HOME

TheInfoList



Click Here for Items Related To - Alex Neilson
OR:
Alex Neilson on:   [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Amazon]

Alex Neilson (born 22 September 1982) is an English drummer, percussionist and singer who is based in
Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated pop ...
but grew up in
Leeds Leeds () is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the thi ...
. He is a founding member and main songwriter of folk-rock group
Trembling Bells Trembling Bells were a Scottish folk rock group formed in 2008 by drummer Alex Neilson, a musician with a history of free and improvised playing with several artists. Based in Glasgow, the group released three albums through Honest Jon's Records ...
(2008-2018). He is also known for his continuing collaborations with Alasdair Roberts,
Will Oldham Joseph Will Oldham (born January 15, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded in collaboration with dozens of other musicians under variations of Palace (Palace, Palace Flophouse, Palace Br ...
and Richard Youngs, and for his work with elusive American singer/songwriter
Jandek Jandek is the musical alias of Houston, Texas based lo-fi folk singer Sterling Smith. Since 1978, Jandek has independently released over 45 albums without granting interviews or providing any biographical information, releasing on a self-made la ...
.


Career

Over the years Neilson has performed alongside a large number of bands and artists including Lucky Luke,
The One Ensemble of Daniel Padden ''The One Ensemble'' is a British musical group, based in Glasgow. The project was initially conceived by Volcano The Bear member Daniel Padden as a vehicle for his solo work, and their first three albums were released under the name ''The One En ...
, Ashtray Navigations,
Alastair Galbraith Alastair Galbraith (born 1965) is a New Zealand musician and sound artist from Dunedin. Career Galbraith's first band was The Rip, which he formed with Robbie Muir, and Mathew Ransome and later Jeff Harford (of Bored Games). They released two ...
, Isobel Campbell, Ben Reynolds,
Matt Valentine Matt may refer to: *Matt (name), people with the given name ''Matt'' or Matthew, meaning "gift from God", or the surname Matt *In British English, of a surface: having a non-glossy finish, see gloss (material appearance) *Matt, Switzerland, a mu ...
,
Tanakh The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (;"Tanach"
''
Josephine Foster,
Six Organs of Admittance Six Organs of Admittance is the primary musical project of American guitarist Ben Chasny. Chasny's music is largely guitar-based and is often considered new folk; however, it includes obvious influences, marked by the use of drones, chimes, and ...
and Taurpis Tula, as well as Directing Hand and Scatter, both of which he founded. Collaborating with other musicians, he has accompanied on tour several folk artists who have enjoyed a late rediscovery of their work, amongst them Scott Fagan, Nick Garrie, Mike Heron and
Shirley Collins Shirley Elizabeth Collins MBE (born 5 July 1935) is an English folk singer who was a significant contributor to the English Folk Revival of the 1960s and 1970s. She often performed and recorded with her sister Dolly, whose accompaniment on pi ...
. He also drummed on Collins's 2016 comeback album, '' Lodestar''. In early 2007, Neilson left his position at Glasgow-based record shop and distribution company Volcanic Tongue and joined
Will Oldham Joseph Will Oldham (born January 15, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded in collaboration with dozens of other musicians under variations of Palace (Palace, Palace Flophouse, Palace Br ...
for tour dates, having first played with him on a Scottish tour in April 2006. Neilson subsequently spending much of the year touring with Ben Reynolds (as Motor Ghost), with David Keenan (as Tight Meat) and with a fresh incarnation of Directing Hand consisting of himself and vocalist/harpist Lavinia Blackwall. In 2008, he toured with Baby Dee - he is heard on Dee's ''Safe Inside The Day'' record - and Current 93, having already appeared on a handful of Current 93 releases. A new Oldham live album featuring Neilson was also released. Neilson spent much of late 2008 and early 2009 concentrating on his band
Trembling Bells Trembling Bells were a Scottish folk rock group formed in 2008 by drummer Alex Neilson, a musician with a history of free and improvised playing with several artists. Based in Glasgow, the group released three albums through Honest Jon's Records ...
. The band consisted of Neilson on drums and vocals, Lavinia Blackwall on lead vocals and guitar, Mike Hastings on guitar and Simon Shaw on bass. Their debut LP ''Carbeth'' was released on Honest Jon Records to widespread critical acclaim in the spring of 2009. Neilson also spent considerable time on tour with Ben Chasny and his Six Organs of Admittance live ensemble. Trembling Bells continued to tour and release records until their split in late 2018. Their final release, for the 2019 Record Store Day, is a split 10" with Neilson's solo project Alex Rex. Neilson regularly drummed for American avant-garde musician
Jandek Jandek is the musical alias of Houston, Texas based lo-fi folk singer Sterling Smith. Since 1978, Jandek has independently released over 45 albums without granting interviews or providing any biographical information, releasing on a self-made la ...
. Four of these live performances have been released by Corwood Industries as ''
Glasgow Sunday ''Glasgow Sunday'' is the second of four albums released in 2005 by musician Jandek on Corwood Industries, as (0779). His 41st overall, it was recorded live on October 17, 2004 at The Arches, Glasgow, as part of the Instal festival. This was th ...
'', '' Newcastle Sunday'', ''
Glasgow Monday ''Glasgow Monday'' is the 47th release, third live album, and second-ever double album release, from avant-folk/blues singer/songwriter Jandek. It is his fifth release of the year (counting the DVD version of ''Glasgow Sunday'') and features ...
'' and ''Glasgow Friday'' on both CD and DVD. He continues to drum for Will Oldham (Bonnie "Prince" Billy), and has recorded and performed extensively with Scottish folk musician Alasdair Roberts on multiple tours and records. In early 2013, Neilson joined forces with artist Lucy Stein and artist/writer/musician Sybren Renema in Death Shanties, a saxophone-drum duo with live visuals. Their mini-tour and self-released CD-R were generally well received. Neilson currently releases solo work under the name Alex Rex. His debut album, ''Vermillion'', came out in April 2017 on Tin Angel Records. The second Alex Rex album ''Otterburn'' will be released in March 2019. It heavily deals with the sudden death of Alex's younger brother Alastair around the time of the release of ''Vermillion''. The album cover features a childhood photo of Alastair, Alex and their older brother Oliver. Two singles preceded the album, "Master" and "Latest Regret".


