Asphalt Ribbons
Encyclopedia
Asphalt Ribbons were a UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 band that formed in Nottingham in 1987.

The original line-up was Stuart Staples, Gaynor Backhouse, Gary Watt and Rob Howard. Dave Boulter (organ and accordion) replaced Rob Howard in 1989 and Will Carless (drums) also joined in 1989, just before they released their first EP, "The Orchard", on the In-Tape label. Tracks on the Orchard were Over Again, Red Sauce, Greyhound and I used to live there. In-Tape also released a radio promo copy of Over Again in 1989.

Sounds magazine listed them as a 'name for 1990' and in the same week Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...

 was touting them as "the first new band of this year to make the indie/mainstream crossover".

During the course of 1990, Asphalt Ribbons became a six-piece, acquiring Craig Chettle (guitar). They also recorded "Good Love", their second EP for In-Tape, which was produced by Jon Langford
Jon Langford
Jon Langford born October 11, 1957, Newport, Monmouthshire is a Welsh-born musician and artist who is presently based in Chicago. He is the younger brother of science-fiction author and critic David Langford...

. The artwork for both EPs was by Wolfgang Buttress.

In 1991 the band relocated to London and shifted position again, this time to the pre-Tindersticks
Tindersticks
Tindersticks are an Indie rock band from Nottingham, England formed in 1991. They released six albums before singer Stuart A. Staples took on a solo career. The band reunited briefly in 2006, but more permanently the following year...

line-up featuring Stuart Staples (vocals), David Boulter (organ and accordion), Neil Fraser (guitar), Dickon Hinchliffe (guitar and strings), Al Macaulay (percussion and drums) and John Thompson (bass). They recorded "Tiger Lily" (1991), "Passion, Coolness, Indifference ..." (1991) and "Old Horse" (1991) for Rough Trade.

Mark Colwill replaced John Thomson in the last days before Asphalt Ribbons became Tindersticks. Mark was recruited when John left but it is not sure if he played any gigs under the Asphalt Ribbons name.
They then changed their name to Tindersticks after Stuart discovered a box of German matches on a Greek beach.

Their sound is more country influenced than Tindersticks, but already features the distinctive vocals of Stuart Staples.
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