Guapo

Guapo are a London group active since 1994. Their music sits across avant-garde, avant-prog, experimental, post-rock, progressive rock and zeuhl, with a style that changes from record to record while keeping a focus on complex composition and dense arrangement.

History

The group’s line-up has changed over time. In recent years it centres on Daniel O’Sullivan, Matthew Thompson and David Smith, with Thompson leaving shortly before the release of Black Oni. The current members listed are Matt Thompson, Daniel O’Sullivan, James Sedwards, David Smith, Kavus Torabi and Guy Siddle.

Guapo describe a period of activity built around a sequence of releases that includes Five Suns, Black Oni and Elixirs. Elixirs is presented as the final part of a planned triptych and as work that took three years to complete. The album is described as drawing on ideas and imagery associated with J.K. Huysmans, Kircher, Conan Doyle and Hyltén-Cavallius, and as moving further into psychedelic composition.

Associated projects

During the period around Elixirs, O’Sullivan and Smith are also active in other projects. Both perform in Miasma & the Carousel of Headless Horses. O’Sullivan also works with Æthenor, Mothlite, Grumbling Fur and has performed live with Sunn O))). Smith creates a multimedia installation called The Other Side of the Island, for which he records a soundtrack with O’Sullivan and Antti Uusimaki under the name The Stargazers Assistant. He also plays in the Amal Gamal Ensemble alongside members of Coil, Cyclobe and Shockheaded Peters.

Style

Guapo’s music is described as shifting in colour and approach from release to release, with asymmetrical structures, polyrhythmic writing, rounds and canons, and dense orchestration. Elixirs is linked with musical references such as Popol Vuh, This Heat, Magma, Third Ear Band, Moondog and early 1970s Miles Davis.