Mixing elements of folk, dub, electro and breakbeat, Indigolab have created a unique sound that doesn’t fit any particular genre. Their sound encompasses drum n’ bass inspired basslines, acoustic guitars, distorted synths, lush harmonic vocals, imaginative rapping and larger-than-life dance enthused beats. This diverse blend unites to craft a collection of totally unpredictable songs.

The three piece outfit comprises vocalists, Mike Johnson and Zoe Tebbutt and producer, Tom Moore. All hailing from parts of Leicestershire (via various corners of the globe), the band record in Moore’s home studio. The inspiration for the project was when Moore and Johnson, both with backgrounds in the rave and free party scene of the late 90s/early 00s, met in 2003 and agreed to combine forces and have a jam. Nevertheless it was early 2007 before this finally came about. 

Along with his imaginative poetry, Johnson had a good understanding of musical formula from DJing and MCing at free parties (as DJ Sativa). Also reaching back to rave and festival culture, Moore had long been an experimenter of musical technology, playing guitar and producing dance music (under the moniker Morphin). So, with their pied experience applied, their technical skills combined and the zeal to make something completely new, they went on to create what is now, Indigolab. It was early 2008 when Tebbutt (a local singer songwriter) joined the collective. Initially brought in to record guest vocals on’Buffalo Skies’, Tebbutt impressed the guys with her smooth jazzy tones and inevitably returned to become a regular vocalist with the band.

All being big music enthusiasts, the band lay claim to have been influenced by all walks of music. Most apparent in their work is the electronic-indie-dub fused sounds of Beck, Gorillaz and Massive Attack. And, as well as the folktronica flavours of The Beta Band or Tunng, Indigolab also pay homage to their roots in underground dance and in the Chemical Brothers and that of the ambient techno scene of the mid 90’s.

Indigolab released their debut EP ’Fragments’ in October 2010 which is free to download through theCpulse network with the free album, ‘Peace n’ Science’ and free EP ‘Elements’ being released in March 2011…

And then, there was music…

A shambling boffin, hazy from a decade of dub driven excess, stumbled as he crossed the laboratory floor. The beaker flew from his shaking, sweating paw, splintering into a million tiny, shiny pieces; it's chemical contents taking to the air. Two orphan boys, busy at a bunsen, hungry for knowledge, magnesium ribbon in their grasp; looked to the fallen boffin and both gasped as two tiny slivers of glass, stained indigo, entered their eyes. And there it stayed, forever changing the colour of the boys world. The laboratory they loved and that was to become their home, never looked the same again.........and the boys? they began to experiment, to challenge & channel all that they had learned. In the dead of night, strangely coloured melodies and weird sounding lights could be seen & heard through the crack beneath the laboratory door. The townsfolk of Market Harborough would cluster together to peer in through the boundary fence and would groan in fear and consternation and make the sign against the evil eye. And then one day, all was silent. There was no more music and the colours faded to black. The townsfolk gathered one last time to stare and whisper. Where were the boys, who now themselves must surely be full-grown, shuffling, wild haired, white-coat clad creatures of the lab? But their questions were met only with silence. Soon the townsfolk began to drift away, back to their lives and their homes. And in time they forgot about the boys and their refracted, kaleidoscope stares. And the laboratory was silent and still. Then one day, some boys from the town were kicking a ball against the boundary fence when as one, they stopped and listened. From within the lab, there came a pulse, a low reverberating heartbeat, followed by a long, sighing, single note and, as the boys listened, layer upon layer upon layer of sound began to pour forth, seemingly from the very walls of the lab. Cracks began to appear in the blackened, stained windows until, as the sound reached a crescendo, with an explosion, the windows and doors blew forth and a torrent of sound of every colour known and unknown poured from the gaping holes. The young boys from the town stood, mouths agape as the sound washed over them and then they turned and ran. The last thing they saw was two tall figures, their heads surrounded by halos of sound blown hair and sparks, clad in tattered rags, emerging from the indigolab, their faces upturned, safety goggles askew.

And then, there was music...

 

Beck; Massive Attach; Portishead; The Streets; Chemical Brothers; The Orb; The Prodigy; Eat Static; Banco De Gaia; Orbital; The KLF; Eels; The Beta band; Tunng; The Mad Professor; King Tubby; Lee Perry; Roots Manuva; Jurassic 5; Dreadzone; Jimi Hendrix; DJ Shadow; Gorillaz; Aphrodite; Andy C; RAM Triliogy; Ed Rush & Optical; Prisoners of Technology; Beastie Boys; Radiohead