Subterraneans (band)
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| Subterraneans | |
|---|---|
 Subterraneans, pictured in 1996. |
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| Origin | London, UK |
| Years active | 1992-present |
| Genres | Alternative Rock |
| Labels | Electric |
| Members | Jude Rawlins Carl Homer Robin Phillips Guy Evans |
Subterraneans are an influential and acclaimed art-rock band from London, England. Fronted by former Angelhead vocalist and songwriter Jude Rawlins, they also feature former Wave guitarist Carl Homer, former Solstice bass player Robin Phillips, and Van der Graaf Generator drummer Guy Evans.
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[edit] History
Subterraneans were formed in Camden Town, London, in 1992, by Jude Rawlins and Carl Homer. Their name was taken from a track on the seminal 1977 David Bowie album Low. Subterraneans were given their name by Billy Mackenzie. Eschewing the normal music industry channels, they started their own label, The Electric Label, with £500 that Homer had inherited. Rawlins' experience with Angelhead, and advice from friend Toni Halliday, whose band Curve had succeeded in breaking through commercially whilst retaining a strict DIY ethic, was proof enough to Subterraneans that there was no longer any need for them to pursue a career through the normal channels. Instead of studio time, Subterraneans purchased their own recording equipment, recording their first album, and all their subsequent work, in locations chosen entirely for their convenience, atmosphere and amusement value. The band have never used a commercial recording studio, and have never worked with a producer. Their first release was the 12" single "Dream Fades Into Dark" in February 1992. Their debut album, April May June, released in December 1993, took it's title from a line in Jean Paul Sartre's existentialist essay Nausea.
Despite critical success, and definite commercial potential, after their 1994 tour, Rawlins and Homer elected to return immediately to recording a second album. This was because Rawlins in particular, who was now free of the influence of drink and drugs, felt that the band had outgrown the material on April May June.
However, the recording of the second Subterraneans album Mona Lisa proved nothing short of traumatic. When the band hit the road in December 1996 for the Mona Lisa Tour, the record itself was only two thirds complete. It was eventually released, without fanfare, in January 1998.
Subterraneans quit touring in May 1997, following a particularly gruelling show at the Highbury Garage in London. Although they gave exhaustion as the reason for this decision, many have speculated that they were deeply affected by death of Billy Mackenzie in January 1997, and lost their taste for performing.
The sabbatical lasted until 2002, although Jude did appear at a Nick Drake tribute concert in Norwich, England, in April 2000, performing the Drake songs "Pink Moon" and "One of These Things First".
In the interim Subterraneans remained active, recording their Pandora's Box soundtrack, released in 2001 by Paul Haig's Rhythm of Life label, as well as releasing a cover of the Rolling Stones classic "The Last Time", featuring Angie, former wife of David Bowie.
Subterraneans returned to the stage in July 2002. Although Jude Rawlins had always shown literary leanings in his musical work, they were cleary being given dominion in the new material. Subterraneans set to work recording a new album, Soul Mass Transit, which was released in March 2006.
[edit] Trivia
Subterraneans' track "Still Life" features a piano loop by Maria McKee. Although the original demo contained a sample from McKee's debut album, Rawlins had McKee re-record the part so that they could bypass having to pay McKee's former label Geffen Records for the use of the loop.
Subterraneans despise recording studios, and have never used one. Instead they have recorded in a variety of exotic locations. Their cover version of Nico's "Frozen Warnings" was recorded at the graveside of The Doors' legendary vocalist Jim Morrison in Paris.
Lenny Kaye was initially asked to produce Soul Mass Transit, but was unable to accept due to prior commitments with Patti Smith.
[edit] Film, Theatre and Television
Subterraneans have recorded soundtracks for several films, including the official 70th anniversary soundtrack to G.W. Pabst's legendary movie Pandora's Box, starring Louise Brooks, and Maya Deren's At Land.
Their music has also featured in shows by performance artist Judy Neville (whose voice can also be heard on Subterraneans' track "Fall Out"), and poet Suzanne Andrade, whose 2006 Edinburgh Festival show Invisible Ink includes excerpts from the band's Pandora's Box soundtrack.
[edit] Discography
- Dream Fades Into Dark (1992 single)
- April May June (1993 album)
- Slide EP (1995 EP)
- No featuring Billy Mackenzie (1996 single)
- She Walks On Water (1997 single)
- Hazel Eyes (1998 single)
- Mona Lisa (1998 album)
- Pandora's Box (2001 album)
- The Last Time featuring Angie Bowie (2002 single)
- Orly Flight (2003 compilation album)
- Canticle in D (2001 single)
- Soul Mass Transit (2006 album)
[edit] Sources
- Rawlins, Jude (2004). Cul, de Sac: Lyrics, Prose and Poems 1987-2004 (3rd ed.). Hampstead House Press. ISBN 1-4116-0895-X.
- Clark, Lisa (Feb. 11, 2005). The Lives of Jude Rawlins. Artsweek.
