Das Rad

As a prime mover in the Sheffield improv scene, Martin Archer has played with a great number of musicians and is constantly exploring new combinations. In 2016, having played with both Nick Robinson and Steve Dinsdale individually, he put this trio together with the idea of exploring a “motorik” vein. Steve’s relentless drumming (and occasional keyboards) providing a basis for Nick’s guitar motifs / loops and Martin’s soaring woodwind & keyboards to interact and explore the sonic and atmospheric possibilities.

Described in a recent review – “a pure heavenly euphoria, to put simply, astounding. Progressive music in the truest sense of the term, transcending the oft-clichéd sobriquet ‘prog’. They walk in the footsteps of the rock/jazz/fusion gods of the 70s but make their imprints deeper, more unshapely, and longer-lasting. Ears be blown here, folks. Godlike.”

We formed Das Rad as a place where we could collectively compose driving motorik music and mix that up alongside some more developed arrangements without excluding some of the freer, textural and improvisatory material with which we began the group a couple of years ago.  We wanted this release to be tell an involving  story within a concise frame.

Alongside the core guitar / sax / drums trio which was our starting point, all three of us use electronics as part of our setup, and this enabled us to work collectively to expand these pieces into the fully developed final sound you’re hearing now.

We think of this as a European record by European musicians, and we’ve reflected this within the song titles, our own small protest against the political insanity which coincides with the release of this work.  We think of this as a European record by European musicians, and we’ve reflected this within the song titles, our own small protest against the political insanity which coincides with the release of this work.

The album is available  on Discus Music. and as downloads via bandcamp.

Much more on the official Das Rad site!