Gardener's WorldThey may not have the most original name in the world, but Avantgarden more than make up for it with their unique, horn-driven brand of pop. TOM FULFORD-JONES met singer/songwriter, Chris Rambling.
The English-born, Australian-reared songwriter and his cohorts make a curious racket which borrows from the likes of Frank Zappa, King Crimson and the skanking horns of Madness, but which also stands convincingly on its own two feet.
Now based permanently in England, with one eponymous album to their credit, Avantgarden play two gigs this week, where they will showcase their trombone-fuelled pop. The first is at Kentish Town’s Bull & Gate, and three days later they support the Tiger Lillies at the Mean Fiddler in Harlseden.
It seems Chris has something off a problem with names; not other people’s, but his own. Once known as Ramskill, he changed his name to the softer Rambling recently.
“I’ve never been comfortable with the name Ramskill,. The bottom line is that I’m a vegetarian and it’s easier for me to deal with a name like Rambling than Ramskill.”
As you may of noted, Rambling is a sensitive sort of bloke and modest with it. In spite of his anchor role within the group, he prefers to play down his part.
I don’t think of myself as a leader, I just like to think of myself as the person who puts the music together. After that, it’s anybody’s who wants it, if you know what I mean.
This may stem from his earlier experiences with a previous line-up of the band, which degenerated into an unsavoury clash of egos. Now he has assembled a group of jazz musicians with whom he records and plays live. He also has “a lot less trouble dealing with them on other levels, emotionally and ego-wise”.
Aside from Zappa and the like as influences, Rambling’s music also doffs its cap to modern classical composers such as Bartok.
With such a divers selection of musical styles echoing in his grey matter, how does he see Avantgarden fitting into today’s music scene? “I must admit, in the last few years I’ve found it really difficult to find anything new I’m really moved by.
“So If you like to get moved, get down to either of this week’s gigs.
-TNT Magazine (UK).