Russell Leak

The Response Collective at The Edinburgh Fringe 2007

The Response Collective - guitar/synths, keyboards/bass and turntables - delivered chilled sounds for this early evening gig, with sufficient energy and enthusiasm to let their audience know they meant every beat. And their good-humour increased as they fed off each-other's musical input. The fun spread throughout the room and reached a crescendo when a fully suited and booted spaceman entered and did a spacewalk. Special mentions for guitarist/programmer Russell, and turntablist Garry, who worked exceptionally well together, musically and technically. And also for Selina, who provided support; her steady bass often held things together, and she also provided lyrical keyboard solos.
- Three Weeks

A wee bit Lemon Jelly, a wee bit Joy Division, the Collective throw guitars, drum machines and turntables at the wall, and what sticks is a thought-provoking, unpigeonholeable mashup.
- Greenbelt Festival

Reviews of The Documentary by The Response Collective

The Documentary, released by The Response Collective, is one of those albums that simply work no matter how you play it. With the volume pumped up you cannot help but become absorbed in the fantastic music created by these highly talented musicians, and without realising your feet are tapping and you head is moving and the urge to get up and dance is incredible. With the speakers low and the music playing in the background it is easy to just chill and wind down. Albums like these are very few and far between. If you only buy one album this year, this is the one to get.

Matt Johnston

Nowadays it is difficult to find refreshing new music, but this sure does it for me - Dr. Jean-Charles Cuillandre


From iTunes:

The documentary original and fresh *****
Brilliant album. Saw these guys at BugJam recently they really got something different with an excellent original mix of bass, guitar and turntables. Excellent album to just sit and chill out to.
- The Gadget Boy

Fantastic Response *****

I heard the Response Collective at a festival recently, great band, great album, a must for electro fans. Losing In Stereo is fantastic a real Pink Floyd edge. Just great all round easy listening album
- Hillsy The Gunner


The Response Collective at The Edinburgh Fringe 2007

The Response Collective - guitar/synths, keyboards/bass and turntables - delivered chilled sounds for this early evening gig, with sufficient energy and enthusiasm to let their audience know they meant every beat. And their good-humour increased as they fed off each-other's musical input. The fun spread throughout the room and reached a crescendo when a fully suited and booted spaceman entered and did a spacewalk. Special mentions for guitarist/programmer Russell, and turntablist Garry, who worked exceptionally well together, musically and technically. And also for Selina, who provided support; her steady bass often held things together, and she also provided lyrical keyboard solos.
- various

Local band featured on Red Dwarf
How The Response Collective ended up featuring on the sci-fi show's comeback specials.

Smegheads and Oxford music fans already have two reasons to be chirpy this Easter. After a ten year absence from our TV screens, cult sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf makes a comeback, and the soundtrack includes Oxford dance trio The Response Collective.

"Back to Earth" is a three-part special airing on digital channel “Dave” and showcases an excerpt of the track “Tropical State Remix”.
Writer/director Doug Naylor was convinced to use the track by a fan of the band, Christine Allsopp, who worked as one of the Make-Up Assistants on the specials, and voila, a montage sequence at the end of episode two features the band's musical stylings.

The Response Collective have been on the local scene for a couple of years now, with two albums out. They have been played on BBC Oxford Introducing and have hosted 'Electronic Nights' at Oxford's Jericho Tavern. They've also played The Edinburgh Festival but the Red Dwarf gig has proved their biggest break so far.

Click the link below to hear BBC Oxford's Phil Kennedy interview the band, and you can catch them live at this year's Punt Festival on Wednesday 13th May.

www.responsecollective.co.uk

- BBC Oxford

Oxfordshire band's music features in cult TV show comeback

12:29pm Thursday 9th April 2009
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By Amanda Williams »

THE music of an Oxfordshire band has been picked to feature in the eagerly awaited come back of a cult science-fiction TV programme.

Red Dwarf, which first aired in 1988, will return to the screens after nine years.

And Tropical State, a track by the Response Collective, from Lewknor, was picked by the show’s creator to play in one of the scenes.

The band, comprising guitarist/producer Russell Leak, Gary O’ Brien, known as FireProof Skratch Duck, and keyboard player and bassist Selina Gibsone said they owed their debut TV gig to a friend who works for the show.

