The latest signing to Cake Records, Bellows were previously (and briefly) knows as John The Savage as seen recently supporting label mates Get The Blessing at the Flomotion Live gig at Cargo (see review HERE).

This is a superb opportunity to hear live the band play material that will form the basis of their forthcoming debut album that’s set for release early next year. While Bellows could easily be labelled rather simplistically as either ‘post-jazz’ or ‘post-rock’, they describe their sound as “cinematic instrumental music” and jump between classifications and genres with ease. The four-piece’s collective musical background includes rock, jazz, classical and electronica, and their influences range from the likes of contemporary sonic experimentalists such as E.S.T, Amon Tobin, Portishead, Godspeed You Black Emperor and Tortoise, through to older masters like Krzysztof Komeda, Moondog, Debussy and Charles Mingus.

Whislt Bellows are by no means an easy band to pigeonhole (much like, say Legion Of Two) as their cross-genre influences make their sounds appeal to listeners from across the board. Of course, the only way to fully appreciate the scale and scope of their music is to experience them for yourselves, and this debut headline show at The Vortex is the perfect opportunity to get ahead of the game before Bellows establish themselves firmly as a hugely creative and intriguing band on the wider UK scene.

With excellent support from Zed-U (Babel), the “jazz-thrash” trio featuring clarinettist Shabaka Hutchings and bassist Neil Charles, both of whom have long outgrown their previous ‘rising star’ tag, joined for this gig by the one-man rhythm sensation of Seb Rochford.

For Rochford, The Vortex is like a second home with all the different band’s he’s involved with. Last month he was there twice as part of the Mercury nominated Polar Bear and again with the Zed-U album launch of Night Time On The Middle Passage; and I see Led Bib were there with the Sensible Shoes gig.

So a great night at the Vortex on the cards with Bellows who are Richard Brincklow (piano/keyboards), Marcus O’Dair (upright bass), Andrew Phillips (guitar, laptop) and Jim Whyte/Alon Cohen (drums).

The Vortex, 11 Gillett Square, Dalston, London N16 8AZ 1st July 2009, 8:00pm, £8 Tickets: 020 7254 4097 www.vortexjazz.co.uk

Links:
www.myspace.com/bellowsuk
“Dark-yet-uplifting atmosphere and intensity” (Tord Gustavsen - ECM)
www.myspace.com/zumusik
www.myspace.com/thisistheblessing
www.candidrecords.com