Bussetti
| Company type | Independent music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Defunct | 2007 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Music recordings (singles, album) |
Bussetti was a London-originated ensemble active between 2001 and 2007, known for integrating styles such as hip-hop, funk, jazz, indie, and pop into their music.
They toured extensively throughout the UK and appeared at prominent festivals like the 2003 and 2006 editions of The Big Chill as well as the 2004 Dour Festival held in Belgium.
The group issued two 12" singles: Softly (2003) and The Itch/Debussetti (2004), along with their album Where Have You Been released in 2007. Their tracks received remix treatments from notable artists including Four Tet and Xploding Plastix. The band officially parted ways in June 2007.
History
Bussetti was established in London in 2001 by a collective of university musicians. The band's name was inspired by their former landlord, who tragically passed away in 2002. Early musical inspirations came from groups such as Lamb, Red Snapper, and The Cinematic Orchestra. Featuring a rotating roster of members, they regularly performed across various venues in the UK.
Softly
Their initial 12" single, titled Softly, included a remix by Four Tet along with both instrumental and a cappella versions. This release was produced by band members Dan Edge and Henry Scowcroft, recorded at Premises Studios located in Hackney, London during 2003, and launched under their independent label Realise Records.
- A1: Softly
- A2: Softly (instrumental)
- B1: Softly (Four Tet remix)
- B2: Softly (a cappella)
The Itch/Debussetti
The second single was a double-A side release featuring the tracks "The Itch" and "Debussetti," also distributed through Realise Records.
- A1: The Itch
- A2: The Itch (radio edit)
- B1: Debussetti
- B2: Debussetti (radio edit)
The Story So Far
Prior to unveiling Where Have You Been, Bussetti compiled their existing works into a complimentary CD that was handed out during live performances. The compilation included:
- Spanish Jake
- Nings
- The Itch
- Debussetti
- Diskaplin (live)
- Debussetti (Xploding Plastix remix)
- The Itch (King Seven remix)
- Debussetti (Deckshufflers remix)
- Softly (Four Tet remix)
- Jon Kennedy – Useless Wooden Toys (Bussetti remix)
- Verbrilli Sound – Honey Czars (Bussetti remix)
Where Have You Been
In 2007, Bussetti released their debut full-length album Where Have You Been, self-produced and mixed/mastered by Ben Spektor. Recording sessions took place at multiple locations including The Premises studio in London. The album featured contributions from guest double bassists Tim Pharaoh and Omri Chetrit, as well as percussionist Preston Heyman.
Track list:
- Singasong
- Spanish Jake
- Softly
- The Itch
- The Scratch
- Words
- Nings
- Song with 3 Names
- Not From Round Here
- Debussetti
This album was first introduced at Bussetti’s final performance held at London's Luminaire on 9 June 2007 and remains accessible for streaming on SoundCloud.
Other material
Bussetti provided mixes for Ninja Tune’s Solid Steel radio program and crafted remixes for Canadian downtempo artist Verbrilli Sound along with UK-based musician Jon Kennedy.
Additionally, they released a compilation of remixes, previously unreleased live recordings, and instrumental pieces on SoundCloud.
In December 2011, their track "Debussetti" was showcased by Tom Robinson on BBC6 Music's Introducing show.
Line-up
The live ensemble was built around five principal members, with additional musicians joining at various times. The original roster consisted of:
- Jana Hermon – lead vocals
- Charlie Miller – vocals, guitar, saxophone
- Jez Humble – synthesizer
- Daniel Edge – keyboards
- Oli Bird – drums
- Henry Scowcroft – bass guitar
- Susannah Price – cello
Prior to the departures of Humble and Price, saxophonist Nick Atkins and DJ Nick Flugge, who specialized in scratching, became part of the group. In 2005, following Oli Bird's move to Los Angeles, Dor Kelman took over the drumming duties. Subsequent contributors featured trombonist Jamie Fagg, harpist and clarinetist Kat Arney, synthesizer player Rui Teimao, and visual artist Mark van der Vord. The final performance in June 2007 at London's Luminare showcased the following line-up:
- Jana Hermon – lead vocals
- Charlie Miller – vocals, guitar, alto saxophone
- Daniel Edge – keyboards and harmonium
- Rui Teimao – synthesizer
- Dor Kelman – drums
- Jamie Fagg – trombone
- Nick Atkins – soprano and tenor saxophones
- Kat Arney – harp and bass clarinet
- Henry Scowcroft – bass guitar and guitar
- Mark van der Vord – visual projections
Further reading
- Interview with The Big Chill – Susanna Glaser, 2004
- Interview with Pop Up Music magazine – (Polish), 2004
- The Itch/Debussetti review, Pop Up Music magazine, 2004 (Polish)
- Big Chill feature article – bigchill.net, 2006