Mr Leak, from Lewknor, said: “Our friend is a make-up artist who worked on the original show and was working on the specials.

“She suggested to someone that our music would be good for the programme.

“Then Doug Naylor, the director, listened to it and decided it would be perfect for a montage scene.

“It’s great to think our music will be heard by thousands of people.

The band, who describe their music as a mix between Pink Floyd, DJ Shadow and Massive Attack, attended the premiere at London’s Mayfair Hotel on Wednesday.

Selina, 32, from Watlington, a long-time fan of the series, said she was excited at the thought of hearing her music on one of her favourite shows.

She added: “I am hoping we will watch the programme together as a band, and maybe get a few people around, although we are sworn to secrecy about what is going to happen in the specials.”

The new programmes catch up with the crew, Rimmer, played by Chris Barrie, Lister, played by Craig Charles, Kryten, played by Robert Llewellyn, and Cat, played by Danny John-Jules.

The specials, on UK Digital channel Dave, air at 9pm in three half hour episodes, tonight, tomorrow (the episode featuring the band) and Sunday. - Oxford Mail

April 7th – Oxford UK

New Red Dwarf TV Show ”Back To Earth” to feature The Response Collectives music.

Fans of Red Dwarf are eagerly awaiting the new three-part special and one of them will feature The Response Collectives music – an excerpt of the track “Tropical State Remix”.

The song made its way into the show thanks to a Response Collective fan on the team, Christine Allsopp, one of the Make-Up Assistants who left it for Doug Naylor to listen to. Doug thought the track ‘Tropical State’ ideally suited a montage sequence at the end of episode two. A remix was done specially for this sequence and the rest is history!

The three specials are called “Back to Earth” and will broadcast on UK digital channel “Dave” over three nights from April 10th.

About The Response Collective
Established in 2007, The Response Collective consists of a guitarist/producer, keyboardist/bassist and turntablist to create innovative contemporary music.
www.responsecollective.co.uk

Contact:
Russell Leak
Email:russell@russellleak.com

About Red Dwarf
First broadcast in 1988, Red Dwarf is a half-hour science-fiction sit-com created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor. Originally running for eight series, the new triolgy reunites lead actors Chris Barrie (Rimmer), Craig Charles (Lister), Danny John-Jules (Cat), and Robert Llewellyn (Kryten) in a grenre-busting three-part adventure.

Cont/…

Back to Earth
Nine years later the Red Dwarf crew are older but still none the wiser. Lister's busy day of annoying Rimmer is interrupted by the discovery of a dimension-hopping leviathan in the ship's mile-deep water tank. Rimmer's gross incompetence triggers the arrival of his replacement, Katerina, who is determined to guide Lister back to his home planet. But Earth in 2009 is not everything the boys had expected, and Rimmer has no intention of being replaced. Discovering they are destined to die, the Dwarfers head to a mysterious address in London to plead for more life.

Website: www.reddwarf.co.uk

- Response Collective/Red Dwarf

The New Roxette Review - http://www.thenewroxette.co.uk

The Response Collective
Dark Is The Light

Strange other worldly sounds from the The Response collective. Dominated by floating dreamlike keyboard driven soundscapes, this recording has an added aura of mystery in its announcement that “This album contains no explicit lyrics”. Vocals are buried deep in the mix, not exactly like The cocteau Twins as these are real lyrics rather than an invented language but as far as lazy comparisons go this gives a hint of direction.

Russell leak does cool misty vocals and his guitar runs from strident to subtly melodic and back while Selina Gibson provides deep solid bass foundations and ethereal vocals as well as the aforementioned keyboards. Scratchy turntableisms are provided by Fireproof Scratch Duck.

Graham Pushed It has a driving bass, insistent guitar and lovely submerged vocals with some snarly interjections accompanied by staccato scratching. There are also some nice choral bits by The Response collective choir. Home combines piano with electric percussion and a lyric taken from TS eliot.

This excellent almost instrumental album carries impressions of huge landscapes
somewhere south of cold celtic mists but well north of Dali’s Outskirts Of Paranoia.

Anyone with a sense of adventure would be well advised to cast off and explore here.

www.myspace.com/theresponsecollective

- The New Roxette Review - http://www.thenewroxette.co.uk