Dark they were, and pie-eyed
The Skinbat Scramble
Mark "Nifty" Eason - Gary Cook - Nicky Sarzi - Carl Gent - Piers Eason - Imogen Eason - - - - - - - - - - - the archives are here

THEN...
The Skinbat Scramble have always been hovering on the edge ... just out of earshot. Originally the band was an improvised and randomly written prog goth electro psychedelic art school band of the old-fashioned, pre-BritPop kind that sprang like Mandrakes from the Punk Scene of Medway and London in the 1970s.

The band recorded a prolific number of songs during 1981-93, and then again in 2004 (and then again in 2007-9, but we're getting ahead of ourselves here). Back to the past - they worked on everythng from home tape decks, through to professional 24-track studios. seemingly preferring obscurity to the showbiz shennanigans of the 80s Music Business.

Just one reason why they never made any money...

The fruits of this initial (1981 to 2004) efflorescence of the Skinbats have been digitally remastered and made available to the long-suffering, loyal (and probably mythic) SKINBAT SCRAMBLE AUDIENT in the form of Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4 and the double CD Beast of Volume 5. All are available... see the ALIEN PIERS ORGANISATION to investigate, fetish and buy this product. They are available on CD - and additionally VOLUMES 2 and 3 plus the new album "REMAINS" are available to digital listeners via iTUNES.

...AND NOW
After a layoff of some years, the Skinbats recommenced various covert ops in this promising new century; a collaboration of sorts began during the compilation/curatorship of "Volume 5" of the archives by Mark Eason. Some tracks were fitted together with some recordings of spoken word and ambient work by Gary Cook, and - mixed with old recordings, 2004 Skinbat works and so on, became the double album, Volume 5...

The Skinbat Scramble reconvened fully in 2007, once again heaving their suitably skew-whiff music over the castle ramparts. The band began operating again in earnest after the three key members of the last gigging version (1986) of the Skinbat Scramble (Mark, Nicky and Gary) found themselves sprinkled amongst the onstage lineup of The Old Dolphin Brigade in September 07. Handshakes ensued, Piers Eason was chained to the drum stool and Carl Gent (the ODB leader) added guitar. Magic flew around.

This new incarnation put a match to the blue touchpaper with a private showing at the Tunbridge Wells Forum on 21st October 2007 and continues to this day, with a four-pronged attack of writing, rehearsal, recording and gigging.

In Autumn 2008, after recording her terrifyingly perfect vocal for album track "Ringmain Dancer", Imogen Eason of the Flavonoids joined the Scramble on bass, adding a steadying feminine influence to proceedings and freeing Mark to return to guitar.

The SKINBAT SCRAMBLE's new album
REMAINS is all done, and is now in stock and 77available... including this track...

Watch this space, before it watches you...

"REMAINS" was recorded and mixed
at the Granary Studios, Lamberhurst, an experience we would definitely recommend...

FINE VINYL PURVEYORS:
APOLLO RECORDS
of TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Stockists of Skinbat Scramble / Alien Piers product
- A nice place to buy records, which is rare these days

THE NEW SKINBAT SCRAMBLE ALBUM
REMAINS

OUT NOW !
CD and iTunes download available now.
The first CD pressing comes complete with signed insert and limited edition badge
Brand new studio recordings
of songs from 2008/9.
The first fruits of the Skinbat Scramble resurgence, following the re-convening of the coven with live shows at the Tunbridge Wells Forum. Powerful, psychedelic and hypnotic, the band veer between spaced-out beauty and threatening clearing-in-the-woods paranoia.

buy it on paypal here, for £10 including P&P
(UK postage only - please enquire for overseas)

Buy REMAINS CD Now using secure Paypal for £10 including UK P&P 

With the lineup of Mark, Gary, Nicky, Carl Gent (ex of Mumm-Ra, and currently of the Old Dolphin Brigade), Piers on drums and Imogen on spooky vocals and bass, this robust, vital incarnation of the Scramble delivers its first CD.

The album was recorded and mixed at the Granary, and includes the following tracks:
Integration - UFOUK - Radiator Heaven - George IX - Starfields - Metal Way - The New Black/Peppermint Schnapps - The Chancery - Gutshot/Coda - Ringmain Dancer - Stop Trying So Hard - Camel Lights.

