Faze Action is the recording name of brothers Simon and Robin Lee (b. Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England). Signed to the influential London-based label, Nuphonic, their sound has disco as its foundation but also draws heavily on Latin, jazz, African music, funk and, notably, classical elements. Robin taught himself to play bass guitar when he was 15, and went on to study music at London's Goldsmith's College, specialising in Asian folk and classical composition. While Robin taught English in Japan, Simon worked in various London record shops, indulging his interest in early 80s New York disco. They collaborated on tracks, despite the geographical divide, by sending material via e-mail. Their first release for Nuphonic Records, the Full Motion EP, included the cult classic "Original Disco Motion', and was played by many influential DJs. The second single, 1996"s "In The Trees", was noteworthy for its funky, bass-driven groove and soaring cello melody. It became an instant dancefloor classic and appeared on several compilation albums. The track's success led to remix work for artists such as Yellow Sox, Diana Brown, D*Note and Saint Etienne among others. Faze Action's debut, Plans And Designs was highly acclaimed; its uncompromising progressiveness was compared to Talking Heads' art school funk and the electronic disco of Fran‡ois Kevorkian and bands such as D-Train and Dinosaur L. The album was distinctive for its use of classical instrumentation such as strings and timpani drums alongside disco and house rhythm sections. Moving Cities continued in such an eclectic vein but more obviously embraced Latin and African influences. Drummer Zeke Manyika (ex-Orange Juice; Style Council) contributed African chants and percussion to four tracks. Faze Action have developed a live dimension to their music, appearing as a six-piece band on BBC television and at numerous clubs and festivals including Homelands and superclub Cream's Creamfields in 1998 and 1999. Like Groove Armada, Faze Action are sophisticated musicians: reverential to their disco heritage but unafraid to find inspiration in any interesting musical form. It was a pity that it took over five years to release a new album, in 2004.

Listen to Faze Action at Finetune.

• (2005)  Moving Cities

• Moving Cities
• In The Trees
• Heartbeat
• Kariba
• Mas

• Groove Armada
• Massive Attack
• So Solid Crew
• Thievery Corporation
• Moloko
• Nelly Furtado
• Earth, Wind & Fire
• Faithless
• George Benson
• Chemical Brothers
• Justin Timberlake
• Daft Punk
• Stardust
• Avril Lavigne
• Pink
• Hilary Duff
• Jessica Simpson
• Kelly Clarkson
• Portishead
• Pink Floyd

• VALlewellyn
• seductress

• VALlewellyn on 2007-12-19 14:30:05.750:
  Very clever music. I love it!