LEE SIMEONE
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LEE SIMEONE

London, England, United Kingdom | INDIE

London, England, United Kingdom | INDIE
Band EDM Alternative

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""A swathe of synth-apocryphal genius. There are no more saints and martyrs..."

"A swathe of synth-apocryphal genius. There are no more saints and martyrs... their memory burns in the roaring shadows of Simeone's dark wave aftermath of the war on Modernism... Behold an unquestioned answer to the confused eulogy of pop. Worship or be damned" - Tubal Cain


"There is something rather good at work here."

"There is something rather good at work here. It is clear that he understands dark-wave (synth-goth if you really need things broken up and made simple for you), and also relishes working with some of the pioneers. So there are collaboreations with ex-Renegade Soundwave member
Gary Asquith, Adam and the Ants' Kevin Mooney, as well as Karel Fialka and the aforementioned John Foxx. Those who understand this music will take it to their hearts and watch where he goes from here...film soundtracks and some seriously cool music
is my guess" - 17 Seconds


"An artist that is the medicinal one whom shall doc & ease our frenzy into reading, discovering and listen to."

"Dear readers, right now I'm sure you're ready to skim frantically between the reviews to search for something again that you can satisfy your palates with, take a moment of pause… what we propose to you is an artist that is the medicinal one whom shall doc & ease our frenzy into reading, discovering and listen to. Here it is a double CD featuring this artist with other collaborators; Kevin Mooney (bassist of Sinead O'Connor and Adam & The Ants) and quell' as much mysterious Karel Fialka that in 1987 reached the peak of the standings with one of the strangest and ten-day like "Hey, Matthew". Why relax to this disc of Simeone? Because of his dark room atmosphere, between the experimentalism of King ' 80s and the modernization of a sound never forgot, I'm sure you'll have a pleasant surprise & find this album interesting. It's the nineteen eighties with the technology & a little bit of travel to salto pseudo and pseudo-4AD-sound is the prescription recommended" - Ascension Magazine (Italy)


""The Translucent Track" brings in some rhythm guitar and melodica, and this makes all the difference as this one is a standout number with proper indie rock roots."

"Enigma Kaleidoscope" twinkles like the early night sky over the seaside. "Little Lost Soul" is two thirds eighties synthpop to one third Darkwave. "Alone" crackles away and doesn't sound as lonely as it leads you to believe. "You Shine On" keeps its hopes high as it is a love song. "The Translucent Track" brings in some rhythm guitar and melodica, and this makes all the difference as this one is a standout number with proper indie rock roots. "Magic Star" brings the post-punk home while hitting the high notes. "Without Your Feeling" is another love song that sounds like it belongs on a wedding soundtrack but has a few creepy undertones to it. "In The Stars" reminds me of early- to mid-nineties Electro-Goth and Goth rock. "Lovesong" is a great Cure cover and "Ocean" brings a certain touch of Trip-Hop and Hip-Hop. Very cool. "The Things I Saw" is cold and machinelike, with some influence from old school industrial bands. " 7/10 - Jamie Monahan for NEUWELT


"‘Unique’ is a difficult word to wield accurately and appropriately in music, but this epic 21-track album suggests Simeone may be able to stake a reasonable claim to it."

ALBUM REVIEW: SIMEONE – AN INTRODUCTION TO SIMEONE

In an age where the term ‘electronic music’ is as likely to bring to mind sprightly, stylised pop acts like Little Boots and La Roux as much as it is bona fide synth pioneers, it’s refreshing to come across a composer as original and hard to pin-down as Lee Simeone. He’s been described as “Mozart with synths”, and though such a label does inevitably seem over-the-top, Simeone’s take on electro is so atypical – and often indefinable – that it makes the jaw drop.

‘Unique’ is a difficult word to wield accurately and appropriately in music, but this epic 21-track album suggests Simeone may be able to stake a reasonable claim to it. His compositions defy easy description. They vary from instantly enjoyable pop to challenging soundscapes and frankly baffling interludes. Some could comfortably soundtrack the most surreal David Lynch film. A few would be right at home at a chilled-out gathering or dinner party. Then there’s the unusual, off-key vocals, which bring to mind Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s Alec Ounsworth but are in fact far more odd and potentially jarring than such a comparison suggests, frequently threatening to distract from the sometimes excellent experimental on show. The ethereal electronic jingles of opener Enigma Kaleidoscope get things off to a peaceful, calming yet appropriately other-worldly start, eventually backed by warm, evocative strings. It’s a surprise then that this is immediately followed by the dark, moody grunge-rock of Little Lost Soul, which is almost like Placebo meets Depeche Mode. This in turn gives way to A Return To Darkness, a piano-infused slice of offbeat yet upbeat, and thoroughly strange, soft-rock.

This initial trio of differing styles hints at a wide variety in tone and feel that is certainly maintained throughout the album, though not always with total success. Some tracks are difficult to love. Hiroshima Mon Amour and Today Is Yesterday are the sonic equivalents of a drug comedown – spaced-out and lethargic. They lack both energy and emotional resonance, though they are undoubtedly intriguing. More worryingly, a clutch of efforts such as You Shine On and The Translucent Track are oddly nondescript, bordering on painfully drab, so it is welcome that Simeone hits the sweet spot elsewhere. Epica II could be the theme to an ‘80s sci-fi show, replete as it is with fan-fare synths, triumphant guitars and an overriding sense of adventure. Then there’s the beautiful, piano-tinged ode that is Firmamentum Sky, and the epic synth shimmers of the terrific Without Your Feeling, which feels like a cry to the heavens and evokes electronic great Vangelis. Simeone can do upbeat as well as ambient too. Alone opens in an atmospheric rumbling, like a gathering electro storm, mustering a tangible air of mystery and suspense, but then it breaks into a slice of bizarre yet compelling synth-funk, the shimmering distorted vocals hinting at alienation, but backed by choppy, dance-ready beats. Equally lively is Ocean, a collaboration with Gary Asquith of Renegade that is a deliciously enjoyable blend of trip-hop and disco. Even the instantly likable songs are distinctly off-kilter, and it’s fair to say that much of this album is slightly difficult to penetrate. But doing so can be most rewarding. Some will inevitably cry self-indulgence and pretentiousness, and whether or not you enjoy this collection will largely depend on your tolerance threshold for the strange and unfamiliar, not least that aforementioned vocal style.

