An Experiment On A Bird In The Air Pump

About this event

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After 15 years away, An Experiment On A Bird In The Air Pump return to the stage with renewed power and urgency, and the same uncompromising spirit that made them one of London's most fearless underground bands. Formed in 2008 and named after the Joseph Wright of Derby painting, the band broke boundaries from the start - with no designated front person, drummer or bassist, and an instinctive approach to switching roles mid-performance. Each member's voice and instrument carries equal weight, creating a sound that is communal, raw and rhythmically hypnotic. Composed of British-Filipino twin sisters C-Bird and X-Bird, and D-Bird, who is of British Nepalese-Indian descent, the band channel no wave, punk, soul and grunge into a stripped-back fusion of bass, drums and voice that evokes both ritual and rebellion. An Experiment On A Bird In The Air Pump have previously collaborated with Steve Albini on an unreleased album, and recorded EPs with Steve Mackey (Pulp) and Tim Burgess (The Charlatans). Their performances have been described as magnetic, confrontational, and impossible to categorise. The band will play a headline show on Thursday 23 April 2026 at The Lexington, with a new single set for release in April 2026. The event is promoted by CLUB.THE.MAMMOTH. 'In times when everything seems sewn up, we need someone to tear it apart. In an age of smoothly sellable corporate indie, we need someone to take a knife to the facade... the band stepping up to that challenge are An Experiment On A Bird In The Air Pump.' Simon Price, The Independent 'Bad Seeds meet The Shangri-Las nightmare. A No-Wave Ronettes....Bewitching.' NME 'Their sound retains something of this primal, basic immediacy, thick, low and urgent. A thousand amateur musical Freudians will tell you that if the guitar is the male instrument then bass, drums, earthbound and heavy rhythm is the female principle.' The Quietus 'With a tendency to switch places and take turns behind the mic, they create a sparse, monochrome voodoo rumble, all thick, low, booming bass and primitive tribal rhythms over which they bellow indecipherable lyrics-cum-war-cries, mysterious mantras of female empowerment, like Spice Girls had they teamed up with Southern Death Cult. The Jesus and Mary Chain meet Kim Gordon in a post-apocalyptic world. Watch them through your fingers.' The Guardian No front person. No hierarchy. Just bass, drums, and defiance.An Experiment On A Bird In The Air Pump return in 2025.