Extra-Betikular Activity

Here are some of the other things we do or have done...

The SK-5 - Dave von Betika, Mooro Seemonster, Lee Dutch and Chris Swamp improvising with old tech according to strict rules. An album has been completed, we're now trying to figure out who on earth would want to release it. The SK5 have also made a short film which explains some of the creative processes they went through in creating this album. A sort of mini-website dedicated to the SK-5 can be found here. They also have a MySpace page.

Little Boat - Little Boat is the alias Chris uses when performing solo. His music is based on live sampling of guitar, voice and a small wooden birdbox. Examples of it can be found on the first two "Stitched up Limbs" compilations (along with some Betika tracks), and I think a split 7" is slated for some time in the near future. You can also hear some Littleboat music on his MySpace page. He can often be seen performing with the marvellous Paper Cinema.

Eskimo - Is the name our Imogen goes by when making music alone.

Powdered Cow and the Toy Throat Alarm Clock - this is Martin and his fantastic collection of toys (musical and otherwise).

Dutch Husband - are the band that have very kindly lent us our bass-lady Imogen, who is skill. Dutch Husband are also skill.

Perico - The band with whom we share our drummer Rich. Chris Betika can also be seen playing guitar with them on occasion. Perico people often kindly help us out with our (special) percussion needs.

Sancho - Carolyn, Chris and Dave have all been members of the Sancho live band, as singer/bassist/woodwindist, guitarist and drumpeter respectively. Dave's unique approach to trumpet technique can be appreciated by listening to the 7" "Ball o'string", and he also contributed to the "Cha Cha Mancha" album. More info can be found at www.superglider.com. Both Chris and Dave have contributed to the new Sancho LP "Mystery Year", but not as much as Carolyn, whose lovely voice is the one that sings all the songs.

DJ Destiny and the Organ Donors - Carolyn's vocals appear on one of their tracks, she also performed live in front of about 10,000 people at a giant rave in Holland in October 2003. You can buy a compilation that features her vocals in Asda. It's called "Hardcore Nation".

Tex la Homa -Richard and Dave met when they formed the rhythm section of the live Tex la Homa band. Rich can be heard drumming on the "You the listener" e.p. , Dave wrote the song "Robot arms devoid of feeling" that appears on the "Dazzle me with transience" album. The track got played on BBC Radio 1 a couple of times, once as a soundtrack for a Newsbeat item about the first anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. He also played guitar, bass and keyboards on a few other tracks on the album, and on Tex la Homa's cover of the Sophia song "So slow". www.texlahoma.com

See Monsters - another Superglider band that Betika have loaned a player to, in this case Dave, who drummed for them on their October 2003 UK tour supporting Lowgold.

True Swamp Neglect - A Betika remix of "Umbrella Weather" is available at www.trueswampneglect.com. Chris Catlin from the Swamp and Dave from Betika have a very occasional side-project that goes by the name of "The suicide car club of Great Britain", which is probably best described as nice, middle-class hip-hop.

The Hat - not exactly a Betika side-project, but a band with whom we have a common rock family tree; Martin Betika is also in the Hat, Hat bassist Potts was in an early incarnation of Betika and co-wrote "Thunderstorm" and drummer Scott used to be in Monkey Head Transplant with Dave and Mooro-from-See Monsters (and their friend Clive). They made one album, 2000's "Dr Satan's Robots". Scott and Dan from the Hat also played alongside Rich and Dave in various Tex la Homa line-ups.
Carolyn and Dave have both appeared as guest vocalists with The Hat.