The KVB

The KVB
Background information
OriginLondon, England
GenresPost-punk, Shoegaze, Dark wave, Psychedelic,
Years active2010–present
LabelsInvada Records, A Records, Cititrax Minimal Wave, Clan Destine, Downwards
MembersNicholas Wood, Kat Day
Websitethekvb.co.uk

The KVB is a British audio-visual post-punk duo originally formed in London[1] in 2010 by Nicholas Wood and Kat Day.[2] The KVB's sound has been described as a combination of electronic, psychedelic, post-punk and shoegaze.[3] The visual element of the band is created by Kat Day, who studied fine art at Goldsmiths, University of London.[4]

Biography

Originally starting in 2010[5][6] as the solo recording project of then Southampton-based musician Nicholas Wood,[7] The KVB released a number of demos online and limited edition cassettes,[8] before gaining the attention of techno label Downwards for the release of the EP Into the Night in June 2011.[9]

Nicholas was joined by Kat Day on synthesizers and visuals in late 2011,[10] whilst she was studying fine art at Goldsmiths, University of London,[11] to form a duo. They played their first live concert together in London at The Shacklewell Arms in December of that year. Their first full-length album, Always Then, was released in February 2012 on Clan Destine Records[12] and coincided with their first European tour, as well as support dates in the UK with The Soft Moon, Singapore Sling (band) and Tamaryn.[13]

To coincide with the A Records release, The KVB supported The Brian Jonestown Massacre on their tour of Australia that year.[14] 2013 also saw The KVB support Loop on their UK reunion tour[15][16] and play at the Loop-curated ATP Festival at Camber Sands.[17]

The duo recorded their next release, 2014's EP Out of Body at the Berlin studio of Anton Newcombe.[18] Live drums on this release were contributed by Joe Dilworth, formerly of Stereolab.[19][20][21]

2015 saw the band perform at the Primavera Sound festivals in Barcelona & Porto.[22][23]

In 2017, The KVB released the EP, Fixation / White Walls.[24][25][26][27]

On 26 November 2021, the band released their sixth album, Unity.[28]

In January 2023 they supported Editors on their UK & Ireland tour[29] and remixed one of their songs.[30] In May, they released Artefacts (Reimaginings From The Original Psychedelic Era),[31] an album containing covers of tracks from classic psychedelic rock bands including The 13th Floor Elevators, The Castaways, Status Quo or The Who, referencing a seminal compilation of the genre (Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968) with the title. Early 2024 they announced the April release of their new album, Tremors and a UK & Europe our for the following month.[32]

In 2024, British film director, poet[33] and artist Browzan (Christopher Brown) directed a music video for Tremors which featured in Brooklyn Vegan [34][35]

The KVB have been touring Europe/UK in April and May 2024 [36]

Discography

Studio albums

  • Always Then (2012, Clan Destine Records)
  • Immaterial Visions (2013, Cititrax)
  • Minus One (2013, A Records)
  • Mirror Being (2015, Invada Records)
  • Of Desire (2016, Invada Records)
  • Only Now Forever (2018, Invada Records)
  • Live At La Cigale (2020, Invada Records)
  • Unity (2021, Invada Records)
  • Tremors (2024, Invada Records)

EPs

References

  1. ^ "The KVB - 'Minus One' - NME". Nme.com. 28 January 2009.
  2. ^ "Press — the KVB". Archived from the original on 2017-07-12. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
  3. ^ "The KVB – 'Minus One' album review". Timeout.com.
  4. ^ "A layered immersion into music". Timesofmalta.com.
  5. ^ "How The KVB turned video game textures into maximalist art on Of Desire". Factmag.com. 17 March 2016.
  6. ^ "The Quietus - Features - Escape Velocity - Drone Bomb: An Interview With The KVB". Thequietus.com.
  7. ^ "Album Review: The KVB - Of Desire". Drownedinsound.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-09. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
  8. ^ "The KVB - Subjection / Subordination". Discogs.com.
  9. ^ "Pink Playground / The KVB: 'Ten' / 'Into the Night'". Factmag.com. 28 June 2011.
  10. ^ "ロンドンからベルリンへ：The KVB インタビュー". I-d.vice.com. 4 July 2017.
  11. ^ "The KVB interview - Chaos Control Digizine". Chaoscontrol.com. 13 March 2016.
  12. ^ "The KVB - Always Then". Thefourohfive.com.
  13. ^ "Tamaryn / Carousels / The KVB". Brightnoise.co.uk.
  14. ^ "The KVB". Beat.com.au.
  15. ^ "Live Review: Loop / The KVB". Faroutmagazine.co.uk. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  16. ^ "Live: Loop and The KVB – The Liquid Room, Edinburgh. December 4, 2013". Echoesanddust.com. 6 December 2013.
  17. ^ "Television, Chelsea Light Moving, Dinosaur Jr. to Play Last Ever British ATP Weekenders". Pitchfork.com. 26 April 2013.
  18. ^ "The KVB on finding solace in Berlin, Anton Newcombe and lo-fi extremity". Hero-magazine.com.
  19. ^ "Out of Body - The KVB - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  20. ^ "Review: The KVB - Out Of Body". Residentadvisor.net.
  21. ^ "The KVB Out of Body EP". Exclaim.ca.
  22. ^ "Primavera 2015, vendredi: Les bons refrains sont éternels". Concert.arte.tv.
  23. ^ "These Are the Bands You Should Go See at Primavera". Noisey.vice.com.
  24. ^ "The KVB - Fixation / White Walls EP [Red Vinyl With Black Splatter]". Invada.co.uk.
  25. ^ "The KVB - Fixation / White Walls EP". Echoesanddust.com. 4 June 2017.
  26. ^ "The KVB return with two new tracks and announce 'Fixation/White Walls' EP". Faroutmagazine.co.uk. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  27. ^ "Be the first to hear a track from The KVB's new EP on Invada". Crackmagazine.net. 5 April 2017.
  28. ^ "Unity - The KVB | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  29. ^ "2022 was a busy year". Instagram.
  30. ^ "Editors – Vibe (The KVB Remix)". Discogs.
  31. ^ "The KVB – Artefacts (Reimaginings From The Original Psychedelic Era)". Discogs.
  32. ^ "'Tremors' 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 tour dates announced!". Instagram.
  33. ^ https://www.resident-music.com/productdetails&product_id=109058
  34. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PIx6Cw05ow
  35. ^ https://www.brooklynvegan.com/the-kvb-tell-us-about-their-top-10-songs-for-night-drives/
  36. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/C6ZKukLoIa-/