Simeone has definitely got something different going on, but what’s harder to determine is whether the sheer originality of his approach results in more hits than it does misses. On this evidence, you’d have to say it’s very much a mixed outcome – but it’s certainly anything but ordinary.

FMV Rating: *** - FMV Magazine


"Lee Simeone is a wunderkind"

Lee Simeone is a wunderkind multi-instrumentalist who specialises in dark wave electro. Described as 'like Mozart with synths' one track from his debut album was recently used as an installation at the Tate Modern gallery! - Rough Trade Records (UK)


""A huge sound, could be something special here!""

"A huge sound, could be something special here!" - Future Music Magazine (UK) Issue # 183


""A wonderful new album""

Dexter Bentley reviewed Simeone on a live broadcast from 10th December 2011 on Resonance 104.4fm where Simeone also performed a live in-studio-session - Resonance FM (Dexter Bentley)


""An Introduction to Simeone floats blissfully between very mellow dreamlike vision pieces, to full on outbursts of electro darkwave; all of which weave unmistakable sparkling strands of symphonic synth-driven magic. ""

"To quote Rough Trade – “Mozart with synth’s” could very well be a fitting explanation of such an avantgarde repertoire, that is so very European in feel.

Simeone uses vocals in the most unconventional way – as if a multi-layered melodic enhancement; a complex instrument set nicely within his vivid arrangements. The flashes of intimate excellence, which wind through each composition, are laden with infinite musings. They offer a vintage blend that manages to escape all the traditional trimmings – those that would normally assign an artist to a particular pigeonhole.

The whole work is a dark unfolding of haunting synth layers, a lustful sense of melody, and arrangements that give scope for the unexpected. Opener “Enigma Kaleidoscope” is a gentle introduction that shimmers and twinkles – tiny subtle sparks that create the way for the more triumphant sounding tracks, such as “You Shine On.” “Little lost soul” is a danceable anthem of heavy crash beats, both edgy and crisp, yet so blatantly dark, but then Simeone is indeed a master when it comes to crafting those deep atmospheric collages. “Today is Yesterday” possesses that same obscurity, as its intensity rises. There’s a dramatic buildup; a jet stream of approaching sound, that is wonderfully atmospheric with dazed and reflective vocal work floating through.

Due to Simeone’s multi-instrumental credits (drums, synths, violin, guitar and bass), there is no shortage of contrast. “Everywhere in Twilight” has a shimmering line accompanied by a discrete, underlying chugging guitar. However, if vintage synthesizers are the name of the game, hark to “Epica II” which develops into a magnificent orchestration that carries to ethereal realms.

In a sense, it’s a very visual album. “Ocean” is a special track featuring a contribution from Gary Asquith (Renegade Soundwave). Its punchy bass line is set against the picturesque flow of the track, while “The Things I Saw,” develop more images in the form of rainbows – a rainbow of dark bearing – a catchy hook, which fuses dawn and dusk, while the lightness of its lyrical content mixes with the deep instrumentation.

With a total of twenty-one tracks, they all deliver a captivating spell that can be light and dreamy, or, they can possess a charcoal intensity. Simeone does not just tell a story, but delivers a compelling force that would enable images to grow and emerge to larger than life forms. He’s developed his own musical bond, a defining sound, and this album portrays an essential passion that is contagious.

Arguably, Simeone is one of the U.K.’s most promising synth virtuoso’s to materialize in recent years, with songs that emerge in dramatic form, and flow almost endlessly from the heart. " - Igloo Magazine


"An odyssey into a world of achingly beautiful electronica, ambience and catchy songs that are haunting, psychologically messy, joyous and sublime listened through a gloss of top production. Brilliant."

An odyssey into a world of achingly beautiful electronica, ambience and catchy songs that are haunting, psychologically messy, joyous and sublime listened through a gloss of top production. Brilliant. - Synth Magic UK


Discography

The Dream Weaver (2009)
An Introduction To Simeone (2011)

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Bio

Lee Simeone is a composer of atmospheric synth-pop & is a multi-instrumentalist. Simeone released his debut album "The Dream Weaver" in 2009 which was recorded at The 'Mad Professors' complex in Surrey where Simeone rented studio space. A track from the album was featured in an artists exhibition held by the world renowned 'Tate Modern' Gallery in London.

These self produced debut works were released on the London based 'Le Coq Musique' record label. The label's roster features collaborations with 'Adam Ant' & 'Kevin Mooney' (Adam Ant / Sinead O'connor) & is also run by Mooney along with 'Renegade Soundwave' front man 'Gary Asquith'.

Simeone has gone on to win some great reviews - namely the pro music magazine; 'Future Music' who quoted A huge sound & more recently 'Rough Trade Records' regarded him simply as 'a wunderkind multi-instrumentalist'.

The newly released self produced album titled; "An Introduction To Simeone" has already started to win rave reviews. 'Igloo' the electronic music magazine quoted "The flashes of intimate excellence, which wind through each composition, are laden with infinite musings." 'FMV magazine' (Sep 2011) concluded " ‘Unique’ is a difficult word to wield accurately and appropriately in music, but this epic 21-track album suggests Simeone may be able to stake a reasonable claim to it."