Napoleon IIIrd – The Unknown Unknown (The Line of Best Fit Session)

Our first foray into a ‘full live band’ situation comes in fine style from one of 2010′s most critically acclaimed underground success stories. The follow up to 2007′s debut In Debt To, Christiana saw Napoleon IIIrd push the boundaries of pop music to the next level – as our reviewer so rightly said: ” holds the extraordinary ability to make challenging music unchallenging.” Featuring “delirious moments of profanity, an intense and bewildering mass of energy in its wake”.

We shot this film during Napoleon IIIrd’s triumphant performance at Hoxton Hall last month. Usually one to perform completely solo, using backing tapes, loops and a mass of pedals to re-create the sounds on record – here, Mabbett employs talent from the Brainlove Records fraternity including members of Internet Forever, Keyboard Choir, A Scholar and A Physician and Stairs To Korea. The results: jaw dropping.

The film was directed and edited for The Line of Best Fit by Sebastien Dehesdin with help from Paul Bridgewater and Dan Tassel. Special thanks to Oli Horton (Dreamtrak) for the sound.

You can catch Napoleon IIIrd on tour at the following dates:

Spanish Tour w/ Mat Riviere

January
25 – Malaga, CC Oilerias
28 – Madrid, Nasti Club
30 – Castellon, Tanned Tin Festival

iLiKETRAiNS Support Tour

February
02 – Brighton, The Hope
03 – Bath, Moles
04 – Birmingham, HMV Institute (supporting Sparkadia)
05 – Norwich, Arts Centre
06 – Oxford, Jericho Tavern
07 – Nottingham, Bodega
09 – Sheffield, Fusion
10 – Liverpool, Shipping Forecast
11 – York, The Duchess

The Unknown Unknown Tour (UK)

March
07 – Cardiff, Undertone
09 – Edinburgh, The Electric Circus
10 – Sheffield, Harley
11 – Salford, Manchester, Islington Mill
12 – Leeds, Nation of Shopkeepers
14 – Winchester, The Railway
15 – London, The Nest

The Unknown Unknown Tour (Europe)

March
29 – Oslo, Norway, Mono
30 – Trondheim, Norway, Credo
07 – Vienna, Austria, Club Weird Kong
08 – Dublin, Ireland, The Workman’s Club
09 – Belfast, Ireland, Auntie Annies