Alexander Tucker (musician)

Alexander Tucker
Background information
Origin	Kent, England
Genres	Experimental Blues Freak Folk post-punk
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter, record producer
Instruments	Vocals, guitar synthesizer, mandolin, guitar
Years active	1990s - present
Labels	ATP Recordings
Associated acts	Stephen O'Malley and Alexander Tucker Duo
Website	MySpace Page

Alexander Tucker is an English musician from Kent who writes, records and performs alone and in collaboration with a varied array of artists. One critic writes that "Tucker sounds like he’s following a tradition that has long been neglected, focusing not on ageless songs and ideas but on ageless feelings captured through his droning miasma of acoustic guitar and mandolin." His first musical position was singing in hardcore band Suction in the early 1990s, who according to Tucker "played noisy adolescent punk with leanings towards Swans and Fugazi." His next job was as vocalist of post-rock hardcore 5-piece Unhome who released one album Short History of Houses (Unlabel) and a split single with Papa M. Unhome split in late 1999 and Tucker went on to tour the UK with Detroit space-rockers Fuxa, playing guitar synthesizers.

Tucker had meanwhile been developing his interest in improvisation using detuned guitars, tape loops, mini disc player and fx pedals. In early 2000 he recorded a solo self-titled album of acoustic finger-picking, experimental electronics, field recordings and spooked vocals, which was picked up by Tom Greenwood of Jackie-O-Motherfucker and released on his U-Sound Archives label. This style was refined in his live performances. One reviewer wrote of a 2008 performance that they had "seen a lot of live looping musicians in recent years and Alexander Tucker is by far one of the best. With cello, mandolin, acoustic guitar, his fantastic voice and a bank of pedals, he creates soundscapes which twist and bend through folk, drone metal and electronica." Further years of writing and recording led to an increase in interest and a new record deal with the All Tomorrow's Parties affiliated ATP Recordings label, for whom he released Old Fog in 2005. One reviewer wrote of the LP that "his beautifully spooked wanderings feature both delicately picked banjo and acoustic guitar, violin, piano, detuned electric guitar, found sounds, looped noise and ghostly vocals, all layered to eerily resonant effect. A wintry and wonderful new discovery", whilst another wrote that it was "The kind of fog you won't mind getting lost in....a beautiful listen." Brandon Stosuy of the influential Pitchfork Media and Village Voice wrote that "Over its course, Tucker piles inland shanties atop field recordings, piano, jittery bows, noise squalls, and bone creaks. Throughout, his fingerpicking feels almost possessed." Both of his first two albums were recorded on a digital 8-track when Tucker lived in a flat above Warren St. tube station, and the vibrations from passing tube trains can be heard in the background of some tracks.

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