Calyx (musician)
This article is written like a review. (May 2009) |
Calyx | |
---|---|
Origin | UK |
Genres | Drum and bass, techno-DNB, techstep, darkstep |
Years active | 1998 - Present |
Labels | Moving Shadow Metalheadz Momentum Recordings Subtitles Recordings Ram Records (UK) |
Members | Larry Cons |
Website | Facebook MySpace |
Calyx is a UK based drum and bass act, specialising in the techstep style. Previously the duo Larry Cons and Chris Rush (both of London), it is now a solo project of Larry Cons.
Their first release was in 1998 for Moving Shadow sublabel Audio Couture, which was in the game Grand Theft Auto 3. Most of their releases have been for Moving Shadow, including their debut album No Turning Back (2005), with a few appearances for Metalheadz and Renegade Hardware. Many of Calyx hits has been featured in the video game Midnight Club 3.
In September 2007 he released an album called 'Anatomy' which was a joint project with fellow drum 'n' bass artist and long term collaborator Teebee. Calyx and Teebee went on to release a second collaborative album All or Nothing in November 2012 under Ram Records (UK).
Performances
- Calyx at Rolldabeats
London-based jungle/drum 'n' bass production team Calyx began as guitarist Larry Cons, who previously led a jazz-funk band called Octane, and former drummer Chris Rush. The two met at Oxford Brookes University before starting work together and launching their own recording studio in Streatham, South London.
Calyx debuted in early-1998 with 'Cubic.' - Which was also the first release on Moving Shadow's sister label Audio Couture. They then followed it up with 'Techtonic' which made it into the Top 20 in the CIN Dance Single charts.
They went on to further releases such as 'Double Zero/The Root', 'Megalomania/Whole Tone', 'Morphology/Schitzoid' (on Doc Scott's 31 Records) and 'Distopia/Octane' - which gained airplay on MTV.
In 2000, after releasing the 'Catapult EP' Chris Rush decided to leave the duo to pursue a non-musical career, and as such Larry Cons has been carrying the Calyx moniker forward solo since Chris left.
Since that time, Larry has released a number of tracks, including the 'Downpour EP', his debut on Metalheadz 'Leviathan/Mindfold' and another EP for Moving Shadow, the 'Wasteground EP'. The title track from the Wasteground EP was chosen by Grooverider to close out his Fabriclive CD.
Larry's profile kept rising as he joined forces with fellow Moving Shadow artist Dom & Roland for a set of dcollaborations ('Pneumatix'/'See The Light') - following it up with the 'Killa EP' - meanwhile, Metalheadz picked up more of his tunes, firstly a collaboration with Kontrol on the MDZ.03 album and then a 2x12" release, the 'Dark Nights' EP - featuring collaborations with Kontrol + OB-1.
The debut Calyx album on Moving Shadow; ‘No Turning Back’ was hailed by many as the highlight of 2005. Featuring 6 solo tracks, 4 collaborations (with Teebee, Gridlok, and ill.skillz), and remixes by Dom & Roland and Hive & Gridlok (remixing together for the first time), every track gained massive DJ support and the album was in such high demand that three represses had to be made in the first 6 months following its release. Given Larry’s well-established reputation and strengths as a DJ, the release of the album was followed by a deluge of bookings for an album world tour that continued for the rest 2005; two U.S. tours, two Australian tours, and countless European dates ensured that the Calyx sound spread far and wide.
2007 saw the launch of a new label from Calyx & TeeBee, marking its first release with not just a 12’ or an E.P., but with an entire album of Calyx & TeeBee collaborations released on 4-piece vinyl and CD. The Anatomy LP topped sales charts for weeks on end and was followed by a massive album World Tour of back-to-back Calyx & Teebee sets.
In 2012 Calyx & Teebee signed an exclusive deal with Andy C's Ram Records (UK) and delivered their sophomore album in the same year.
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Calyx
http://www.myspace.com/calyxuk
Discography
Calyx - No Turning Back (2005)
- Illusions (5:56)
- Follow The Leader (feat. Teebee) (6:24)
- Are You Ready? (Hive and Gridlok Remix) (5:30)
- Dead Ringer (feat. Gridlok) (6:52)
- Killa (Dom & Roland Remix) (6:53)
- Tearing Us Apart (6:02)
- Thru Your Eyes (feat. Ill.Skillz) (6:42)
- Cyclone (feat. Teebee) (5:36)
- Chasing Shadows (5:36)
- Get Myself To You (7:32)
Calyx & Teebee - Anatomy (2007)
- The Divide (6:05)
- Dual Processed (feat. MC Verse) (5:22)
- Make Your Choice (5:21)
- All That Remains (5:50)
- Warrior (6:05)
- Ultimatum (5:22)
- Telepathy (6:06)
- Enygma (7:06)
- Confession (5:39)
- Vortex (5:36)
Calyx & Teebee - All or Nothing (2012)
- Heroes & Villains (5:37)
- Pure Gold (feat. Kemo) (5:34)
- Skank (4:38)
- We Become One (feat. Craze and Foreign Beggars) (5:03)
- Elevate This Sound (5:20)
- We Fall Away (4:30)
- Scavenger (5:07)
- Strung Out (3:29)
- You'll Never Take Me Alive (feat. Beardyman) (4:16)
- Starstruck (5:00)
- Back & Forth (4:41)
- Nothing I Can Say (5:26)
Song Usage
Tracks Follow the Leader, Thru Your Eyes, Get Myself to You, Chasing Shadows, and Are You Ready are used in the popular racing game Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition
Track Quagmire is featured in Grand Theft Auto III