The guitarist of Gilla Band, Alan Duggan Borges announces new project named The Null Club. Alan has spent the last few years writing and producing music using an array of old synths, drum machines, and guitars – leaning into noise, techno and experimental hip hop, as well as post-punk. On 4 April, he’ll release his debut EP under the same name of The Null Club, featuring Faris Badwan of The Horrors, Valentine Caulfield of Mandy, Indiana, and ELUCID of Armand Hammer, and today shares debut single ‘Slip Angle‘ with Valentine on vocals.
The EP will be released on a limited run of 500 12” white label records, each hand stamped by Alan and released independently on a label run by his wife and himself. The EP was mixed by Daniel Fox (Gilla Band), and mastered by Jamie Hyland (M(h)aol). with vocals contributed by the artists. All instrumentals were performed and recorded by Alan in his home, and rehearsal studio in Dublin, Ireland. with vocals being recorded in a mix of places: New York City, London, and Manchester (sometimes in studios, sometimes in the artists homes).
Alan says on collaborating with Valentine for ‘Slip Angle’:
“This would be the most techno inspired track. I tried to mix techno and noise with this one. I first saw Mandy, Indiana in Manchester at the Psych Fest in 2021. We managed to say hello, and from there I reached out to Val to see if she would be interested in working on the track. Thankfully she was into it. I sent her on the instrumental and she came back with rough vocals using the mic from headphones for phones. We re-recorded the vocals in her home in Manchester in 2021 surrounded by her cats, but actually kept some of the headphone takes in the track.“
Spending time over the last few years learning about synthesis, production, and how to record has been an incredibly rewarding experience for Alan. This project has created an opportunity to explore genres and styles of music outside of Gilla Band that he’s never done before, as well as being completely in control of the production and instrumentation. It’s also been an opportunity to work with incredible artists who Alan truly admires.
There will be a number of solo shows across Ireland and England where Alan will be reworking the tracks from the EP live along with a number of unheard pieces of music. There will be numerous synths, noise machines, guitars, and many pedals on stage all being looped into different amps to bring the songs to life in a live setting.
The Null Club Tour Dates
May
2 – The Workmans Club – Dublin, IE
13 – Corsica Studios – London, UK
14 – Rough Trade – Bristol, UK
16 – Yes, The Basement – Manchester, UK
For more information on The Null Club please check instagram and tiktok.