‘Saturated Dreams’ Live Video

January 2, 2013 § Leave a comment

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Happy New Year!

As promised …. first of a clutch of videos – from the Lewisham Arthouse Show, December 2012 .

ENJOY! 

 

From 12 12 And Back – A Year Of Live Reflections

December 21, 2012 § Leave a comment

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Thanks 2012 for making our yet unreleased new album come alive ‘live’!

raf and o lewisham arthouse 7

The Lewisham Arthouse show captured the whole essence of the year! We have for that to thank Charles Hayward who’s been making brilliant forward thinking music for decades; Charles curated the whole event – it was a special night. Brian did the beautiful winterland decor making the Lewisham Arthouse into a magical environment and even fetched for us the paper moon lamp that we planned to rig up but never quite found the time to implement. We plunged into a long set and so did the fabulous Snorkel after us – a great energy was shared by everybody in the room. It was all captured in photos (to be found HERE) and live video footage, which will be made available very soon. A big thanks goes to Luigi Altilia for filming us in action.

And thank you if you’ve come to our shows, offered us shows, fed back on material, bought our music and/ or supported us in some way, please spread the word, it’s fundamental for independent music!! 

Have a beautiful Xmas time.

Raf and O x

Lewisham Arthouse Show

November 24, 2012 § Leave a comment

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Hello!
As the end of the year approaches, we have one more gig lined up…. we’re very, very excited to be part of a night curated by the wonderful Charles Hayward (This Heat, Camberwell Now, Massacre etc),  Raf and O alongside once again the excellent Snorkel, this time in South East London, innit, on home territory and precisely at Lewisham Arthouse.
Put it in your diaries, 8th December 2012 – it’s great to draw the curtains on this year’s live endeavors in style!

Details HERE
FACEBOOK EVENT

Kaparte’s Oxjam last month saw a lovely turn out, a night in great company and a sonic/ visual treat, raising cash for goodness! Well done Klarita!

See you in Lewisham
x

Oxjam Festival And Latest Happenings

October 23, 2012 § Leave a comment

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October! We’ve very pleased to announce Raf and O are going to play live, as part of the Oxjam Festival run by Kaparte Promotions at Club Surya, Sat 27th October. A great roster of artists shall make for a special night for a noble cause. We are opening the event and will be playing at 7pm on the dot, so come EARLY!!  For details see end of blog.

The gig at the Buffalo Bar in September (which saw us supporting the excellent Prescott) was very beautifully documented by the Chaos Engineers who took pictures of us in action – see below.

And in December, as the end of 2012 approaches…some more live excitement with a very special gig in a very special place – watch this space!

We’re finally putting the last touches on the artwork and one more piece is going to be especially recorded to be included in the album; this has now become an integral part of the live set. Working hard and will bring you some more news very soon. x

DETAILS  for KAPARTE OXJAM HERE
ADVANCED TICKETS  
FACEBOOK EVENT

photos by http://www.thechaosengineers.com

Summertime

September 3, 2012 § Leave a comment

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We’re in the mood for a blog! After a lengthy European Summer excursion showered by a natural hair drier of hot air and sun and near about 3000 road miles later!!…we’re now practicing towards our next gig – the news is: great night coming up this wednesday, Raf and O supporting Prescott ((Stump bassist Kev Hopper, Scritti Politti keyboardist Rhodri Marsden and Snorkel drummer Frank Byng) and Stars in Battledress (well known to fans of Cardiacs/Sea nymphs).
DETAILS
FB EVENT

In fact, we’ve been meaning to blog since our last two gigs. Surrounded by the eccentricity of Servant Jazz Quarters, performing alongside the excellent Woven Entity (thanks to Lascelle for getting us down), we then made our way to the green valley of Wales, hosted by The Crooked House for the day. Slipping into a flowery dress (Raf) for the midnight performance at Sheep Festival, playing alongside the not so distant sounds of beats coming from the dance tent beside, added to the vibe up on the sultry stage of the Blackbird Lounge….

photo by Tia

….driving back, confronted by a bank of Sheep (of course) taking their time clearing the road.

