the combination of... |ðə||kɒmbɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n||ɒv|

a) An endlessly embryonic set of ideas and arguments about pop music between a group of people who put on shows and play in bands and record music. At this point in time it has three main manifestations: Studio¹, events⁴ and the bands² connected. It is not a group of friends. In fact many of the people involved didn’t know each other before it existed. Many of those people have since noticed that they don’t have as many friends as they once did : It began with the studio.¹ The studio, although nominally a community, is operated by Mike Page. It is co-run on a vaguely democratic basis by the three bands² who use it as a rehearsal space. These bands do not have a great deal in common musically.

b) A studio and rehearsal space now situated in Manor House.³ It is a self contained unit, comprised of a sizable soundproofed live-room separated by a glass door from the control room. It functions as a rehearsal room for affiliated bands² and as a professional but affordable recording studio. It can also be rented out as a daytime rehearsal space for touring acts. Upstairs there is a small room which contains a toilet and at least one book on the corrupt nature of the music industry : The studio is primarily run by Mike Page with Bill Kenny, but decisions are generally made with some reference to the opinions of the bands.

c) A live event⁴ in London since early 2008. The most recent occurring on 4^th April 2009 at Dogstar, Brixton. The next event is not scheduled. At each event a CD of one track by each of the performing bands or artists is given to those members of the audience prepared to give their email addresses or capable of getting a copy by another method : Although events are primarily organized by core members of the combination of, and do not necessarily feature resident bands. They exist as an open forum in as much as anyone with a workable⁵ idea for a live event can approach with a potential line-up, act, venue or event in mind. Whether the event is considered appropriate depends on a number of factors.⁶

1 The studio has recently relocated from Bermondsey to Manor House. The ethos of recording is to try to get the best out of a band without preconceived ideas regarding how that is done. It is an open and experimental forum best navigated with an open-minded lack of ego, coupled with an assertiveness verging on aggression

2 Bands which share the studio:

Kleinzeit – Currently a three piece abstract pop band. Emerged from the ashes of the Alt-punk band The Smart Set. Somewhere between song-craft and perversity, lovable and infuriating.

mAn-fLu - Extremist art-rock with a great deal of charisma, a striking live presence, serious aggression issues and an occasional tendency to over indulge.

Shock Defeat! – Disco infused post-punk with unusual vocals, spiky guitars and a recent interest in poly-rhythms. Some people say New Cross is the new Shoreditch. Some of those people like Shock Defeat.

So Say So – Piano rock (but awesome)

3 Hermitage Works, R/O 7 Vale Grove, London, N4 1PY

4 Live events have also been overtly masculine up to this point and in this they reflect the (loose) membership of the organisation. The combination of has no political goals, but in my opinion the lack of female participation is born out of the communication methods and assumptions of many of its participants and ought to be addressed, otherwise the combination of runs the risk of becoming gender exclusive

5 “Workability” in the past has mostly been dictated by a mixture of financial constraints, tastes and pragmatism; line-ups have ranged from the semi-famous to the utterly obscure. Bands who want too much money can’t be paid for. The performers have largely been a mix of people considered to be good and people considered to be able to bring an audience without being outright dire. The general aim for the future is to put the emphasis on the former These events so far have taken place in London.

6 Primarily these considerations relate to taste, financial and pragmatic concerns, time constraints etc. These factors are not absolute, but rather in constant dialogue. It has been known for small groups of people to curate line-ups aimed more at satisfying themselves than any larger cross section of the audience. In some cases it has been known for these small groups to comprise almost the entirety of the audience. It has likewise not been uncommon but not unknown for bands of questionable caliber, but with sizable followings, to appear.

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