Goat (band)

Goat
Origin Korpilombolo, Sweden
Genres Experimental rock, hard rock, fusion, afrobeat, worldbeat, acid rock
Labels Rocket Recordings
Licenced to Stranded Rekords
Website goatsweden.blogspot.ca

Goat is a Swedish alternative and experimental fusion music group. The band originates—according to its own publicity—from Korpilombolo, Norrbotten County, Sweden.[1] Their album World Music, released on 20 August 2012 by Rocket Recordings, was hailed by The Guardian as one of the best albums of 2012.[2]

History

Formation

Goat, though currently based in Gothenburg,[3] claims to hail from Korpilombolo in Sweden which, according to the band's own publicity, has a history of voodoo worship after a witch doctor came and lived there. Supposedly, when Christian crusaders came and destroyed the village the surviving people fled and placed a curse on the town. This has been described as "a lovely story, if possibly not entirely rooted in reality."[4]

The band started playing music when they were children, as part of a local community tradition, and there have been many incarnations of Goat who have recorded over the last "30 or 40 years". There are now three original "core" members of the band, from Korpilombolo, but in live concerts they are augmented by four other performers from Gothenburg.[4]

Recording career

The group signed to Rocket Recordings, a UK-based record label formed in 1998.[5] In 2012 they released their debut single "Goatman" on limited edition vinyl, and began recording their first album. Commenting on the writing process, band member Christian Johansson said:[4]

"The songwriting process is strange. Normally, when we play together we don't play songs – we make music – and every time we play is a new time. When we had the possibility to record, we have made songs for the album. It started with the song 'Goatman', and that song was recorded just for us. Then Rocket [Recordings] asked us to write some more and we continued. Our songs are never really finished and we never know how they will end up when we start recording."

World Music was released on 20 August 2012 and has won good responses and international attention.[6][7][8] The title of the album comes from the different styles of music on the album. Johansson commented:[4]

"We've been taught since we were small to have an understanding of not only western bands, but of music from other parts of the world. The title World Music was chosen because we believe we play 'world music', and that's what we think everyone plays".

Performances

The band performs wearing masks and costumes.[4]

After touring the United States in early 2013[9] the band played at that year's Glastonbury Festival[10] and the final holiday camp edition of All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Camber Sands, England.[11] In 2014, they played at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California and the Latitude Festival in Southwold, Suffolk, UK.[12]

Discography

Albums

Album Chart
peak
SWE
[13]
World Music
  • Release date: 20 August 2012
  • Record label: Stranded Rekords (Sweden)
  • Record label: Rocket Recordings (UK)
  • Format: CD, vinyl, digital download
 8
Live Ballroom Ritual
  • Release date: 2 December 2013
  • Record label: Rocket Recordings
  • Format: CD, vinyl, digital download
Commune
  • Release date: 23 September 2014
  • Record label: Sub Pop Records
  • Format: CD, vinyl, digital download
 17

EPs and singles

References

  1. ↑ Christopher R. Weingarten (16 October 2012). "Stream Goat's Magical Afrobeat - Metal LP 'World Music': Essential Listen & Q&A". Spin. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  2. ↑ Paul Lestor (28 September 2012). "New band of the day - Goat". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  3. ↑ Magnusson, Tobias (2012-03-21). "Goats voodoorock smittar av sig". Göteborgs Fria Tidning (in Swedish). Retrieved 2015-08-15. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "The Quietus - Features - Escape Velocity - Voodoo Rams: An Interview With Goat". The Quietus. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  5. ↑ Rocket Recordings. Retrieved 27 March 2013
  6. ↑ "Album Review: Goat - World Music". DrownedInSound. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "Goat - World Music". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Goat". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  9. ↑ Spin.com, Goat Announce First U.S. Tour Dates, Drop Mixtape of Afro-Rock and Black Metal, 10 January 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2013
  10. ↑ The Guardian, Glastonbury 2013: festival lineup, 27 March 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013
  11. ↑ "End Of An Era Part 2 curated by ATP & Loop - All Tomorrow's Parties". Atpfestival.com. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  12. ↑ "Latitude 2014 Line-up". Latitude Festival. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  13. ↑ "SwedishCharts.com Goat discography". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "Goat". Piccadillyrecords.com. Retrieved 20 December 2014.

External links