Ectogram
Encyclopedia
Ectogram are a Welsh
band from Bangor
, United Kingdom
.
Ann Matthews and Alan Holmes
were previously members of Welsh language
post-punk
band Fflaps
between 1987–1993, touring Europe, releasing three LPs and recording two John Peel Sessions during that time. When the band's drummer Jonny Evans
left, they recruited old friend Maeyc Hewitt and morphed into the quite different sounding Ectogram.
The band initially recorded two singles for the small Welsh independent label Atol, before being signed to the more well-known Ankst
label, for who they recorded an album and two EPs. When that label dissolved in 1998, Ectogram stayed with Ankstmusik
, the label set up by one of the former Ankst
partners, for who they work with to this day.
Their music combines conventional rock elements such as repetitive rhythms and vocal melody with atonal discord
and improvisation
. Their style has been influenced by bands such as Sonic Youth
, Faust
, Pere Ubu
, My Bloody Valentine and Acid Mothers Temple
.
All three members of Ectogram were also members of the Experimental rock
supergroup
The Serpents, who released an album on the Ochre label in 1999.
During 2005, Ectogram played a series of gigs with legendary krautrock
group Faust
, at times joining them on stage for a collaborative performance.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
band from Bangor
Bangor, Gwynedd
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
, United Kingdom
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...
.
Ann Matthews and Alan Holmes
Alan Holmes
Alan Holmes is a musician, artist and record producer, based in north Wales.Although he began his musical career in the late 1960s in childhood beat group The Insects, he first came to prominence in The Zuggs , followed by A Silly Tree, the latter including Gary Stubbs, later of Cut Tunes with whom...
were previously members of Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
band Fflaps
Fflaps
Fflaps was a Welsh post-punk group in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The band was composed of vocalist and guitarist Ann Matthews, bassist Alan Holmes and drummer Jonny Evans. Between their formation in 1987 and split in 1992, they released 3 LPs and an EP, recorded 2 Peel Sessions and toured...
between 1987–1993, touring Europe, releasing three LPs and recording two John Peel Sessions during that time. When the band's drummer Jonny Evans
Jonny Evans
Jonathan Grant "Jonny" Evans is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a defender for Manchester United and Northern Ireland. Evans was born in Belfast and started his career at Greenisland FC, where he was spotted by Manchester United scouts. He progressed through Manchester United's football...
left, they recruited old friend Maeyc Hewitt and morphed into the quite different sounding Ectogram.
The band initially recorded two singles for the small Welsh independent label Atol, before being signed to the more well-known Ankst
Ankst
Ankst was a Welsh independent record label formed in 1988 at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth by Alun Llwyd, Gruffudd Jones and Emyr Glyn Williams...
label, for who they recorded an album and two EPs. When that label dissolved in 1998, Ectogram stayed with Ankstmusik
Ankstmusik
Ankstmusik is a Welsh independent record label formed in 1997 by Emyr Glyn Williams following the dissolution of the Ankst label. Relocating from Cardiff to Pentraeth on Anglesey, Ankstmusik continued pretty much where Ankst left off, releasing material by such bands as Llwybr Llaethog, Datblygu,...
, the label set up by one of the former Ankst
Ankst
Ankst was a Welsh independent record label formed in 1988 at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth by Alun Llwyd, Gruffudd Jones and Emyr Glyn Williams...
partners, for who they work with to this day.
Their music combines conventional rock elements such as repetitive rhythms and vocal melody with atonal discord
Atonality
Atonality in its broadest sense describes music that lacks a tonal center, or key. Atonality in this sense usually describes compositions written from about 1908 to the present day where a hierarchy of pitches focusing on a single, central tone is not used, and the notes of the chromatic scale...
and improvisation
Musical improvisation
Musical improvisation is the creative activity of immediate musical composition, which combines performance with communication of emotions and instrumental technique as well as spontaneous response to other musicians...
. Their style has been influenced by bands such as Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
, Faust
Faust (band)
Faust are a German krautrock band. Formed in 1971 in Wümme, the group was originally composed of Werner "Zappi" Diermaier, Hans Joachim Irmler, Arnulf Meifert, Jean-Hervé Péron, Rudolf Sosna and Gunther Wüsthoff, working with record producer Uwe Nettelbeck and engineer Kurt Graupner.-History:Faust...
, Pere Ubu
Pere Ubu (band)
Pere Ubu is an experimental rock music group formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975. Despite many long-term band members, singer David Thomas is the only constant...
, My Bloody Valentine and Acid Mothers Temple
Acid Mothers Temple
Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. is a Japanese psychedelic band, the core of which formed in 1995. The band is led by guitarist Kawabata Makoto and early in their career featured many musicians, but by 2004 the line-up had coalesced with only a few core members and frequent guest...
.
All three members of Ectogram were also members of the Experimental rock
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
The Serpents, who released an album on the Ochre label in 1999.
During 2005, Ectogram played a series of gigs with legendary krautrock
Krautrock
Krautrock is a generic name for the experimental music scenes that appeared in Germany in the late 1960s and gained popularity throughout the 1970s, especially in Britain. The term is a result of the English-speaking world's reception of the music at the time and not a reference to any one...
group Faust
Faust (band)
Faust are a German krautrock band. Formed in 1971 in Wümme, the group was originally composed of Werner "Zappi" Diermaier, Hans Joachim Irmler, Arnulf Meifert, Jean-Hervé Péron, Rudolf Sosna and Gunther Wüsthoff, working with record producer Uwe Nettelbeck and engineer Kurt Graupner.-History:Faust...
