Letters and Colours

Letters & Colours
Also known as L+C, Letters and Colours
Origin Sheffield UK
Genres Pop Rock Indie
Years active 2003–2007
Labels Dead Product, Mother Tongue
Website Letters and Colours on Myspace
Past members Gerry Poole (Vox/Synth/Guitar), David Jaques (Guitar/Programming), Paul Roberts (Drums), Ian Baxter (Bass 2004-2006), Ric Griffiths (Bass 2006-2007)

Letters & Colours is a British new wave group from the North of England who become known for their combination of early eighties new wave and disco beats. They gained recognition along with the New Yorkshire and Nu Rave[1] scenes, and groups such as Bloc Party,[2] Interpol (band),[3] Editors and The Departure.[4] They list The Cure,[5] Depeche Mode[6] and The Smiths as influences and gained comparisons to such groups, as well as Joy Division,[7] Echo & the Bunnymen,[8] Bauhaus (band),[9] Artery (post-punk band)[10] and Comsat Angels. Letters & Colours combined a heavy, repetitive rhythm section with lush, melodic guitar and haunting vocals.[11] This created a bleak sound [12] with a danceable quality,[13] often referred to as Noir Pop.[14] The band formed in 2003 as a two piece, before extending the line up to four members; ultimately splitting up in August 2007.[15]

Career

Letters & Colours were formed in late 2003 by Sheffield Hallam University students David Jaques (Guitar, programming) and Gerry Poole (Vocals, keys, guitar).[16] Jaques and Poole played shows throughout the North of England including performances at The Leadmill in Sheffield and Barfly (club) in Liverpool, building up a strong fanbase. Combining live shows and the release of free recordings (made available through myspace), the band built a large following making them one of the first groups, along with Arctic Monkeys and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah to use the internet to swell their fanbase.[17] The first shows used the combination of guitars, programming and vocals to create tight, epic music but could lack direction due to the limitations of programmed drums in the live context.[18]

Over the next year the line up was extended in order to create more flexibility in live performances, initially drafting in Ian Baxter on bass guitar to be shortly followed by Paul Roberts on drums. The band gelled quickly as a four piece inspiring a change in style for the group. The new sound was accompanied by an increase in tempo and more exciting live performances, adding a pop edge to the band's sound.[19] With new songs and a greater live presence,[20] Letters & Colours continued to build their fanbase and played with groups such as Harrisons and Little Man Tate (band), and played at In The City (festival) in Manchester, during 2005.

At the beginning of 2006 Baxter left the band to concentrate on drumming duties in fellow Sheffield band The Yell. The band had organised a national tour[21] and single to be released on their own label, Dead Product in March 2006, but with the departure of Baxter the bands plans were put in jeopardy. The band recorded the single without Baxter, and toured with Miller deputising on bass for certain songs. The single and tour were a success, spurring the band to carry on and find a new bassist in Ric Griffiths.

Within weeks of completing the new line up, the group developed several new songs and played their first gig at The Plug, with New Young Pony Club.[22] During 2006/07 Letters & Colours played headline shows all over the UK including The Fly in London, The Faversham in Leeds, The Barfly in Liverpool, and Sheffield University's legendary Fuzz Club, as well as Mean Fiddler's Carling Weekend.[23][24] Letters & Colours also appeared on BBC's Look North news programme, alongside The Pigeon Detectives in the press coverage for the 2006 Carling Weekend. The band also garnered critical acclaim from DJs on Xfm, Radio 1,[25] 6Music,[26] BBC Raw Talent[27][28] and were one of Steve Lamacq's top tips for 2007.

The band's song 'Alpha' was included in Alt Delete's era defining compilation Digital Penetration[29] in 2006 and in April 2007 the band released Gaunt/Plan A on Mother Tongue.[30] The song was recorded by Sheffield musician/producer Alan Smyth and was Steve Lamacq's single of the week on his Monday night Radio 1 new music show.[31]

Despite continuing to receive critical acclaim, and an ever increasing fanbase, the band split in the summer of 2007, believing they had achieved all they could in their current guise.[32]

Recordings

Singles

Confrontation Release Date :18 March 2006 Label: Dead Product Cat No: DP003 Tracklisting: A - Confrontation/AA- Bigger Than Life

Gaunt Release Date :30 April 2007 Label: Mother Tongue Cat No: MOTH18S Tracklisting: A - Gaunt/AA- Plan A [33]

Other Releases

Chase The Bull Release Date: June 2006 Album: Demo Label: N/a Cat No: N/a

Alpha* Release Date: 7 October 2006 Album: Digital Penetration Vol 1 Label: Alt Delete Cat No: altdel004 [34]

Celibate Man Release Date: 2007 Album: Label: Cat No:

Syntax* Release Date: 30 May 2007 Album: Across The Pennines II Label: Across The Pennines Cat No: ATP002 [35]

Where Cynics Prosper Release Date: March 2007 Album: Radio Promo Only Label: Mother Tongue Cat No: N/a

Letters & Colours also gave out free mp3s of unreleased material through their Myspace and mailing lists. These songs can be found throughout the internet.[36]

Alpha and Syntax also released as a radio promo under Dead Product (DP004)

After The Split

After the split Gerry produced material under the moniker of Horen , and Paul played drums with Penny Broadhurst and the Maffickers until early 2010.

In early 2011 Gerry was diagnosed with stomach cancer. This article where he talks about his experience of claiming DLA appeared in the Guardian.