Select discography

Solo (Alex Rex) *''Vermillion'', CD/LP ( Tin Angel Records, 2017) *''Otterburn'', LP/Digital (Tin Angel Records, 2019) *''Andromeda'', LP/Digital (Tin Angel Records, 2020)
Trembling Bells Trembling Bells were a Scottish folk rock group formed in 2008 by drummer Alex Neilson, a musician with a history of free and improvised playing with several artists. Based in Glasgow, the group released three albums through Honest Jon's Records ...
*''Carbeth'', CD ( Honest Jon's Records, 2009) *''Abandoned Love'', CD (Honest Jon's Records, 2010) *''The Constant Pageant'', CD/LP (Honest Jon's Records, 2011) *'' The Marble Downs'' with
Bonnie Prince Billy Joseph Will Oldham (born January 15, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded in collaboration with dozens of other musicians under variations of Palace (Palace, Palace Flophouse, Palace Br ...
, CD/LP (Honest Jon's Records, 2012) *''The Sovereign Self'', CD/LP (Tin Angel Records, 2015) *''Wide Majestic Aire'', CD/LP EP (Tin Angel Records, 2016) *''Dungeness'', CD/LP (Tin Angel Records, 2018) *''I am the King'' with Alex Rex, 10" LP (Tin Angel Records, Record Store Day 2019) Ashtray Navigations *''The Love That Whirrs'', CD (Last Visible Dog, 2005) *''To Get Beyond Nihilism By Revaluing Combat'', CD-R (Hypnagogia, 2005) Current 93 * ''Birth Canal Blues Live'', CD ( Coptic Cat, 2008) * '' Aleph at Hallucinatory Mountain'', CD/LP (Coptic Cat, 2009) * ''Monohallucinatory Mountain'', CD/LP (Coptic Cat, 2009) * ''Aleph on Docetic Mountain'', CD (Coptic Cat, 2009) * ''Baalstorm, Sing Omega'', CD/LP (Coptic Cat, 2010)
Death Shanties Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...
*''Crabs'', LP (Bomb Shop, 2014) *''Psychic Rome'', LP (Goldenlab, 2015) Directing Hand *''Bells for Augustin Lesage'', CD/LP (Secret Eye Records, 2005) *''Love Will Waste My Body'', CD-R ( Memoirs of an Aesthete, 2005) *''An Old Soul At The Helm'', CD-R (Chocolate Monk, 2005) *''What Put the Blood'', LP (Dancing Wayang, 2008) *''Songs from the Red House'', LP (Singing Knives Records, 2008)
Jandek Jandek is the musical alias of Houston, Texas based lo-fi folk singer Sterling Smith. Since 1978, Jandek has independently released over 45 albums without granting interviews or providing any biographical information, releasing on a self-made la ...
* ''
Glasgow Sunday ''Glasgow Sunday'' is the second of four albums released in 2005 by musician Jandek on Corwood Industries, as (0779). His 41st overall, it was recorded live on October 17, 2004 at The Arches, Glasgow, as part of the Instal festival. This was th ...
,'' CD/DVD (Corwood Industries, 2005) * '' Newcastle Sunday'', CD/DVD (Corwood Industries, 2006) * ''
Glasgow Monday ''Glasgow Monday'' is the 47th release, third live album, and second-ever double album release, from avant-folk/blues singer/songwriter Jandek. It is his fifth release of the year (counting the DVD version of ''Glasgow Sunday'') and features ...
'', CD/DVD (Corwood Industries, 2006) * ''Glasgow Friday'', CD/DVD (Corwood Industries, 2008) * ''Where Do You Go From Here'', CD (Corwood Industries, 2011) Tight Meat Duo/Trio *''Vanishing Fist'', CD ( Bo’Weavil, 2007) *''Tight Meat Duo'', 8" (Altvinyl, 2007) *''Ganges Letdown'', CD-R (No label, 2007) Richard Youngs & Alex Neilson *''Ourselves'', CD (
VHF Records VHF Records is an American record label, known for their extensive work with several major experimental artists. The label is based in the Washington, DC suburb of Fairfax, Va., and it initially focused on indie and experimental bands from that reg ...
, 2004) *''Beating Stars'', LP (HP Cycle Records, 2005) *''Partick Rain Dance'', CD (VHF Records, 2005) *''Road Is Open Life'', CD (Celebrate Psi Phenomenon, 2006) *''Electric Lotus'', CD/LP (VHF Records, 2007)


References


External links

*
2006 Interview with Alex Neilson at Stylus Magazine
{{DEFAULTSORT:Neilson, Alex British male drummers English drummers English folk musicians Musicians from Glasgow Living people 1982 births 21st-century drummers 21st-century British male musicians