Blip Pilot

Blip Pilot is the brainchild of UK techno artist Mike Yeomans and was formed in 2000.

The Blip Pilot project is a band based around UK dance composer Mike Yeomans (Blip Pilot) and more recentlly, Canadian drummer & percussionist Herman Bartelen (Skinny Rider). We are based in Tokyo, Japan and we compose & perform our own material, which is infused with progressive house, jazz, deep house, trip hop & dub. We released our first EP as a band in June 2005 on our own small label Stax N Flares, and since then have been writing and recording new tracks for our next release. We are one of the few dance groups to feature the harmonica, electric guitars & bass, Saxophones and live ethnic percussion (with the sounds often heavily processed), and to have a truly international line up. Many of our tracks are made with guest collaborators - DJs and members of other groups. We have developed a live performance approach that is a bit more extreme than our records, with tougher beats, dreamy vibes and hypnotic live echo loops. We oppose frontiers and rigid divisions, both within the music scene and in the world at large. We feel part of a musical movement of dance-based rhythms and psychedelic ambience that embraces the whole planet, and through our friends and collaborators we seek a network of highly creative people.

Live shows include night clubs, music festivals and private events. The live set-up includes co-pilots - Herman Bartelen on drums & percussion, Jimmy Lefkowitz on percussion, James Baldwin on harmonica, Takeru Urashima on guitar & bass, Minako Shimada on flute and Akiko Watanabe on bass.

Jazzy house/ Trip - Hop/ 1950's - 1960's Sci - Fi/ 70's Funk/ 70's Soul/ Techno/ Ambient/ Dub/ Dubby Tripped - out Disco/ Breakbeats/ Acoustic/ Acid.

Various analog synthesizers, samplers, a vocoder, live drums & percussion and an array of acoustic instrumentation.