Chasing the Knight

Whatever happened to Suburban Knight? Recently, I revisited James Pennington's records, which served to remind me why I had always rated him so highly. Releases like 'The Art of Stalking', 'The Groove', 'Nocturbulous Behaviour' and 'By Night' are unique sounding - a rarity in electronic music - purring, seething compositions, punctuated by understated menace. In these works, Pennington became the urban commando that UR's manifesto imagined, patrolling the deserted nighttime streets, soundtracking the desolation he saw in his hometown using prowling, often predatory-sounding basslines, freakish, nocturnal sound scapes and disjointed samples. The cliché about Detroit techno obsessing with the stars holds no water on these works: in Pennington's world, the inner space, his immediate environment, is all that matters. The inlay of 'Behaviour' depicts an abandoned street, ostensibly in a deprived area, and if you listen closely, it's possible to hear the sound of wind howling in the background on this track, while the inlay artwork on 'By Night' features a stealth bomber hovering over an urban scene. On these records, the producer has become a social commentator as much as an entertainer, and his body of work has as much social import as any protest music. In a rare interview with Muzik magazine in the late 90s, Pennington's music was described as being 'cubist', but I'd disagree: to me, it sounds messy and sprawling, like the chaos of society erupting when the needle drops. So what became of Pennington? He released an album on Peacefrog a few years back, and then nothing. He didn't show up on two occasions to play in Dublin, a pity because by all accounts he was an excellent DJ. Since then, there's been nothing, no new music and no sign of him playing out. Was he abducted by one of the mysterious stealth bombers 'by night' or is he just in retirement? If anyone has any clues, please let me know...

Comments

[todd burns]

he seems to be playing this party at demf this year. http://www.detroitluv.com/index.php?topic=46383.0

[kenny]

By Night EP was the first UR 12" I bought. It still sounds like nothing before or after it.

His last track was Moonrays on the Interstellar Fugitives 2 album. More on a Galaxy2Galaxy vibe than anything. Great track that they perform live too.

I saw his own live show years ago in London, one of the best i've ever heard. Played a fantastic dj set afterwards too.

[jig]

he played at the warehouse project 2006 if i remember correctly...
He also released a few records recently

Hi Monster

http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/233765-01.htm&highlight=suburban%20knight

digital warriors episode 1 & 2

http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/194163-01.htm&highlight=suburban%20knight

http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/194162-01.htm&highlight=suburban%20knight

I highly rate Hi Monster but it seemed to go a bit under the radar for some reason sort of stealth like

sorry couldnt help it

[chrisdisco]

he seems to play japan pretty regularly too... i caught him years ago (2002) at the old liquid room in tokyo and he was brilliant.

[Jason Brunton]

He was playing here in Glasgow last month at Pressure but I wasn't able to go unfortunately. He's quite a complex guy from my dealings with him- wish he would do some more music!

[Brophy]

Cool, thanks for all the info folks. I'd rate the SK records I mentioned in the post as some of my all-time favourite techno records. He missed a good few gigs in Dubin and I think that made other promoters here nervous and unwilling to book him. I'll check out those tunes. Did anyone hear 'My Sol Dark Direction'?

[onno]

he does seem to fly under the radar alright.........he played a couple of months ago at the UR residency in 'apt' here in nyc

[kenny]

forgot about those digital warriors 12". one of them was killer if i remember, but was a broke student at the time it was out

[Z]

As of a couple years ago, he was working at a home from mentally challenged people. He really loves his job and working with others so he prefers to focus on that rather than traveling as much. That's what I was told by a promoter who booked him anyway.

[Brophy]

The day job in the psychiatric unit is a story I heard from, a few other people too. Pity for me and his other fans that he finds it more absorbing than making music. Oh well...