British Sea Power

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British Sea Power
Promo photo, 2002 (L-R: Hamilton, Noble, Wood, Yan)
Promo photo, 2002 (L-R: Hamilton, Noble, Wood, Yan)
Background information
Origin Flag of England Brighton,England
Genre(s) Indie rock
Years active 2000–present
Label(s) Rough Trade Records
Website britishseapower.co.uk
Members
Yan
Noble
Hamilton
Wood
Former members
Eamon (2002–2005)

British Sea Power are a four-man indie rock band based in Brighton, England. Their style ranges from the sweeping, often epic, guitar pop sound to the visceral and angular. Critics have likened their sound to post punk and new wave groups like Echo & the Bunnymen and, at the same time, the alternative rock of The Smiths and Pixies. The vocals owe much to David Bowie and on some songs the post-punk influence of Joy Division is clear. The band is comprised of:

Contents

[edit] History

British Sea Power's Yan, Hamilton and Wood are school friends from Kendal in Cumbria. They were in a number of bands together while at school, but after finishing his exams Yan moved to study at Reading University, where he met guitarist Noble. A few years later Hamilton and Woody moved down to join them and form a band.

They played some gigs and produced a 4 track demo in Reading as British Air Powers, before relocating to Brighton in search of a more vibrant music scene. "British Sea Power" was actually the name of one of these demo tracks, and was eventually reworked into "Carrion". In Brighton, BSP amassed a strong local following, due mainly to their own club night called "Club Sea Power". The club nights featured many different support bands, and other forms of entertainment such as a 1930s fashion show, and were most frequently hosted at the Freebutt and the Lift (the latter has now closed down).

Their debut single, "Fear of Drowning", was issued in limited numbers of their own Golden Chariot label. Geoff Travis of Rough Trade Records saw the band live and in September 2001 signed them to his label. A number of singles were issued on the label, and Eamon was recruited to play live keyboards in autumn 2002.

The Decline of British Sea Power, the band's debut album, was released in June 2003 to critical acclaim. A single from the album, "Carrion", became the band's first Top 40 single. The album only charted in the lower reaches of the UK Album Chart but turned out to be a word of mouth success, shipping well over 60,000 copies over the following two years and allowing them to play sell-out UK tours to venues of over 1,000 people.

Yan, Hamilton & Eamon - Grasmere Village Hall (2005)
Yan, Hamilton & Eamon - Grasmere Village Hall (2005)

The follow-up, Open Season, was released in early April 2005, and also enjoyed wide critical praise. It showcased a more accessible, produced sound and charted at #13 in the UK Albums Chart. Lead single "It Ended on an Oily Stage" charted at #18 in the UK Singles Chart a week earlier.

A typical BSP crowd
A typical BSP crowd

British Sea Power have a reputation for elaborate live shows and won the 2004 Time Out London Live Band of the Year award. The stage is often decorated with foliage and plastic birds and sets generally finish with a semi-improvised song called "Rock in A", which usually lasts for over eight minutes. Various members often climb riggings and tear down the foliage, Eamon walks around the audience beating his marching drum, and a ten-foot bear, Ursine Ultra, occasionally makes an appearance - often taking a beating from various band members. This has become one of the signatures of the band. Their tours often include unusual venues such as the Scillonian Club on the Isles of Scilly, Grasmere Village Hall, the St. John Boste Social Club in Kendal and Carnglaze Caverns in Cornwall.

The band have built up an eccentric image in interviews and press releases; some of which is based on fact, other times merely whimsical building of outward personas. This has included giving journalists grid references at which to meet them, and expressing obsessions with Field Marshal Montgomery and bird watching.

At the beginning of 2006, it was announced that Eamon had left the band to concentrate on his band Brakes [1]. The band spent part of late 2006 working on new material in Montréal, and are preparing a DVD.

The band's third album is yet to be titled, and rumoured for release in April 2007.

[edit] References to people, places and things

The band is noted for referencing (sometimes somewhat) obscure things in their lyrics.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles

[edit] EPs

[edit] Notes

  1. ^  Kendal band seeks nominations, The Westmorland Gazette, 18 Sep 2003.
  2. ^  British Sea Power member quits, NME Online, 16 Jan 2005..

[edit] External links

British Sea Power
Yan | Hamilton | Noble | Wood
Eamon | Abi Fry | Phil Sumner
Albums
The Decline of British Sea Power | Open Season
Singles
"Fear of Drowning" | "Remember Me" | "The Lonely" | "Childhood Memories"
"Carrion"/"Apologies to Insect Life" | "Remember Me" | "A Lovely Day Tomorrow"
"It Ended on an Oily Stage" | "Please Stand Up" | "Remember Me"/"I Am a Cider Drinker"
Related articles
Rough Trade Records | Roy Wilkinson | Brakes | Brighton | Frank Sidebottom
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