, at times joining them on stage for a collaborative performance.
Studio albums
- 1996 I Can't Believe it's not Reggae! - (AnkstAnkstAnkst was a Welsh independent record label formed in 1988 at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth by Alun Llwyd, Gruffudd Jones and Emyr Glyn Williams...
) - 2000 All Behind the Witchtower - (AnkstmusikAnkstmusikAnkstmusik is a Welsh independent record label formed in 1997 by Emyr Glyn Williams following the dissolution of the Ankst label. Relocating from Cardiff to Pentraeth on Anglesey, Ankstmusik continued pretty much where Ankst left off, releasing material by such bands as Llwybr Llaethog, Datblygu,...
) - 2002 Tall Things Falling - (AnkstmusikAnkstmusikAnkstmusik is a Welsh independent record label formed in 1997 by Emyr Glyn Williams following the dissolution of the Ankst label. Relocating from Cardiff to Pentraeth on Anglesey, Ankstmusik continued pretty much where Ankst left off, releasing material by such bands as Llwybr Llaethog, Datblygu,...
) - 2005 Electric Deckchair - (AnkstmusikAnkstmusikAnkstmusik is a Welsh independent record label formed in 1997 by Emyr Glyn Williams following the dissolution of the Ankst label. Relocating from Cardiff to Pentraeth on Anglesey, Ankstmusik continued pretty much where Ankst left off, releasing material by such bands as Llwybr Llaethog, Datblygu,...
) - 2006 Concentric Neckwear - (Pure Pop For Now People)
- 2007 Fluff on a Faraway Hill - (Klangbad)
Singles & EPs
- 1994 Spio Trwy Tylla - (Atol)
- 1995 Mary - (Atol)
- 1995 Spoonicon EP - (AnkstAnkstAnkst was a Welsh independent record label formed in 1988 at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth by Alun Llwyd, Gruffudd Jones and Emyr Glyn Williams...
) - 1997 Eliot's Violet Hour - (AnkstAnkstAnkst was a Welsh independent record label formed in 1988 at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth by Alun Llwyd, Gruffudd Jones and Emyr Glyn Williams...
) - 1998 Spitsbergen - (Ochre)
- 1999 Evanescence - (Ochre)
- 2006 Y Lleill EP - (AnkstmusikAnkstmusikAnkstmusik is a Welsh independent record label formed in 1997 by Emyr Glyn Williams following the dissolution of the Ankst label. Relocating from Cardiff to Pentraeth on Anglesey, Ankstmusik continued pretty much where Ankst left off, releasing material by such bands as Llwybr Llaethog, Datblygu,...
)
Split Releases
- 1998 Stolen Ecstasy - (with Flowchart) (100 Guitar Mania)
- 1998 Spitsbergen Part 4 - (with The Land of NodThe Land of Nod (band)The Land of Nod are a space rock/post-rock duo from Cheltenham, England, comprising guitarist Ant Walker and bass guitarist Dave Battersby.-History:...
) (Ochre) - 2001 Füxa vs. Ectogram - (with FüxaFüxaFüxa was a space rock duo, consisting of Detroit musicians Ryan Anderson and Randall Nieman . Füxa was created in 1994 and their music has been described as psychedelic and experimental...
) (Ochre)
Compilation Appearances
- 1995 S4C Makes Me Want to Smoke Crack - (Atol)
- 1995 Triskadekaphilia - (AnkstAnkstAnkst was a Welsh independent record label formed in 1988 at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth by Alun Llwyd, Gruffudd Jones and Emyr Glyn Williams...
) - 1996 Plan Boom - (What’s That Noise)
- 1997 Angels With Big Wings - (AnkstAnkstAnkst was a Welsh independent record label formed in 1988 at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth by Alun Llwyd, Gruffudd Jones and Emyr Glyn Williams...
) - 1999 Floralia Vol 3 - (Wot 4)
- 1999 Croeso 99 - (AnkstmusikAnkstmusikAnkstmusik is a Welsh independent record label formed in 1997 by Emyr Glyn Williams following the dissolution of the Ankst label. Relocating from Cardiff to Pentraeth on Anglesey, Ankstmusik continued pretty much where Ankst left off, releasing material by such bands as Llwybr Llaethog, Datblygu,...
) - 1999 Through the Square Window - (Blue Flea)
- 2000 Yr Agog - (Oggum)
- 2001 The Stooges - (Snowdonia)
- 2003 Radio Crymi Playlist Vol. 1 (1988-1998) - (AnkstmusikAnkstmusikAnkstmusik is a Welsh independent record label formed in 1997 by Emyr Glyn Williams following the dissolution of the Ankst label. Relocating from Cardiff to Pentraeth on Anglesey, Ankstmusik continued pretty much where Ankst left off, releasing material by such bands as Llwybr Llaethog, Datblygu,...
)
Film
- Ectogram recorded the soundtrack for Emyr Glyn Williams's feature film Y Lleill, which won the Bafta for best film at the 2004 Bafta Wales awards. The film was also shown at the ICAInstitute of Contemporary ArtsThe Institute of Contemporary Arts is an artistic and cultural centre on The Mall in London, just off Trafalgar Square. It is located within Nash House, part of Carlton House Terrace, near the Duke of York Steps and Admiralty Arch...
.