Kid Confucius

Kid Confucius release their sophomore album, Stripes, heralding a new sound for the band and a pioneering step forward for soul and hip hop music in Australia. Eight-piece Sydney band, Kid Confucius boldly go where few groups have gone before: they deftly bridge the gap between old school soul and modern hip hop, while remaining wholly within the live arena. Forming in 2001, the members of Kid Confucius came together from all over Australia's most diverse international city joined by a common allegiance to soul music's royalty who held court in the 60s and 70s...

Eight-piece Sydney band, Kid Confucius boldly go where few groups have gone before: they deftly bridge the gap between old school soul and modern hip hop, while remaining wholly within the live arena. Forming in 2001, the members of Kid Confucius came together from all over Australia's most diverse international city joined by a common allegiance to soul music's royalty who held court in the 60s and 70s, and their musical descendents who reign over the hip hop nation today.

After establishing a solid reputation across Australia as one of the country's leading live acts, the band released their debut self-titled album in 2005. Rolling Stone magazine hailed the album as ?standing out easily as one of the best local releases of the year [that sits] well above most Australian hip-hop and soul releases.? Kid Confucius supported their critically acclaimed album with consistent national touring, building a loyal and everexpanding grass roots fan base, selling out shows around the country and exploding onto the festival circuit with astounding performances at Splendour In The Grass, The Great Escape, and more recently Festival Of The Sun and Peats Ridge Festival.

Once the band members had purged their systems of first album material, most of which dated back to the band's inception, they immediately started writing songs towards a new record. Reuniting with their producer, Buchman (AKA Tony Buchen) the nine young men set up camp at Sydney's premier vintage recording studio, Electric Avenue in March 2006 for two weeks of tracking for the sophomore album. On top of the band's staple instrumentation, the sessions included live strings, timpani drums, and a 30-piece gang vocal choir. The album was then given the final treatment it deserves with mixes by Grammy award winning engineer, Russell ?The Dragon? Elevado (The Roots, Talib Kweli, Dave Chappelle's Block Party, Erykah Badu) at Jimi Hendrix's own Electric Lady Studios in NYC. Sounding like a Detroit era Motown record produced and mixed with the aesthetic of a banging hip hop album, Kid Confucius' new album entitled Stripes is set to send tremors through the very foundations of hip hop, pop and live rock. Expect a sound that conjures a Marvin Gaye soul symphony performed by the Beatles and conducted by Kanye West, with a live show to match.

The new album lead by the singles Last Straw and Closer, has already attracted early critical acclaim from Rolling Stone and Smash Hits, with both magazines awarding the album four stars. Rolling Stone calls the third single, Moment ?sublime... [A standout] on a mighty fine album.? Kid Confucius is now set to embark on their most extensive national tour to date, beginning with the huge St Kilda Festival, then opening the prestigious Adelaide Fringe Festival to crowds of thousands before continuing on the road until they've reached all corners of the country.