| Hybrid | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom |
| Genres | Electronica Progressive breaks Big Beat Nu breaks Progressive trance Symphonic techno |
| Labels | Distinct'ive Kinetic (former US label) Hope Recordings Kill City Recordings |
| Website | http://www.hybridsoundsystem.com/ |
| Members | |
| Mike Truman Chris Healings Charlotte James[1] |
|
| Past members | |
| Lee Mullin | |
Hybrid are a British electronic music group based in Swansea, comprising Mike Truman and Chris Healings, with the addition of Charlotte James completing their 2010 lineup. They are primarily known as a progressive breaks act, although they overlap considerably with progressive house and trance. However, the band are now taking a more structured approach to song writing, with the addition of Charlotte James contributing to the writing process. The duo are considered pioneers of the electronic genre, and have produced four studio albums, all garnering critical acclaim. They are known for their cinematic approach to their production, specifically with the use of orchestral sounds, which is particularly notable on their debut album Wide Angle when they collaborated with the Russian Federal Orchestra. Also over their eleven year career, they have produced over 100 remixes for over 40 artists. Their fourth studio album, Disappear Here, was released on March 29, 2010. The band is selling the album together with self designed artwork and t-shirts at their official web site.
Contents |
Hybrid released their first album, Wide Angle, in 1999 – a combination of progressive house and nu skool breaks with vocals and symphonic textures. They hired the Russian Federal Orchestra for the string sections. Julee Cruise supplied many of the vocals for Wide Angle. The album was produced and written by the duo along with the third original band member, Lee Mullin. The music's cinematic feel and scope have led to comparisons with Massive Attack and Underworld. Hybrid also supported Moby during a live tour in 2000.
Hybrid released their second album, Morning Sci-Fi, in 2003. They added semi-permanent vocalists and guitarists, Adam Taylor and Tim Hutton (both on the album and when performing live) with a guest appearance from New Order alumnus Peter Hook. This album had a generally darker feel to it than Wide Angle, though still retaining the cinematic undertones for which Hybrid are known. In addition to this, Morning Sci-Fi features a more diverse range of influences than its predecessor — Chris Healings stating in an interview that, "We've been listening to absolutely anything other than dance music. I suppose that is because dance music is so ingrained into what we do naturally. We've been listening to stuff like Doves, Radiohead, Soulwax, New Order and lots of jangly indie guitar bands and classical music, particularly the work of Arvo Pärt and Alexander Gretchaninov."[2]
In 2006, Hybrid released their third studio album, I Choose Noise, with three tracks featuring vocalists Kirsty Hawkshaw and Perry Farrell. The epic symphonic sound of these pieces seemed to confirm a return to the grand orchestral scope of Wide Angle.
Hybrid played at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 29, 2006.
In July 2006, Hybrid collaborated with Perry Farrell's Satellite Party. Satellite Party made three tracks with Hybrid. "Wish Upon a Dogstar", a remix of "Dogstar" from I Choose Noise, "Kinky", a cover of "Dreamstalker" and "Awesome", a cover of Hybrid's unreleased track "Orbit". All of the tracks are featured on Satellite Party's debut album Ultra Payloaded.
On March 8, 2007, Hybrid kicked off their US Spring 2007 Live Tour in support of their third album I Choose Noise. Hybrid was joined by John Graham, Peter DiStefano and Charlotte James among others.
On October 22, 2007 Hybrid Remixed was released by Distinctive Records. It consisted of remixes of several compositions by Hybrid, however Hybrid themselves had nothing to do with the release of the album. This was Hybrid's last album with Distinctive, and they are now managed by Hope Recordings.
Hybrid's mix album Soundsystem 01 was released July 14, 2008 by Hope Recordings.[3] The album is a double-disc mix collection with the first CD being based around actual film scores fused with ambient electronica, and the second containing more upfront, club-oriented music represented by remixes of music by the likes of Sasha, Quivver and Elite Force.[4]
In 2008 Hybrid contributed the song "Komuru" to the Survival International charity album, Songs for Survival.
During the production of the X-Men Origins: Wolverine film, Hybrid reported that they had been helping Harry Gregson Williams on the score. They also helped to collaborate on the sound design for the film.[5]
After months of silence, their fourth album Disappear Here was finally finished and released on March 29, 2010. The album was made with Andrew Skeet and the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. A video recording of the track from the forthcoming album, entitled "Break My Soul", was also released which was filmed and edited by the band.[6] The band are selling the album together with self designed artwork and t-shirts at their official website. The album was followed up by two singles, "Can You Hear Me" and "Disappear Here". A Special Edition of the album, called the 'Widescreen Edition' was released in November 2010 featuring remixes and ambient orchestral version of album tracks on Disappear Here.
In late 2010, Hybrid finished work with Harry Gregson-Williams, for yet another musical score, for the film Unstoppable.[7]
On March 15, 2011, Hybrid released the song "Blind Side" for free, as promotion for the single, which itself was officially released on August 29th, 2011, aon their new label Kill City Records.[8] [9]
Hybrid have recently been busy helping Harry Gregson-Williams with the soundtrack for the film Cowboys & Aliens,[10] as well as the music for the video game Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier.[11] The group also submitted two tracks for the film Fast Five.[12]
Hybrid's extensive music for TV, film and games can be found at their dedicated scoring website, www.hybridscores.com[13]
Over the years, Hybrid's studio material from their first three albums and their singles, have been heavily used for television, film and video games. Hybrid composed the soundtrack for the 2007 film Catacombs, and have also helped Harry Gregson-Williams score Man on Fire, Déjà Vu,[14] and X-Men Origins: Wolverine[15]
Other notable uses includes:
Hybrid has produced over 100 remixes of more than 40 artists, including Radiohead, Alanis Morissette, U2, Filter, BT, DJ Rap, The Orb, Jean Michel Jarre, Gouryella, The Future Sound of London, UNKLE, Moby and The Crystal Method.[24]