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Sugardog Gwan Bite Yo Legs!
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There's a new sound emerging from London's litter of musical style and expression. From the same kennel that spawned Drum n Bass, Breakbeat and UK House Music, springs Sugardog, tearing at the leash. The emotional impact of the music is not only provided by Gila's evocative voice but also through Here Boy and Sugar T's bribery and extortion of digital signals, turntables and musical instruments. The sound can bite you bad, if it doesn't know you, but once it's sniffed your legs, the sound is yours to play with and enjoy on many levels. |
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The Dog Posse Gila - Vocal Enforcer And Groove Analyst
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Gila Gröger was born in Germany, not far from where Faust sold his soul to the devil. Not being a very good salesperson, Gila left her home town as soon as she could and moved to Amsterdam. There, she started playing bass and singing with mutant disco outfits Suspect and Schaflose Nächte. Supporting acts such as Pigbag, Einsturzende Neubauten and Captain Beefheart, Schaflose Nächte left a deep impression on all those who saw them live. They recorded under their own name and also released an LP with Blixa and FM Einheit of Germany's Einsturzende Neubauten, entitled "The Angel Will Not Come" (due for re-release, via the internet). After Schaflose Nächte split , Gila moved to London where she formed Sugardog with Here Boy and Fritz C of 23 Skidoo/Ronin. She rarely plays bass these days, preferring to concentrate on song-writing, singing and production. Her voice has that special character that enables you to recognize her immediately. A slight, indefinable accent underpins an engaging, smoky voice; you only have to hear her once to feel like you've always known that voice. Hear for yourself. |
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Here Boy - Wah-Wah Terrorist and Freq Mechanic
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Jim Whelan (Here Boy) is Sugardog's guitar mechanic and main programmer. With his brother Sugar T, he started in music as a youth, playing in a punk band, but quickly developed an interest in song-writing and sonic manipulation (i.e. Dub). A guitar-player/wah-wah merchant who's willing to play for nothing but the bus fare, he's played for Agent Provocateur and Zeke Manyeka amongst others. Within Sugardog he likes to concentrate on the writing and production side. The guitar is there, but often used in such a way that it's not quite recognizable. In fact, most not-quite-recognizable sounds used in Sugardog seem to spring from Here Boy's warped brain! He also works within other projects. As Khao, with co-producers Jon Caffery (Einsturzende Neubauten, etc.) and Mark Rutherford (Darkus, Jam Nation, Rufige Kru, Mike Oldfield) he released "Crazy, Diseased and Barmy" on Germany's Studio-K7! in 1998. The Single "No Compromise" followed, with remixes by Terra Nova and Smith & Mighty. He's already working on new Sugardog material for 2001. Check out the 12" (released 14/02/01 thru LAZY). |
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Sugar T - The Hexing Bass DJ, For Real!
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Tim Whelan, aka Sugar T, Sugardog's technics hacker and live bassist, has been immersed in music since early youth, when he formed a punk band with brother Here Boy. Within Sugardog, apart from his roles as turntablist, bassie and co-producer, he gets involved at the raw end, programming samplers and sequencers to help produce the Sugardog sound. He's been DJing on the London party scene since back in the day. From spinning hip-hop and reggae at mid-80's warehouse jamz, through being part of the Ardour party cru in mad house times to having regular shows on London pirates, Magic (90.2) FM and Rhythm (95.4) FM. He's DJed behind Khao (see Here Boy) at Germany's PopKomm and behind Ibiza diva Kathy Battistessa at various parties in London. Aside from Sugardog, he's presently involved in the band So..? featuring singer Rich and Carim Clasmann, (Sugardog's co-producer), Sugar T is also still DJing selective parties and events in and around London. |
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History
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Based in London, Sugardog's roots extend into Europe. After meeting Gila over a pair of lederhosen in her funky Amsterdam clothes shop, London brothers Sugar T and Here Boy kidnapped and brought her back to London to form Sugardog. This original line-up included Fritz C (Ronin/23 Skidoo) and John Gosling (Mekon/Agent Provocateur). This was way back in the day, when Warehouse jams ruled the underground London scene. Working from a Hackney basement, Sugardog developed into one of the only live breakbeat acts of the time. While Acid House hit London, Sugardog were releasing tunes with William Orbit's Guerilla Records and Genesis P Orridge's Temple Records. Their basement soon became a studio and the Sugardog members started exploring different areas, playing and song-writing with others artists, as well as moving into DJing and production. Now, back working as a fully integrated production team, you can hear some excellent new tunes from Sugardog - starting with Me And You released by LAZY on 23/07/01. |
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SubWoofa - Sugardog HQ Submerged Deep Below London
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40,000 feet below London, submerged in a location unknown, unmarked on any map of the capital, is SubWoofa... headquarters of Sugardog. Unique in design and atmosphere, the structure secretly pulses under the watchful eyes of the Sugardog Security System (SSS). The Control Room is the real nerve-centre of Sugardog and the SubWoofa organization. From this one room we can get the fantastic impression of the uniqueness of Sugardog. Giant computers, each manned by a programming pup, line the walls. Red, green, blue, yellow and white lights flashing continuously, transmitting, receiving and recording cultural information from every corner of the world. Every soundwave bounced across the universe is received by these computers and stored for future modification. Here the seismic throb of the huge Cahelium Bass Engines is cut to the maximum by special soundproofing. There are over twenty engines in this room all providing Bass and Treble enabling Sugardog to be totally self-sufficient. |
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