PREVIOUS PUBLIC PERFORMANCES:

SUNDAY 24th May/FORUM NIFTY NIGHT
RECORDED, FOR POSTERITY !!!
A great gig...

We SKINBAT SCRAMBLE introduced a new random factor into the mix, with Andy, who drummed for us on the last 2 songs, giving Piers a rest on Heartbeak Hotel and giving us the TWO DRUMMER CLIMAX that we've always feared. Onstage sound was good, and we were on good form, smallish audience, but appreciative of the following choons. The Legend of Big Joe The Chicken Man, Going To Work At Midnight, Gutshot, Heartbreak Hotel and Stop Trying So Hard.
Fierce, seriously deranged music from the tide pools of - uh - somewhere else. BRUTAI didn't show up - their usual modus operandi, and so it was on with the show - HEAT FROM A DEADSTAR had Andy drumming with a set of sculpted noise and in-your-faceness which virtually formed a solid out of the molecules of the forum's foetid air; after this RACHEL'S GOT A FLAMETHROWER peeled the paint from the walls and cracked the Forum's remaining windows with their usual skill/power combo. Nice.

SATURDAY 25th April
SUPPORTING HEAT FROM A DEADSTAR
AT THE WINDMILL, BRIXTON...
A stripped down drum and bass version of the Scramble made a return for our first London gig in 23 years (not actual D'n'B, but a psychedelic punk freakout utilising those instruments) with Heat From A Dead Star and Lord Lucan. Andy B of Social Extortion guested as drummer and synthist with Piers taking the same duties alternately. Pierrique of Heat From A Dead Star guested on guitar with Nifty playing bass (and stepping on his guitar lead so clumsily that he destroyed the jack plug and nearly rendered his bass inoperable). We played a stunning 25 minute version of "Statue of Limitations" incorporating a Skinbat classic that was actually played at the last gig of the "old scramble" in 1986 - "Eternity, Indecision & Death". A spiteful heckler in the audience during Heat From A Dead Star's set was nowhere to be scene once the Scramble had finished - think he got the message. Andy B stole the show on drums with Piers in hot pursuit of his usurped crown. Lord Lucan followed with a long dreamy number that reminded me strongly of Soft Machine's "The Soft Weed Factor".

SUNDAY 12th April
NIFTY NIGHT / FORUM
- EVERYONE TO THE ANDERSON
- SMILE AS YOU KILL
- SOCIAL EXTORTION
- SKINBAT SCRAMBLE POWER TRIO
a great evening, even though the poster proved inaccurate... firstly, for various reasons 3 of the 6 Skinbats were absent, so Gary, Piers and Mark performed support as a "power trio" - we were originally billed as "Captain Headspace", but faced facts that even in this diminutive configuration, we are the Skinbat Scramble. We performed a lengthy "Statue of Limitations" (a song worked up by Mark and Piers in practice) which segued into a further mutated and gnarled version of "Ringmain Dancer", which (as Gary used a completely new set of words at this gig) has probably moved so far from the woods that it's a song in its own right now. Let's call it "Going to work at Midnight" for now.
Social Extortion; very energetic, punk/ska - engagingly old skool for a bunch of youngsters. Good stuff.
Smile as You Kill were a last minute replacement for Heat from a Deadstar (don't worry, they will be back at the next Nifty Night). Another bunch of prickly youngsters, semi-confrontational nu-punk, high on energy and comment.
Everyone to The Anderson - excellent set as usual, these guys are good. Even when the drummer has a broken ankle. Yes, he did.

FOR OLDER GIGS CLICK HERE...

We've got a track (UFOUK) on
http://Aural-Innovations.com
FEBRUARY 10, 2009
NEW RADIO SHOW
This track is from our new album "Remains" and is named after a very oddly behaving UFO we witnessed as we were returning from The Granary last June having laid down the track. Apparently the Ministry of Defence have just admitted that there was a sighting about that time over nearby Tonbridge (of course, Dr Aphobos could have faked the news bulletin...) - spooky, spacey and just plain spiffing!

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MYSPACE GROUP:
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skinbatscramble

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Our Recordings:

AVAILABLE ON iTunes:

VOLUME 2:

VOLUME 3:

REMAINS:

Volumes 1 to 5 and Remains
are available
on CD from
http://www.alienpiers.org
A few of the signed Remains copies are still available...

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