Dark they were, and Starry-eyed
The
Skinbat
Scramble
Mark "Nifty" Eason - Gary Cook - Nicky Sarzi - Carl Gent - Piers Eason - Imogen Eason - - - - - - - - - - - the archives are here beep! beep!
Stop Press: Spring Term 2012
We are still active, currently negotiating the treacherous timestreams and crystal rock formations dotting the Amazon of Clarity - Steadfastly mapping out the pathway to the next album, which will most likely take the form of a hybrid live/studio/time centre recording
THE SKINBAT SCRAMBLE ALBUM
REMAINS
CD and iTunes download available now.
The first CD pressing comes complete with signed insert and limited edition badge
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)
Also on iTunes
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.
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 everything 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. Fabian Eason, (the Glo Pilots' bassist steps into the bass when Imogen is "up north" as they say "down south").
NOW - Watch this space, before it watches you...
17/6/2010 SarziNova
17/6/2010 GaryElectrics
we
are
not
lost
!
UPCOMING PUBLIC PERFORMANCES:
to be advised- - >
PREVIOUS PUBLIC PERFORMANCES:
Xmas/New year 2011/12 - the FORUM
TUNBRIDGE WELLS - live recording session for invited audience.
Back from Ted's Pond now. On Saturday, 3rd April, we, the Skinbat Scramble stripped down version, opened the Cosmic Wax Benefit Gig - well actually, we were the first of the bands playing, Rob and Co and a rapper were there since midday. And actually we wren't the first band on because a man/woman duo turned up and jumped in and decided to do some washboard acoustic stuff in our slot resulting in one third of our line-up going home without playing because he was in love. We weren't amused. Then the bass amp wasn't set-up, and the bass strings were clacking against the neck pickup which was extremely frustrating. But Flossie, one-time Glo-Pilots' vocalist happened to be on the common outside with his family hunting for Big Joe The Chicken Man (legend of Fonthill Common) and he came in to watch us play (Flossie, not BJ - we asked him to do a rap/rant but he was too nervous - however, we did get his 3 year old daughter dancing...). Leon of Headquarters fame stepped into fill the breach on synth left by Andy Bibby's rushing off to catch The Love Bus home. We did an improvisation and one new drum/bass riff that we haven't named yet. It went well, faltered, went wrong and picked up again and petered out. But we did it. Piers' drumming raised a few eyebrows at it's sophistication and my fuzz tremolo bass dropped a few jaws (at how awful it was). The Scramble's first gig of 2011, the year in which we have our 30th Anniversary.
XMAS NIFTY NIGHT 2010 >>>>>>>>
at the
FORUM, TUNBRIDGE WELLS >>> wed Nes day 29 deCem ber 2010
Skinbat Scramble
Rachel's Got A Flamethrower
Brutai
Old Dolphin Brigade
Kiro / Sons of Quag
Narrative as reported by internet whispers> We did a 3 man version of The Scramble (Captain Headspace & The Limitless Seas of Delirium) comprised of M.E. on bass, Piers on drums and Andy (his mate) on synth. Dead basic sound, no effects but with some good grooves - all improvised. The MC Rob James did his stream of consciousness intro right through the first 2 numbers again, and then Piers and Andy swapped over for the final number. M.E. broke the A string on his bass and sold a CD and gave another away to a "fan". It was a good night though cold as hell...
AUGUST 7th 2010/
@FORUM TUNBRIDGE WELLS
"The Grand Nifty's 50th Birthday Bash"
aka Nifty at Fifty:
The Grand Nifty's 50th Birthday Celebration Gig, featured a small audience for a Saturday night (the Heavy Festival was on that weekend) but Rachel's Got A Flamethrower brought their their loyal fanbase and a baffled Postie turned up. RGAF headlined, the night started with (technical gremlins galore) Deporting Marta, a 4 piece, half man/half woman band (what a pair of stilettos Marta had...), a rocky but precise outfit. Then up were Forbidden Tongues, a youngster trio rapping out some punk'esque Quicksilver type jams. The Skinbat Scramble featuring Malcolm Lenny, (Packabeats, The Hi-Fis, Screamin' Lord Sutch - and this gig made Sir Malcolm's gig total with us double what he achieved with the infamous Sutchy) followed with a storming set of staple rock numbers and a couple of Prog classics, then The Glo-Pilots' "Moonshot" and finally - with John (JJ) Johnson taking the drum seat for this one - "Larger Diamonds" by Coochie's Bream. Following this barnstorming set were The Old Dolphin Brigade... all 3 of 'em: Sir Carl Gent on sitar/vocals, Ferg (original Scramble member) on bass and a guy called Andy, then Piers Eason, on a curiously cymbal-less drumkit. There were 97 members of The ODB missing. A peculiarly good-humoured and relaxed evening. RGAF finished off the evening with a magnificent set that we could listen to outside on the balcony with no problem at all. Robin broke a string. Sir Gary Cook was missing in action, presumed hibernating.
