A funny thing happened to me just the other day as I was parading around the gothic environs of London’s East End with my trusty young stead Jack the nipper. After beating a hasty retreat from one too many ‘ironic’ bars comfort seemed to arrive in a poster advertising a phenomenon simply titled the Church of Simian.
Being partial to a bit of the old Sunday worship I decided to pursue this further. A fellow cultural tourist, albeit one with a less urbane aesthetic bent, clad as he was in denim and trainers, set up what he called, rather affectionately I thought, the meet.
Being secretive sorts, Simian arranged for colleagues of theirs (their disciples I presumed) to meet me at Pimlico tube (most thoughtful I reckoned seeing as my London pad was less than a five minute stroll away). From there they would take me to make Simian’s acquaintance at a venue entitled Trial And Error Studios.
At being asked to step into what can only be described as a ‘knackered old van’ I was hesitant as all fellows would be, but I was placated by their welcoming demeanour. Yet with no windows and a board blocking my view out front I had no inkling as to where we going. After 20 minutes or so we arrived at our destination where I was asked to don ‘special shoes’ and a blindfold to gain entrance. My curiosity well and truly pricked, I complied.
As I tentatively made my way up the stairs the odour I encountered was strangely beguiling and reminded one of smells from my youth. When the blindfold was removed I was met with a strange sight indeed. Where I expected religious artefacts I saw musical instruments. Thankfully four chipper fellows had some answers to my predicament.
James Ford, Simon Lord, Jas Shaw and Alex Macnaghten sat me down and explained the goings on and the need for such clandestine manoeuvres. Simian thus was not a religion but a musical event. They were what some would call a beat combo. A band. A group. "We are the Church of Simian and we work by the rules that Simian imposes on us. Our songs express what we (and Simian) feel and believe in," they spoke as one. Simian, it transpired, began life up in Manchester. James, Jas and Alex were all busy beavering away making their own experimental instrumental music, when their paths crossed with fellow man in black Simon.
"We heard each other’s material and immediately felt we should work together. On the day we first met as a foursome the chemistry clicked and we completed our first track ‘Grey’ which made it onto the mini album ‘Watch It Glow’."
Protection - we do a lot of it these days. Sun cream for our skin, sunglasses for our eyes, condoms for you know where - but do you remember to protect your hearing?
Click to find all the information you need to look after your hearing now so you can enjoy music for years to come
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