together and you have one of the most potentially
complete albums ever to emerge from this genre. Rising from the world
of squat gigs, protest parties and free festivals this is dance music
with a heart and a soul. |
| ... Welcome to the future!
earlier this year saw the release of a reworking of 'Freedom' by techno
wizard Chris Liberator and plans to follow up with a Tek9
drum 'n' bass of 'Smile' are currently underway. After a series of London
gigs (Dublin Castle, the Underworld, the Garage, the Borderline and the
Venue... and... what else? ... some festival appearances, including Glastonbury
'98 Dance Stage, the Carlyon Bay Beach Festival and the Exodus
Festival in Luton) Fil and a band that includes ex-members
of the Sea and Back To The Planet will be touring extensively
around the UK and Europe throughout 1999... |
