Luxembourg (band)
| luxembourg | |
|---|---|
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From left to right: Alex Potterill, David Barnett, Steve Brummell, David Shah, Rob Britton | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Pop noir, Indie, Pop |
| Years active | 2001–2008 |
| Labels | Dogbox Records |
| Past members |
David Shah Alex Potterill Rob Britton Steve Brummell Dan Cowling Andrew 'Bash' Bashford Jon Bacon David Barnett |
Luxembourg were a British five-piece indie band. For most of their life, the lineup consisted of David Shah (lead singer), Rob Britton (guitar), Alex Potterill (keyboards), Jon Bacon (bass) and Steve Brummell (drums). Bassist Jon left the band at the end of 2006 and was replaced by David Barnett. Luxembourg were most often compared to artists like Pulp, The Smiths and Roxy Music and sometimes described as "pop noir".
They released most of their music through their own record label Dogbox Records.
2001 - 2008
Born from the band Grosvenor, Luxembourg formed in 2001 and began playing around London. During their early years they issued a number of demo EPs.
They were featured on the first two compilations put out by the Angular Recording Corporation - The New Cross and Rip Off Your Labels - alongside artists such as Bloc Party, Art Brut and The Long Blondes. This provoked mentions in publications such as the NME.
Their debut single proper, "What The Housewives Don't Tell You", was released in September 2004, featuring B-sides "Close-Cropped" and "Pin Me Down". The release failed to break through to the mainstream, although "Close-Cropped" did receive an airing from Radio One's Steve Lamacq.
In December 2004, the band released Best Kept Secret, a 14-track compilation featuring tracks from the now deleted demo EPs alongside live recordings and electro reworkings. The album (described as "Not Our Debut Album" on the CD artwork) received 3.5 out of 5 from indie journalism legend Simon Price in the Independent On Sunday.
"Luxembourg vs Great Britain" was the next single, released in November 2005, with B-sides "The Exhibitionist" and "About Time". All three songs were produced by Darren Allison, previously involved with artists such as The Divine Comedy.
Following the single release, the band went into the studio with producer Brian O'Shaughnessy, to record their debut album.
"We Only Stayed Together For The Kids" was released as a single in June 2006, with B-side "A Secret Public". It was the band's first vinyl release, and received exceptional reviews in some quarters, including publications that had previously spurned the band such as Artrocker.
Luxembourg finally issued their debut album Front in late October 2006.
Bassist Jon Bacon left the band after their gig on 16 December 2006, for family reasons.
The band named Jon's replacement as David Barnett, previously of The Boyfriends, on 12 March 2007.
The first gig with the new line-up occurred under the pseudonym The Exhibitionists on 29 March 2007, showcasing a large number of new songs.
As well as playing frequent London gigs throughout 2007, the band ran an online fan club called The Bourglar, giving fans access to unreleased recordings, photos, exclusive interviews and other features. Following the band's split, this content is currently unavailable.
Luxembourg split in early 2008, citing "musical differences". At the same time, they made available an uncompleted album, Last Holiday Before Divorce, free to download at Last.fm, featuring demos of the songs which might have comprised the second studio album alongside an unreleased single, "Kick Me" / "Not Quite Right/Not Quite Not Right".
Post-split activity
David Shah continues to pursue his solo project The Melting Ice Caps, sometimes collaborating with Alex Potterill and Aug Stone. Meanwhile, David and Aug co-write and record as The Soft Close-Ups.
Alex Potterill now fronts glam/indie pop band Jonny Cola & The A-Grades.
Rob Britton released a solo album entitled 'Found Wanting' for free download on Last.fm in January 2009. He also played bass in David Barnett's now retired punk outfit The New Royal Family. In August 2009, Britton replaced Matthew Curtis as guitarist and male vocalist in now defunct London octet Brontosaurus Chorus. He is currently mostly the bass player in David and the Barnettes.
Steve Brummell runs a website devoted to band photography called A Secret Picnic and has been coaxed out of retirement to drum for Piney Gir, Rebecca Jade and the live Melting Ice Caps band.
David Barnett is the mastermind behind The New Royal Family, The Famous Cocks and David and the Barnettes. He is also a regular member of Keith Top of the Pops and His UK Minor Indie Celebrity All-Star Backing Band and plays bass for The Melting Ice Caps.
Discography
Singles
- What The Housewives Don't Tell You, September 2004, Dogbox Records (BOX1)
- Luxembourg vs Great Britain, November 2005, Dogbox Records (BOX5)
- We Only Stayed Together For The Kids, June 2006, Dogbox Records (BOX11)
- Sick of DIY, October 2006, Dogbox Records (BOX15)
Albums
- Front, October 2006, Dogbox Records (BOX16)
- Last Holiday Before Divorce, May 2008/
Compilations
- Best Kept Secret - Demos & Rarities 2001-2004, December 2004, Dogbox Records (BOX2)
Appearances on Compilations
- "Making Progress" on The New Cross: An Angular Sampler, November 2003, Angular Recording Corporation (ARC002)
- "Let Us Have It" on Rip Off Your Labels: More Angular Product, June 2004, Angular Recording Corporation (ARC004)
- "Not My Number" on Blue Skies Up: Welcome To The New Pop Revolution, May 2006, Dogbox Records (BOX8)
- "Kick Me" on Doing It For The Kids 08, May 2008.
Live appearances outside London
Despite being best known in London, where they played most of their gigs, Luxembourg also performed in:
Brighton (twice), Sheffield (twice), Liverpool (at the Liverpool Mathew Street Music Festival), Cardiff, Oxford, Reading, Cambridge (Downing College Ball), Norwich, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (twice), Glasgow (twice), Edinburgh, Tunbridge Wells and Paris.