JULY 13th 2010/
@93 FEET EAST, 150 BRICK LANE, LONDON E1
Another benefit gig for the Syd Barret Fund, and a close encounter indeed with the London Congestion Charge, the Scramble reappeared in London for a rather dangerously wobbly (at times) set but seemed to triumph in the end, even featuring Imogen on cello. But that's what happens sometimes when bands share equipment. "Lucifer Sam" finally got played (as it finally got played by Stars in 1972), along with Scramble classics from 1986, "Mavericks" and "Flares". Also playing were All Schools Are Strange and Department S. It was nice to be back, but the traffic is as awful as ever it was. The gig was filmed and recorded but we haven't had sight of either yet.
JUNE 17th 2010/
@FORUM TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Benefit for the Syd Barrett fund; we tried to channel the man. Say no more.
Carl, Fabian, Piers, Nicky, Mark and Gary played;
"Astonomy Domine"
"Moonshot"
"Eternity, Indecision and Death"
"Walking Down the Road (the long way)" and
"Bright Star"
- we had planned to perform "Lucifer Sam" but this was shelved due to time constraints.
Sissy and the Blisters and Luna Park Rescue played also, (Criminal Suicide Ltd cancelled).
APRIL 4th 2010/
@FORUM TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Unfortunately this gig was cancelled due to a spate of illness. Re-scheduling for all bands is on the cards for a future Nifty Night...
DECEMBER 30th 2009/
@FORUM TUNBRIDGE WELLS
a deranged mixture of the Skinbat Sramble and the Sons of Quag reversed into a cul-de-sac of anglo-french co-operation designed to rock the nation, then burst out of John Hurt's chest like an angry little alien, squirting pollen all over the place.
From right to left in this imaginary picture; brad, imogen, george, piers, mark, gary.
Songs: One and One makes Six (funk?) - Stopped by the Midnight Mass One Snowy Evening - Brother, Can You Spare A Dime? - Born To Be Wild - Silver Machine
Many of the assembled went on to the next act, Carl's wonderful Old Dolphin Brigade - lineup Carl, Susie, Mark, Imogen, Piers, Jessamy and Gary.
Brutai and then RGAF followed and metal rained down like molten lead from the gallery. RGAF's album nears completion and sounds wonderful.
HAPPY - NEW - YEAR ...
Nicki / photo courtesy Rob Munro www.robertmunro.net
UFOUK - is on
http://Aural-Innovations.com
This track is from our new album "Remains" and is named after a very oddly behaving and oddly-shaped UFO Gary and Mark witnessed as they returned from The Granary in June 2008, 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 - just plain spiffing!
We felt no sense of threat, just a sense of keeping on the road.
Perhaps it was the OLD CHAP! from Skinbat Scramble:Volume 2 - listen to him speak here:
JOIN OUR
MYSPACE GROUP:
http://www.myspace.com/
skinbatscramble
JOIN OUR
FACEBOOK GROUP: http://www.facebook.com/
group.php?gid=5334609350
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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Above: Mathmos Oil Wheel over St. George/the stage is set 17/6/2010
Below: Carl Gent ready to play 17/6/2010
Above: Mathmos Oil Wheel over Gary's face / fabian on bass 17/6/2010
Below: Nifty announces the band, luminous 17/6/2010
look
out
it's
a
psychedelic
world
Skinbat Scramble/Alien Piers/id-Brighton