Looking for a long forgotten sun, Raf and O then headed south for the coast of France and the hills and valleys of Italy, sharing lots of conversation and wine with great people from past and present, present and future, in our hearts, many maps later, heading back via Switzerland, Austria, climbing the church tower and playing a fabulous church organ in Germany (thanks Katharina), the long straight motorways of Belgium, Calais to Dover, back on to left hand driving and to the south east of London, ready for playing……

Sheep Music Festival & Servant Jazz Quarters

July 13, 2012 § Leave a comment

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Hi everyone, we’re In July but nobody would know!! Though a while back now, it was a pleasure sharing the stage with Gertrude and She Makes War – and money was raised all for a good cause (more photos added on FB)

Two more live events coming up this month – we’re looking forward to play JITTFITP and sharing the stage with the excellent Woven Entity (Patrick Dawes, Lascelle Lascelles, Paul May, Ben Cowen from Snorkel) on the 19th at Servant Jazz Quarters.

DETAILS HERE
FACEBOOK EVENT

Raf and O have also been invited  at this year’s Sheep Music Festival in Wales, yes, running 20th to 22nd July. We’re playing the Blackbird Lounge, the ‘sweet and sultry’ stage  just as Saturday fades into the night of Sunday Morning.
For more info (updated over the week-end) and tickets go to
Sheep Music’s website.

If you’re in wet and rainy London or wet and rainy (hope not) Wales and fancy some live music and vibes, you know what to do!

Love

from Raf and O x

From Quiet To Loud

May 15, 2012 § Leave a comment

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We had a lovely time stripping down (the equpment that is!) at the intimate Scaledown, a busy and cool line up made for a great eve with fabulous audience reception, thanks Mark and Shaun!
We’re gathering more video footage to be sharing with you shortly.
Pictures from the event can be found HERE

Our next gig will be the full Raf and O sound – that’s this Saturday 19th May an exciting fundraising night at the Victoria Dalston, a special line up which includes our lovely friends Gertrude. Come on down, it looks like it will be a very busy evening!! x
FACEBOOK EVENT

Raf and O New Video Footage + Live News

April 24, 2012 § Leave a comment

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Hello lovely people!
After our Remix for Nedry’s Violaceae, we’re still buzzing from our latest gigs and we have some new video footage!
Big thanks to Luigi Altilia for filming us in action at The Others and to the Rude Mechanicals for inviting us down and Punkvert VJs, brill night! Here it is!

Gig 3 of 2012, Below U @ Power lunches was a great night,  Raf and O would like to thank Snorkel and Low Bias for performing, Anthony GDLI, all who came down, took part and made it a really cool event. More live events scheduled for May.

Next up, this friday, we’ll be doing a short stripped down set at the ‘genuinely alternative after-office’ Scaledown in the heart of London!!
Details HERE
FACEBOOK EVENT


Raf and O Remix Nedry’s Violaceae + Live Shows March and April

March 25, 2012 § Leave a comment

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Hello!
Very happy to announce  that we’ve just finished remixing the wonderful Nedry’s new single Violaceae! It’s a lovely track in its original form and we’ve put our own take on it. Please check it out HERE

Raf and O are still in smiley face mode after launching (quite literally) the new material to such an appreciative audience, thanks again and to Kaparte for hosting us and to Will Connor and Crewdson for really cool sets.
Now…just few days to go to our gig supporting the amazing Rude Mechanicals this Friday 30th March in Stokey at ‘The Others’ for their new video launch. Details HERE
FACEBOOK EVENT

And for April… massively looking forward to share the stage with long standing friends and wonderful musicians Snorkel and Low Bias on the 15th April at Below U @ Power Lunches.
Details HERE
FACEBOOK EVENT
Don’t forget to email info@rafando.com with your names for the CHEAP ENTRY LIST OF £3

Also Raf and O will perform a stripped down set at the intimate Scaledown on Fri Apr 27th. More details soon.

