Kontiki
Kontiki are a four piece groove based melodic indie rock band, currently based around the Midlands.
Career highlights to date:
'Unamazed' (New Horizons album track) used award winning TV advert
Release of debut album 'New Horizons' via Raft Records
'New Horizons' (album track) added to compilation album released via Quietly Loud Records
Energy' (album track) reached No. 1 in OVERPLAY download charts
'New Horizons' requested for use on a Channel 4 website, Oct '04
Album tracks play listed by numerous UK student radio stations
2nd Album "The Simple Life" released on RAFT RECORDS November 1st 2007
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Formed in 2004.
"New Horizons" Album
"For the sake of a pound or two" - 6 track EP
"The Simple Life" - Album
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Yes, anywhere and everywhere as for special moments well there was the time At a gig in Coventry, supporting some prog rockers from Russia (honestly!), Kontiki managed to find themselves in the position of being paid by the (pissed) promoter who had mistaken them for the Russian rockers. The boys made their excuses and did a hasty exit, hearing the words , oh f@ck, I think Ive paid the wrong band echoing from the now empty venue.
Your musical influences
Beatles, Verve, Stone Roses, Clash, Byrds, Gram Parsons,
What equipment do you use?
Fender and Gibson Guitars. Reason, Logic and Premier Drums
Anything else?
REVIEW OF 1st ALBUM NEW HORIZON'S BY OVERPLAY
There's something of a Jeckyll and Hyde feel to the debut album from this Leamington/Northampton five-piece. Half of it consists of elegant, adult pop music; but then the whole band seems to ingest a vial of bubbling, foaming green potion before collapsing behind the settee, only to emerge with songs of spiky, primitive weirdness. But then, as anybody who enjoys Quality Street, pentathlons or the odd swingers' party knows, there's nothing like a bit of variety. Opening duo "Time To Get Away" and "All The Way" are fine examples of crafted, grown up rock. There are shades of REM and The Charlatans as piano chords and programming decorate the former, while the latter is a warm blend of Hammond and guitars. "Unamazed" boasts an easy-going country charm and some Crosby, Stills & Nash harmonies. Meanwhile, the synth-heavy instrumental "Snowstorm" and expansive final track "Thru On The Inside" both exhibit a stately, icy beauty. Together, these songs could be one of Bob Harris' wet dreams. But Kontiki really come into their own when they let things get a bit out of hand. First single, "Cowgirl Heart" is a frazzled country drama that combines elements of The Ronettes, Sparks and The Cramps to catchy, sparkling effect. "Mr Sun" is a sneering punker in the style 'Definitely Maybe'-era Oasis; "Looking At The Tide" could be The Mission with beats; and the low-key funk of "Energy" rolls along like a well-spoken Womble. Kontiki also find time to take to the skies with the sweeping Jefferson Airplane psych-rock of "Giving Me Everything" and the slow-burning free-range freak out of the title track. A tap dancing snare builds with some intricate guitar phrasing before some massive harmonies kick in and the whole thing breaks through the stratosphere. It's a bit Verve, a bit Polyphonic Spree, but all good. In an era where most kinds of music have been done, Kontiki are a band that can do many kinds of music very well indeed.
