Sofa Surfers

In the autumn of 1996 four like-minded Austrians came together to form the musical collective known only as Sofa Surfers. Committed completely to a DIY sound-system ethos, Sofa Surfers have always pushed the musical envelope by riding an instinctive groove of smoky dub aesthetics, breakbeat science, jagged hip-hop, and traces of rock music.

In 1997 Sofa Surfers released their first record "Sofa Rockers" featuring a remix by Richard Dorfmeister (of the infamous duo Kruder & Dorfmeister) on Austrian Label Klein Records. Receiving massive airplay, the track gained the interest of international media and firmly established Sofa Surfers as a group to be watched closely. Shortly thereafter, the collective released their debut LP Transit to rave reviews and began touring Europe playing sound system parties and art projects including the Alternative Music Awards "Eurobash" at London's Shepherd Bush Empire.

Following that live multimedia performance, which aired on the BBC, Sofa Surfers developed a reputation as an outstanding live project incorporating various forms of aural and visual media. Sofa Surfers released their sophomore LP Cargo to a baffled public. Never willing to rest on their laurels the group did away with the downbeat references heard on their debut in favor of a more unique and personal interpretation of dub, industrial, and avant-garde. Sofa Surfers were beginning to invent their own language that increasingly pushed the narrow boundaries of functionality, style, and fashion. Lauded for its brilliant production aesthetic, Cargo garnered excellent reviews in the international music press. Their track "Beans and Rice" was released on 12" single, included a remix by Mad Professor, and was selected by the Stereo MCs for their DJ Kicks installment.

With a growing profile, Sofa Surfers soon began giving the remix treatment to the likes of Femi Kuti, Roy Ayers, Ennio Moricone, Cornershop, and Tosca. Juggling remix duty, the musical score for the film "Komm Suesser Tod," and a successful remix album called Constructions (including works by Howie B, Eardrum, Ian Simmons, Tom Tyler, Mad Professor, and Spectre), the group began work on their most forward minded album to date.

In 2001 Sofa Surfers completed and released their third LP Encounters. Concocted amidst the ill climate of political neo-conservatism in their native Austria, Encounters was a reactionary statement against the increasing xenophobia and intolerance that threatened to sweep the country. Various artists hailing from many different cultures united to create an album that defied superficial notions of borders or boundaries and became a testament to a global understanding of individual identities. Collaborating with various vocalists and MCs from across the continents like Sensational, Dalek, Junior Delgado, and Mark Stewart, Sofa Surfers engaged in a trans-national dialogue of ideas and concepts to create a truly unique hip-hop inspired project.

Inevitably the Sofa Surfers' sound-system dub aesthetic came to the attention of Thievery Corporation. Their breakthrough track "See the Light," with its distinctive beats n' bass thump and politically enlightened vocals, was selected to appear on the compilation Den of Thieves: The Sound of Eighteenth Street Lounge Music in 2003. Now ESL Music is proud to present See the Light, a Thievery Corporation compiled collection of some of the finest gems from the Sofa Surfers' first three LPs as well as a new remix from Thievery Corporation.