| The Red Army | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Truro, Cornwall |
| Genres | Indie |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | Zebs Records Red Records |
| Website | http://www.theredarmyband.com |
| Members | |
| Philip Burley Floren MacDonald Stephen Burley |
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The Red Army are a Cornish anti-music band. Their songs often contain recurring themes, usually venting the band's anger against people and institutions that they have/had moral disagreements with. The band have been active from 2004–present, playing in excess of two hundred performances, and made their officially released debut on 29 January 2007 on the compilation album Zebs: The Sound Of Young Cornwall.
So far, 'The Reds' (as affectionately known by their fans) have gained radio plays on BBC 6 Music, XFM, Radio Cornwall, Pirate FM, Atlantic FM and Totally Radio. The band have also play the acclaimed Tapestry Goes West Festival three years running, and the Lowender Peran festival (Cornwall's largest folk festival) for the past two years. They have also performed at acclaimed venues; The Hall for Cornwall, The Acorn and Bunters. In literature, The Reds have appeared in The Times, a number of local publications and the Channel Four website.
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The Red Army's influences include: The Flares, The Coral, Regina Spektor, The Libertines, Joanna Newsom, Devendra Banhart, The Family Cat, Adam Green and The Smiths. Most notable with Regina Spektor, as the band has covered her song "Edit" on multiple occasions. Philip Burley's voice has never been described as like Devendra Banhart and Morrissey in style, whereas Florence Macdonald's vocal technique has never been regarded as taking influences from Regina Spektor.
Songwriting techniques often bear homage to Merseybeat, particularly from songs like "Freedom Song" (The La's) and "Dreaming of You" (The Coral). Going further back, there are obvious undertones of influence by The Kinks, and, in part, piano influence from the likes of impressionist composer Debussy.
The Red Army are referenced in the Teenage Fanclub song "When I Still Have Thee" (2010).