E-quad – No Smoke

Releasedate: 20-06-2008; Label: E-Quad // New Music
By: Nina Mende

E-Quad was founded by Eric van der Westen who invited Hans Timmermans to join. After a few years of producing dance music in the studio, the stage began to lure. Driven by the conviction that E-Quad should be a live-band, the founders started looking for additional performers whom they found in singer and rapster Leonie Muller, sax player Guido Nijs and drummer Marzj.
The band toured Southern Africa in September 2006 for the 2nd time. To emphasize the live character of E-Quad, they invited three famous South African horn players: McCoy Mrubata, Marcus Wyatt and Buddy Wells. The band played several big festivals, among other Morija Arts and Culture Festival (Lesotho) and the Macufe Festival (South Africa) and several prominent clubs. These shows were very well received and the band proved to be a real live sensation. January 12, 2007, E-Quad partakes in a number of very special performances on Second Life; being the first band ever, their gig is shown virtually as well as live. Behind the avatars on the Second Life stage, a screen is showing live footage of the actual band.

Now their second album „No Smoke“ is hitting stores and this is what it sounds like:
The album has different styles combined in one, the first song for example is quite electronic with rapped vocals by a female but singing “Spy with my little eye” in the chorus. The melody in the song reminds of Pink Panther and it also includes some jazzy elements. Somehow the whole album reminds of a motion picture soundtrack from the 50s or 60s. It’s an odd and interesting sound you will have to get used to. The song “Refugee” is mostly sung, but the bridge is rapped. “No Smoke” is a great club album. Rapping and singing is quite balanced all in all. A positive and unique sound of its own, incomparable and fresh.

Links:
E-Quad MySpace
E-Quad Official