Raf and O x


Raf and O New Album Live Aboard The Ship Of Fools On The Thames!

February 24, 2012 § Leave a comment

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Hello friends,
we’re so delighted you’ve been listening to our new tracks on Soundcloud.
Been receiving some great comments, some really creative ones, all still very welcome, the more the merrier!

The exciting news is that we are finally taking it live!
We’re very honoured to be playing the first Ship Of Fools of 2012 (Kaparte), the show is on a boat, what a better place to make some sounds! Richard (sailing-head) is extra excited about this.
Very happy to say that Raf and O will be joined by Crewdson from Slowfoot Records, with a set of brilliant sounds and idiosyncratic electronic set up “post-dubstep/micro-house tracks from Matthew Herbert’s tech assistant and fine south-east London producer” [Time Out] and Will Connor (Vultures Quartet) a London-based percussionist devoted to experimenting and composing using unconventional instruments and techniques will be opening the night.

Raf and O will perform a whole set of completely new songs as a sneak preview to our second album with a new live set up. Do come and join us at this really cool night on the River Thames P.S. Tickets cheaper in advance
ADVANCE TICKETS AND INFO
FACEBOOK EVENT
If you wish, you can also support us by liking our RAF AND O FACEBOOK PAGE 🙂
Looking forward to a busy year! Love from Raf and O x

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  • WE ARE STARS - OUT NOW
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  • STILL SITTING IN OUR TIME MACHINES
    (Official Video)

  • “Framed in a retro futuristic backdrop of funky plucked guitar fragments and a swaying beat, scattered with Raf’s artful flights escapism, intersecting the solar system between Bowie and Kate Bush”
    GOD IS IN THE TV ZINE

  • “Raf and O have been purveyors of effervescent, avant-garde pop since 2008 … from apocalyptic, electronica-hued mini-symphonies to elegant, left-field David Bowie covers. ‘We Are Stars’ brings a sense of playfulness … Mischievous and bewitching”  ELECTRONIC SOUND 

  • “We Are Stars is an incredible album. Omnipresent throughout, there’s the angular, shredded and bended guitar of Scary Monsters era Robert Fripp and Carlos Alomar, and the strangely interesting progressions of the arty-pop and dress-up of that album. The titular song itself an alternative, stressful The Man Who Fell To Earth soundtrack, yet recalls the influence of Tricky and Portishead. Raf and O remain one of the most individual acts in the UK; true inheritors of Bowie and Bush’s legacy and spirit.”
    MONOLITH COCKTAIL

  • "This is the most exquisite album yet from Raf and O, who I believe belong to that select group of artists who create not only great music, but also a universe in which that music can live and breathe….from the soulful glam-swagger of ‘Still Sitting in our Time Machines’, through the indie-folk vocal acrobatics of ‘Andy under Stars’ and torch-song delicacy of the title track, to the frenetic 80s synth onslaught of ‘Every Time It’s Bleak, We Dance’…One of the album’s key tracks, ‘Tommy Newton’ follows. You may remember this name as David Bowie’s character in the SF masterpiece ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth – in the song Raf gives the perspective of Newton’s lover Mary-Lou. As the song closes, she describes Newton as “an alien / lost into our world”, tapping into not only the film character but evoking Bowie himself, her voice drifting over an aptly-chosen cyclic guitar motif….The gorgeous closer, ‘Waterloo’ has the stately progression of a rock ‘n’ roll era ballad, bowed double-bass and treated, wordless backing vocals cradling a hopeful conclusion, as if the past-honouring and future-seeking characteristics of the duo’s music have come to an understanding…It also feels right that the record reflects Raf and O’s twin inspirations – Bowie and Bush – in surprising and creative ways……I use the word ‘inspiration’ deliberately – rather than ‘influence’, say – because it’s not as if Raf and O simply sound like either Bowie or Bush. As I said, they’ve long sounded like no-one but themselves. It’s what they take from them in attitude, fearlessness: the way Raf’s voice swoops and soars without apparent boundaries"
    ARTMUSELONDON

