It will have been hard to escape the sound of Biskee Brisht over the last couple of years.
The brash, exuberant and colourful pop-folk group have appeared at concerts and events all over the island, and most have found it hard to resist their catchy, hook-laden songs, laced with up-beat choruses and soaring melodies, topped off with layers of guitars, accordions, brass and ukuleles.
Now the eight-piece group are preparing to release their first official songs, with three singles coming out over the next couple of months, paving the way for a full album, ’Stand In The Sea’, to be released early next year.
The first of the singles, ’Not Again’, will be released at a launch party held tomorrow night (Friday) .
The group are led by singer and lyricist Ruby Biscoe-Taylor, who has combined her various influences, ranging from 60s pop through to modern nu-folk, together with traditional Manx music.
’I suppose we sound like a mash-up between the Ronettes and modern folk groups,’ said Ruby.
’That is kind of the sound we are going for, particularly with our first single. We have a doo-wop chorus in there, and a lovely big horn melody.
’Our sound has not come from a conscious decision to do something different and "off-the-wall".
’It is just a genuine attempt to do things and have fun with all the different styles of music that I love.
’I love the catchy choruses and the big moments that everyone can sing along with, that is typical of the 60s sound. The whole album will be full of big, catchy songs.
’I really like to write tunes and melodies that get stuck into people’s heads. Real ear worm-type music.’
’I was in a traditional folk band as a teenager, called Pobble, and the different members of the band have their interests and background.
’John Kaighin, our accordionist, plays mainly traditionally Manx stuff, and we also have our guitarist David Kinley, who has played with bands like the Tholtan Builders in the past, and can play almost anything you ask him to.
’Matt the bassist is from more of a classical background, but also likes metal and rock, and he brings that into our sound and our newest member, Felipe Kowalczuk, a percussionist from Brazil, adds another completely different element.
’Everyone adds something from their own background, and it all comes together quite organically. I’m really happy with how it sounds.’
Biskee Brisht were originally formed to take part in the ’Arrane Son Mannin’, or the the ’Song for Mann’, a competition based around finding contemporary music written in Manx Gaelic.
They won the competition with their tune, ’N’Abbyr Smoo’, which translates as ’Don’t Say Those Things’, and the song, sung entirely in Manx, is still a mainstay of their set, and features on the forthcoming album.
’We started small, and from that, we just started to grow and grow,’ said Ruby.
’We were only a five piece, I think, but we’ve since grown, with my brother Django playing the trumpet, and Colin Furner on the trombone.’
’I like having the Manx language involved.
’Its good to get a bit of Gaelic in there, as it gives it a sense of place.’
Once ’Not Again’ is released, the group are embarking on a mini tour around the south of England, with gigs in London, Brighton and Bristol, before releasing two more songs, ’The Fall’, described by Ruby as a ’dark and spooky song, with a mariachi-type sound’, and ’This Won’t End Well’, which she says ’starts off soft, subtle and gentle, and builds into almost a rock-esque loud ending’.
Once the album is released at the start of February next year, the band will embark on a longer tour around the UK.
The launch party for ’Not Again’ takes place at the Foraging Vintners, in Port Erin, beginning at 7.30pm, where they will be joined by Rhiannon Jade and the fellow gaelic-inspired group Clash Vooar.
’Stand In The Sea’ was recorded by Gypo Buggane at Ballagroove studios, and was produced with help from the Isle of Man Arts Council and Culture Vannin.
by Mike Wade
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