Traffic Experiment’s Reworking of the Doctor Who Theme Released on Vinyl for the Iconic Show's 50th Anniversary

50 Years of the Doctor Who Theme

November 23rd will mark 50 years since the very first episode of the classic British sci-fi show Doctor Who (and its revolutionary theme music) aired on UK television.

To coincide with the event, Traffic Experiment are re-releasing a limited run of their six-and-a-half minute progressive rock take on the iconic theme as a 10-inch vinyl-only collector's edition. Just 500 copies will be printed.

Naming their version "Vashta Nerada", after a swarm of flesh-eating shadows from the popular TV series, the band originally released their reworking on New Year's Eve 2011 as a free download for fans, accompanied by a video of them recording the track in the studio with engineer/producer George Shilling (Porcupine Tree, Stornoway, Bernard Butler).

Watch the official video for Vashta Nerada [Doctor Who Theme] on YouTube here

With searing, pitch-shifted slide guitar, fuzzed bass, pounding drums and Harri Norris' echoed ambient vocals, the track has been received favourably by fans of the series all over the world.

Founder and guitarist/vocalist Stuart Chalmers discussed the logic behind choosing to cover the song.

"We wanted to create a version of something unusual that would showcase what we do as a band while being very different from the original. The first Doctor Who theme was created entirely with tape splicing and oscillators in the early 60's, and it's something that I've always loved, so it seemed a perfect choice. For me, it’s one of the most distinctive pieces of music of the last 50 yearsand even now, Ron Grainer and Delia Derbyshire’s original version still sounds so brilliantly atmospheric and futuristic."


B-Side

The band are also taking the opportunity to include a previously unheard composition of their own on the B-side of the vinyl. According to Chalmers: "it's a bit of a dark lullaby about childhood fears, so it seems an appropriate choice as a b-side to the Doctor Who theme". The track has been written for the band's next album, which will go into production in 2014, but until then will be exclusively available as part of this release.

Downloadable versions of both tracks on the release will be available to purchasers of the vinyl and there are also a number of signed posters of the artwork available.

'Vashta Nerada [Doctor Who Theme] Collector's Edition' will be released on vinyl on 23rd of November 2013 but can be pre-ordered directly from the band's website now: http://trafficexperiment.bandcamp.com/


About Traffic Experiment

Formed in 2006 by instrumentalist/vocalist Stuart Chalmers, drummer Tom Vincent, and bassist Simon James White, Traffic Experiment are forging a reputation for atmospheric, thoughtful, multi-layered, and often extended, cinematic rock music.

Produced by Stuart Chalmers, engineered by Steve Hill and mastered by Pink Floyd's Andy Jackson, Traffic Experiment's 'four-years-in-the-making' debut album, Blue Suburbia, was released in 2010 on the band's own self-titled label.

The band returned to the studio in 2011 with producer George Shilling to record 'Vashta Nerada [Doctor Who Theme]', a reworking of the classic British sci-fi show theme music.

The live sessions Blu-ray and DVD 'Traffic Experiment - Live [at the End of the World]' was released, along with 'Blue Suburbia [Special Edition]' in June 2013. The band are currently busy writing a follow up to Blue Suburbia.

For more information about Traffic Experiment, please visit http://presskit.trafficexperiment.net