  • "A hyper-colourful ride of joyously exotic sounds and idiosyncratic melodies which somehow melt together to make a gleaming, strident Art Pop whole. Abstract melodies morph seamlessly into sweet, emotionally thrilling chord shapes you NEVER see coming. Pop-xotica? Supernatural Folk? Post Prog Punk? One of 23's finest"
    THE SOAP COMPANY

  • THE SPACE BETWEEN
    NOTHING AND DESIRE

    BUY CD Album HERE

    BUY DIGITAL HERE

    “The intensity is off the scale. It begins with ‘A Bow To Bowie’ an enthralling tribute to one of Raf & O’s main inspirations.. while the charming ‘Underwater Blue’ will go down in pop history as the track that launched the snorkelectro scene..From the poignant to the provocative to the playful ‘The Space Between Nothing And Desire’ is wonderfully theatrical and, unless you’re made of stone, quite irresistible.”

    ELECTRONIC SOUND

    “Stark and otherworldly, a haunting ode, subtle swelling bricolage of ghostly synths, tumbling acoustic notes and a bass drum that thuds like a heartbeat throughout. While Raf’s almost otherworldly almost jazz-like vocals spiral across the upper register with echoes of Kate Bush at her most avant-garde”

    GOD IS IN THE TV ZINE

    “This is a strange and luscious album”

    JOE MUGGS

    “A defiantly original act, one which one can listen to time over and still find something new, and with ‘The Space Between Nothing and Desire’ they have created an album that is as daring as it is compelling”

    PENNYBLACKMUSIC

    “Sublime in execution, subtle but with a real depth and levity, TSBNAD is an astonishing piece of new romantic, avant-theater pop and electronica that dares to unlock the mind and fathom emotion..a masterclass of pulchritude magnificence. Imbued by both the musicality and spirit of David Bowie, Scott Walker, David Sylvian (both as a solo artist and with the fey romantics Japan), Kate Bush and in their most avant-garde mode, Bjork, the South London based duo of Raf (Raf Mantelli) and O (Richard Smith) occupy the perimeters of alternative art-rock and experimental electronica as the true inheritors of those cerebral inspirations”

    MONOLITH COCKTAIL

    “An audio voyage that seems to bridge the gap between cosmos and earth as the record develops.’A Bow to Bowie’ gazes explicitly heavenward, combining respectful, open sincerity with sheer intelligence and wit, absorbing musical and lyrical references to the song’s subject into a structure all their own. The title track is almost a battery-operated torch song, Raf’s sensual, almost swinging vocal conjuring up a kind of electronic chanson.”

    ADRIAN SPECS

  • BUY PORTAL CD Album HERE

    PORTAL ALBUM LAUNCH is PENNYBLACK MUSIC GIG OF THE YEAR 2016 picked by John Clarkson

    “Raf and O specialise in floaty and delicate musical paintings. Raf’s dreamy vocals leading the way but more often than not melting into the instrumentation. The highlights include a track based on the words of Shakespeare’s ‘Sonnet 62’ and a version of David Bowie’s ‘Win’ which is almost unrecognisable and utterly charming. All in all, this is beautiful stuff.”

    Push, ELECTRONIC SOUND

    “Raf and O are a band of kaleidoscopic, unusual ideas, and, with ‘Portal’, they have created a remarkable record. There is a celestial, otherworldly element to them…they are totally unique”

    PENNYBLACKMUSIC MAGAZINE

    “A further voyage into their adventurous musical dreams, spliced with the literary influences of William Seward Burroughs and Shakespeare.”

