Describe Chris Conway... - songwriter, multi-instrumental wizard, soulful singer, wit, space hippy, genre juggler, composer, and producer.
Alien Salad Abduction, as the title suggests is a collection of songs and sounds with a cosmic perspective. Space folk rock? Electro filk? You decide !
Alien Salad Abduction features his Talking Fish band and many special guests, including Canadian band Urban Tapestry, Toronto singer Jodi Krangle, and English folk-rock diva Vikki Clayton. It was recorded in Leicester UK, Toronto Canada, Atlanta USA, and was 2 years in the making.
For a track by track description and more background info on Alien Salad Abduction see http://www.btinternet.com/~unclechristo/cd_asa.html
US born Chris Conway plays 11 instruments himself on the album, including his theremin which appears on 10 tracks. He weaves them with the sounds of the Talking Fish band and guests, to make masterpieces which stylistically touches on US West Coast, electronica, power-pop, Latin, Celtic folk, jazz, fusion, funk, and ambient realms.
The songs all however have Chris Conway's distinctive feel, lyricism and musical flair - despite the dazzling musicianship, he never loses sight of the songs and their lyrics which are perhaps the jewel in the crown of these albums. Evident throughout is a warmth, and a dedication to detail, and the sheer mastery of a truly creative individual.
Chris Conway has toured the UK playing with Monkee Peter Tork, and has also played with members of Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention. He's also a member of Vikki Clayton's band, playing at Cropredy Festival twice. She has recorded 3 of his songs on her albums.
He also plays in World Music group Jazz Orient (aka Re-Orient) whose 3 albums sell thousands around the world, and who have played the South Bank in London. In the World Music genre, he has played with Dr L Subramanium and Talvin Singh, amongst others.
He has supported Irish singing star Frances Black on two UK tours. He's also supported Bob Geldof, Roy Wood, Arthur Brown, and Gong's Daevid Allen.
He has released 12 song albums under his own name and many others in other genres and "Ayurveda" for the New World Music label - a relaxation album which sells all over the world.
Instrumentation
Chris Conway - vocals, keyboards, guitars, theremin, tin & low whistles, kalimba, zither, percussion, samples, effects, vegetables
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The Talking Fish
Debbie Robinson - vocals
Mick Oxtoby - electric violin
Neil Segrott - bass, guitars
Andy Fitzsimons - congas, percussion
Dan Britton - bodhran
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special guests
Andy Nicholls - tenor saxophone
Carl Peberdy - sitar, vocals
Vikki Clayton - vocals
Kate Easton - vocals
Roger Pugh - vocals
Andrea Dale - phone voice
Urban Tapestry...
Jodi Krangle - vocals
Allison Durno - vocals
Debbie Ridpath Ohi - flute
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