Biography
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Years Active
1986 – 1994 (8 years)
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Founded In
London, England, United Kingdom
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Members
- Alex Ayuli
- Rudy Tambala
A.R. Kane were a 1980s and 1990s British indie band. They were primarily the A - Alex Ayuli and the R - Rudi Tambala from the East of London but were also joined by Russell Smith, bass ( also of Terminal Cheesecake, and Skullflower) and various drummers along the way.
After 2 singles on different labels and a surprise number one hit as part of M/A/R/R/S's "Pump Up the Volume", they made two ground-breaking albums that placed them precariously in the indie scene - however they preferred the term "dream pop". These albums were 69 in 1988 and i in 1989.
Hard to place in terms of genre, 69 was more consciously indie, though that's not saying much, seen by some as part of a continuum that included jimi hendrix' more spaced-out offerings, miles davis and others - musically it asked questions and opened doors that have still to be explored. 'i' was a dramatic change, clearly slicker and smoother, and covering a wide variety of styles over twenty-six tracks (ten of which were short noise interludes). "i" also spawned A.R. Kane's best-known song in "A Love From Outer Space". Both albums achieved wide critical acclaim.
Follow up album New Clear Child (1994), was not received as well, the reasons being a believed lack of coherent direction and a feeling that the ideas were merely (admittedly excellent) re hashes of works that were completed more succinctly in the earlier 2 albums.
Rudy Tambala made ambient and dub influenced music under the name Sufi. Neither is currently involved in the music industry to any great extent. Post-A.R. Kane, Alex Ayuli was (possibly still is) a museum curator in the U.S. Russell Smith still DJ's rare soul 45s in UK and Europe and earns a living as a restorer/ decorator in South West France.
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