    GOD IS IN THE TV ZINE

    “The sublime new album by Raf and O is called ‘Portal’.
    It’s very difficult to choose highlights from such a consistently winning record”

    ADRIAN SPECS

    “Raf and O’s gothic and magical references are twisted to conjure up ominous visions, to a backing track of free-spirited avant-jazz drumming, trip-hop and contorted machine music …from esoteric Italian to plague originated nursery rhyme English, on ‘Drunk’, to channeling a smoky bar room Scott Walker vibe, on ‘Neurons’… Paying homage once again to their biggest inspiration, David Bowie, the duo transforms the original into a beautifully melting, strung-out plucked love recital. Brilliantly shimmering with an affectionate, ruminating and heart-aching vocal … the album cementing the partnership’s unique narratives and poetic views of a machine age and cybernetic world”

    MONOLITH COCKTAIL

    “I was at the QEH for a Burroughs night, where I saw Raf Mantelli and O Richard Smith, aka Raf and O, deliver a superb if too short set to the large and appreciative audience they really deserve.”

    DAVID STUBBS

    “If you are looking for instant gratification in a busy world, try listening to “The Deadliest Flower” or “Magic” to give you an insight into just one window pane of their diverse work”

    HUMAN DYNAMICS

  • BUY SONNET 62/ INK EP – OUT NOW

    ‘Seductive and alien…Aboard a haunted freighter in the deepest reaches of deep space…soothes and coos like a cross between Beth Gibbons and a female David Sylvian…It is both equally seductive and alien, a machine driven twitchy gallop into the ether. Creeping into the dense hallucinatory environment of ‘A Reason To Try’, the trio stir untethered in a strange soup of churned up beats and solar tidal waves’

    MONOLITH COCKTAIL

  • BUY TIME MACHINE CD Album HERE

    FACT magazine Top 10 album of 2014 picked by Joe Muggs

    “The excellent Time Machine represents the very antithesis of EDM ..There is a butterfly, acoustic delicacy about tracks like ‘Mad And Brilliant’, and yet also the deceptive, steel strength of spider silk in their complex weaving – Raf’s vocal ranges far and wide in her emotional and lyrical foragings…Freeze-frame any given second of this album and it’ll reveal a hive of pixellated, analogue activity…As with Time Machine as a whole, it’s an approach you’d do well to take up, if you know what’s good for you.”

    DAVID STUBBS, THE QUIETUS

    “One of the more memorable events of the Beckenham Festival in September 2013 was RAF AND O’s haunting performance of David Bowie’s Lady Grinning Soul”

    DAVID BOWIE OFFICIAL

    “A beguiling slice of noir-pop…a total treat”

    THE GIRLS ARE

    “Tripped-out hypnotic Raf and O embody the exploratory art school/mime period Bowie. Their sound springs from a conjuncture of Aladdin Sane and The Man Who Fell To Earth, but with an added allure of trip-hop…Tender and diaphanous, from bent out of shape Air meets folkloric avant-noir to ESG and Radiohead’s Hail To The Thief”

    MONOLITH COCKTAIL

    “Whispering their song like tomorrow’s cautionary lullabies sent backward to today as an omen of intrigue.”

    IMPOSE MAGAZINE

  • BUY TIME MACHINE EP HERE

    “Interstellar spaciousness”

    EXCLAIM MAGAZINE

    “Four versions of the leading ‘Time Machine’ journey beyond the stratosphere, kooky, mysterious and breathy, attracting an impressive trio of sonic cosmonauts”

    MONOLITH COCKTAIL

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    “Very creative. I enjoyed it a lot”

    MIKE GARSON

    “Raf and O caress Bowie”

    BOWIE WONDERWORLD

    “A moving Avant – Bizarre version of Lady Grinning Soul”

    GOD IS IN THE TV ZINE