It was with great sadness that on 23rd May 2012 Gerry became a fallen hero in the battle against cancer. He was admired and loved by all who met him. He was a true inspiration and proved that sometimes, just sometimes being a good guy isn't a bad thing.

RIP Gerry lost and loved but not forgotten by those who knew.

Notes

  1. ↑ the-plug.com - http://69.89.22.141/~sheffie2/forums/index.php?showtopic=647&pid=5826&mode=threaded&show=&st=&
  2. ↑ ManchesterMusic.co.uk - Single Review - http://music-dash.co.uk/releases/archiverelease.asp?item=2563
  3. ↑ A Certain Romance - November 2006 - http://www.acertainromance.com/archive/2006_11_01_acertainromance_archive.html
  4. ↑ High Voltage > Reviews > Demos > Letters & Colours > Demo 2005 - http://www.highvoltage.org.uk/displaydemoreview.asp?num=797&band=745
  5. ↑ Mixed Bag of Musical Goodies - http://res1999.blogspot.com/2006/08/mixed-bag-of-music-goodies.html
  6. ↑ Roughtrade - Letters and Colours Gaunt - http://www.roughtrade.com/site/shop_detail.lasso?search_type=sku&sku=281524&anchor=moth18s
  7. ↑ Letters & Colours - Chase The Bull - http://mp3hugger.com/2006/10/letters-colours-chase-bull.html
  8. ↑ Tasty Singles - February 2006 - http://www.tastyfanzine.org.uk/singles47%20feb06.htm#Letters%20and%20Colours%20-%20sampler%20CD
  9. ↑ MVine - Artist List - http://www.mvine.com/music/audience/artist_list.html
  10. ↑ MVine - Letters and Colours - http://www.mvine.com/music/biogs/2208.html
  11. ↑ Letters & Colours - http://exitfare.blogspot.com/2006/12/letters-colours.html
  12. ↑ Tasty Singles - March 2006 - http://www.tastyfanzine.org.uk/singles48%20mar06.htm#Letters%20and%20Colours%20-%20Confrontation/Bigger%20than%20Life%20(Dead%20Product)
  13. ↑ 'Topman / Raw Talent Stage' 'Mean Fiddler Carling Weekend Leeds 2006, Friday' - http://www.whisperinandhollerin.com/reviews/review.asp?id=4189
  14. ↑ Vanity Project - Issue 18 Singles Review - http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/vanityprojectfanzine/issue18singles.html&date=2009-10-25+23:52:28
  15. ↑ Parallax View - Paranoid Ramblings and Crazed Links - http://www.parallaxview.nu/labels/football.html
  16. ↑ Steel Tape Meets Shuffle - Letters & Colours/Sarah Main - http://www.the-plug.com/letters-colours-sarah-main-pacha-ibiza
  17. ↑ Club Fandango - Band Profile - http://www.clubfandango.co.uk/artist.php?id=1421
  18. ↑ Pink Grease / Kik / The Dodgems / Letters And Colours - http://www.sandmanmagazine.co.uk/oldsite/sheffield/reviews/022/reviews22.html
  19. ↑ the mag - Letters and Colours -Gaunt/Plan A - http://www.the-mag.me.uk/Articles/Letters-and-Colours-Gaunt-Plan-A/
  20. ↑ Gaunt/ Plan A, by Letters & Colours (7" on Mother Tongue) - http://www.normanrecords.com/records/89454
  21. ↑ Babble and Beat music Magazine - http://www.babbleandbeat.com/archives/september06.html
  22. ↑ Fever @ The Plug - http://www.dontstayin.com/uk/sheffield/plug-fka-zero/2006/apr/22/event-46499
  23. ↑ Carling Weekend 2006 - http://carlingfesty.com/date/2006/07/
  24. ↑ Festival Season's Here And We Can't Wait - http://www.bbc.co.uk/humber/content/articles/2007/01/09/rt2007_comingup_feature.shtml
  25. ↑ BBC Radio 1 Huw Stephens - http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/huwstephens/tracklistingarchive.shtml?070510
  26. ↑ Daily > Record Box - http://www.thebeatsurrender.co.uk/daily/recordbox/gaunt-plan-a-letters-colours/
  27. ↑ About Raw Talent - http://www.bbc.co.uk/humber/content/articles/2007/09/17/rtteam_feature.shtml
  28. ↑ RAW TALENT SESSIONS - http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2006/12/21/rt_audio_archive_2006_feature.shtml
  29. ↑ DIGITAL PENETRATION - http://www.alt-delete.co.uk/buydigitalpenetration.htm
  30. ↑ Mother Tongue - Home - http://indiestore.7digital.com/mothertongue/
  31. ↑ Steve Lamacq's In New Music We Trust - http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/innewmusicwetrust/stevelamacq/tracklistingarchive.shtml?20070521
  32. ↑ Thursday, August 2, 2007 - Letters and Colours Disband - One of England's best Indie Rock Collectives Shuts it Down - http://ryanssmashinglife.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html
  33. ↑ Gaunt/Plan A by Letters and Colours - http://www.cargorecords.co.uk/release/3998
  34. ↑ NME Review of Digital Penetration - http://www.alt-delete.co.uk/press/nme_twopagereview.jpg
  35. ↑ Across The Pennines II - http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=107571825&blogID=270301190
  36. ↑ Alternative Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/lettersandcolours

External links