Bent (band)
Encyclopedia
Bent are an electronica
act from Nottingham
in England
, consisting of Neil "Nail" Tolliday and Simon Mills. They gained critical acclaim from their debut album Programmed to Love
in 2000.
The duo were initially noted for their ability to create their own mischievous style of recordings by sampling their private record collections (which they have themselves referred to as "dodgy"). On the 2003 single "Magic Love" they sampled a Toni Tennille
performance. With the release of 2004's Ariels
, Bent took a sharp turn into live-based recording using predominantly original material. 2006's Intercept!
saw the duo taking a step back into the style reminiscent of the first two albums, although adding a more disco
esque touch. Their prankster-ish reputation is reprised with the track "Stay Out All Night", in which the sole lyric (repeated twice) is "People who are afraid of the dark send their children to bed and stay out all night".
commercial that aired in 2003 and was also in a commercial of the Dutch Railways (NS) in 2006, Both songs are from the album "Programmed to Love
". The song "Silent Life" off the album "Ariels
" was featured in a Coca-Cola
commercial that aired in 2006.
The song "As you fall" was used in an advert for the UK Conservative party in the run up to the 2005 general election.
In television, the song "Beautiful Otherness" was used in Keen Eddie
.
"Thick Ear" from The Everlasting Blink was used in a TV campaign for Tax Credits, with a voice over by Jenny Eclair. It has also been used by digital radio station BBC7 on some of its trails (2008)
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
act from Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, consisting of Neil "Nail" Tolliday and Simon Mills. They gained critical acclaim from their debut album Programmed to Love
Programmed to Love
Programmed to Love is the debut album from the electronica chillout duo Bent, released in 2000. The album contains various styles of electronica music and samples.-Release:The album was released in several versions...
in 2000.
The duo were initially noted for their ability to create their own mischievous style of recordings by sampling their private record collections (which they have themselves referred to as "dodgy"). On the 2003 single "Magic Love" they sampled a Toni Tennille
Toni Tennille
Cathryn Antoinette "Toni" Tennille is one-half of the 1970s Grammy Award-winning duo Captain & Tennille. Tennille has also done musical work independently of her husband Daryl Dragon. Tennille has a contralto vocal range.-Biography:...
performance. With the release of 2004's Ariels
Ariels
Ariels is the third studio album from the electronica band Bent, released October 12, 2004 through Open/Ministry of Sound. There is a stronger element of acoustic instruments present on the album than the previous releases, and the earlier extensive use of samples has been toned down.-Track...
, Bent took a sharp turn into live-based recording using predominantly original material. 2006's Intercept!
Intercept!
Intercept! is the fourth studio album from the electronica duo Bent. The track Leavin' Me contains a sample of Anne Murray's song Bidin' My Time from her album This Way Is My Way/Honey Wheat.-Track listing:#"Exercise 7" – 4:44...
saw the duo taking a step back into the style reminiscent of the first two albums, although adding a more disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
esque touch. Their prankster-ish reputation is reprised with the track "Stay Out All Night", in which the sole lyric (repeated twice) is "People who are afraid of the dark send their children to bed and stay out all night".
Use in advertising
The song "Private Road" was used in the 2001 Carlsberg "Bank" commercial. "Invisible Pedestrian" was featured in an Absolut VodkaAbsolut Vodka
Absolut Vodka is a brand of vodka, produced near Åhus, Skåne, in southern Sweden. Since July 2008 the company has been owned by the French firm Pernod Ricard who bought V&S Group from the Swedish government....
commercial that aired in 2003 and was also in a commercial of the Dutch Railways (NS) in 2006, Both songs are from the album "Programmed to Love
Programmed to Love
Programmed to Love is the debut album from the electronica chillout duo Bent, released in 2000. The album contains various styles of electronica music and samples.-Release:The album was released in several versions...
". The song "Silent Life" off the album "Ariels
Ariels
Ariels is the third studio album from the electronica band Bent, released October 12, 2004 through Open/Ministry of Sound. There is a stronger element of acoustic instruments present on the album than the previous releases, and the earlier extensive use of samples has been toned down.-Track...
" was featured in a Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
commercial that aired in 2006.
The song "As you fall" was used in an advert for the UK Conservative party in the run up to the 2005 general election.
In television, the song "Beautiful Otherness" was used in Keen Eddie
Keen Eddie
Keen Eddie is an American action, comedy-drama television series that aired in 2003 on the Fox Network. The series follows a brash NYPD detective who goes to London when one of his cases goes sour and remains to work with New Scotland Yard...
.
"Thick Ear" from The Everlasting Blink was used in a TV campaign for Tax Credits, with a voice over by Jenny Eclair. It has also been used by digital radio station BBC7 on some of its trails (2008)
Studio albums
- Programmed to LoveProgrammed to LoveProgrammed to Love is the debut album from the electronica chillout duo Bent, released in 2000. The album contains various styles of electronica music and samples.-Release:The album was released in several versions...
(2000) - The Everlasting BlinkThe Everlasting BlinkThe Everlasting Blink is the second album from the electronica chillout duo Bent. It takes a somewhat more ambient direction from its precursor, Programmed to Love....
(2003) - ArielsArielsAriels is the third studio album from the electronica band Bent, released October 12, 2004 through Open/Ministry of Sound. There is a stronger element of acoustic instruments present on the album than the previous releases, and the earlier extensive use of samples has been toned down.-Track...
(2004) - Intercept!Intercept!Intercept! is the fourth studio album from the electronica duo Bent. The track Leavin' Me contains a sample of Anne Murray's song Bidin' My Time from her album This Way Is My Way/Honey Wheat.-Track listing:#"Exercise 7" – 4:44...
(2006) - Best Of Bent (2009) (containing 7 previously unreleased songs)
Other projects
- Music For Barbecues (2000)
- Downloaded for Love (2002)
- Fabric Live 11 (DJ Mix Album)Fabric Live 11FabricLive.11 is a DJ mix compilation album by Bent, as part of the FabricLive Mix Series.-Track listing:# Intro 0:45# Giorgio Moroder - From Here To Eternity - Universal 5:05# Metro Area - Caught Up - Environ 3:06...
(2003) - Flavour Country EP (2004)
- Later (DJ Mix album) (2005)
- The Art Of Chill 5 - Mixed by Bent 2CD (2008)