MONADE (feat Laetita from Stereolab) / CRAYONSMITH @ WHELANS June 30

Maximum Joy

maximum joy present
MONADE (Too Pure, France)
CRAYONSMITH (Out on a Limb Records)
& MAXIMUM JOY DJ’s

Whelan’s, Wexford Street
Saturday 29th June / €17.50
Doors from 7:30pm

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FROM WAV BOX OFFICE BESIDE WHELANS, CITY DISCS AND ROAD RECORDS

MONADE
MONADE is the nom de plume of Laetitia Sadier when she isn't fronting STEREOLAB. Originally starting out as her bedroom-recording project, MONADE is now a far bigger beast and a four-piece band that consists of Laetitia (vocals / moog / tambourine / trombone), Marie Merlet (bass / vocals), Nicolas Etienne (keys) and David Loquier (drums).

Although displaying an affinity with her work in STEREOLAB, Laetitia's MONADE is a different proposition. Distinct by its more considered approach and spare arrangements, most recent album A Few Steps More is deceptively adventurous, greatly benefiting from the development of MONADE in to a fully-fledged band. Laetitia's trademark vocal stylings are lent a more emotive edge amidst minimal percussion and the understated playing of the band, augmented by warm analogues and Laetitia's own trombone playing.

With two albums under their belt, A Few Steps More (2005) and the so called 'Bedroom Recordings' Socialisme Ou Barbarie (2003), MONADE are busy recording their 3rd LP, working title Monstre Sacre, with a scheduled release date for Sept 2007. This will be released on Too Pure Records.

This summer they embark on a mini tour of Ireland taking in Dublin, Cork and Galway to coincide with a split 7” release with Thrill Jockey band THE ZINCS. This is a limited release of KEVIN AYERS cover versions, copies of which will be available for purchase at each Irish venue.

www.myspace.com/monade
www.toopure.com/monade

CRAYONSMITH
CRAYONSMITH is the music of Ciaran Smith from Dublin. On his fifth birthday, he was given a plastic snare drum which he added to his makeshift drumkit of pots and plastic paint pots set up in the family shed. Then, when he was eight years old, he robbed his sister's Bontempi keyboard, and, together with a pre-historic tape recorder and a cassette of THE BEACH BOYS' "Summer Dreams", began learning to play his favourite songs on keyboard and, later, guitar. Having played in various musical projects and bands from the age of twelve, in early 2004, Ciaran began playing his own songs live with the help of two friends under the name CRAYONSMITH. In December 2004, they released a split Christmas single with WINDINGS (Out On A Limb Records) which was very well received.

Ciaran spent 2005/6 recording his debut album in his bedroom and Slow Loris Studios and then took these recordings to Steve Fanagan (North Station) for touch up mixing and production. Released to great reviews in May 2006, "Stay Loose" is available nationwide on Musical Voodoo Records. "Stay Loose" was written with the help of some friends and whatever instruments he had close to hand (drum-machine, guitar, keyboards, bass, glockenspiel, tooth-brush etc.) It combines melody, beats, rhythms, harmonies, dueling vocals and found sound/studio experimentation to produce an eclectic yet ultimately cohesive album. MARK LINKOUS (SPARKLEHORSE) heard the music and then asked CRAYONSMITH to open for SPARKLEHORSE on their UK and Irish tour in October 2006.

For March and April '07, Ciaran did a solo tour of the US West Coast playing with likes of Jason Lytle (GRANDADDY), CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE, Mt. EERIE and JASON ANDERSON amongst others. The excellent Irish label, Out On A Limb Records, will be putting out the next album in February 2008 for which work is well under way.

www.myspace.com/crayonsmith