Jim Noir
Encyclopedia
Jim Noir is the stage name of Alan Roberts, an English singer-songwriter from Davyhulme
, Manchester. Noir's stage moniker is in homage to Vic Reeves
, whose real name is Jim Moir. He has released two albums to date, 2005's Tower of Love
and 2008's self titled LP. Tower of Love and all of the preceding EPs
were self-recorded at Noir's parents' home in the suburb of Davyhulme in Manchester.
Noir's music has been described as psychedelic
pop electronica
with simplistic, often repetitive lyrics. Noir is a multi-instrumentalist, playing all the instruments on his work. However, he uses a band at performances.
He played at the 2006 and 2008 South by Southwest
music festival in Austin, Texas
and is currently signed to Seattle-based indie
label Barsuk Records
in the States
, and Manchester label My Dad Recordings
in the UK.
Noir released the single "My Patch" in the UK on 1 May 2006.
Jim Noir's second album, Jim Noir was released on 14 April 2008, and Noir announced via MySpace blog that his currently unnamed third album was complete as of 14 March 2009.
On 17 November 2010, Jim Noir released a new six-track EP titled Zooper Dooper.
Davyhulme
Davyhulme is a locality within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Lancashire, it is contiguous with the town of Urmston....
, Manchester. Noir's stage moniker is in homage to Vic Reeves
Vic Reeves
James Roderick Moir , better known by the stage name Vic Reeves, is an English comedian, best known for his double act with Bob Mortimer . He is known for his surreal and non sequitur sense of humour....
, whose real name is Jim Moir. He has released two albums to date, 2005's Tower of Love
Tower of Love
Tower of Love is the debut album by Manchester based multi-instrumentalist Jim Noir.-Track listing:UK release# "My Patch"# "I Me You I'm Your"# "Computer Song"# "How to Be So Real"# "Eanie Meany"# "Tower of Love"# "The Key of C"...
and 2008's self titled LP. Tower of Love and all of the preceding EPs
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
were self-recorded at Noir's parents' home in the suburb of Davyhulme in Manchester.
Noir's music has been described as psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
pop electronica
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...
with simplistic, often repetitive lyrics. Noir is a multi-instrumentalist, playing all the instruments on his work. However, he uses a band at performances.
He played at the 2006 and 2008 South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
music festival in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
and is currently signed to Seattle-based indie
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
label Barsuk Records
Barsuk Records
Barsuk Records is an independent record label based in Seattle, Washington, started and still managed by the members of the band This Busy Monster, Christopher Possanza and Josh Rosenfeld, who created the label in 1994 to release their band's material. Its logo is a drawing of a dog holding a...
in the States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and Manchester label My Dad Recordings
My Dad Recordings
My Dad Recordings is an independent record label based in Manchester, England.-Current artists:* Jack Cooper* Dear Eskimo* Jim Noir - licenced to Atlantic Records/ Warner Music UK...
in the UK.
Noir released the single "My Patch" in the UK on 1 May 2006.
Jim Noir's second album, Jim Noir was released on 14 April 2008, and Noir announced via MySpace blog that his currently unnamed third album was complete as of 14 March 2009.
On 17 November 2010, Jim Noir released a new six-track EP titled Zooper Dooper.
Commercial and pop-culture appearances
Several of Noir's songs have been featured on television programs or adapted for commercials.- On the TV series Grey's AnatomyGrey's AnatomyGrey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
, the song "I Me You I'm Your" was featured on episode "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and was also included on the Season 2 soundtrack. The show has also featured the songs "My Patch" and "Tell Me What to Do" in other episodes. - In 2006 AdidasAdidasAdidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
used a remixRemixA remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of "Eanie Meany" for their World Cup2006 FIFA World CupThe 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
advertising (Josè +10, second part). The song begins, "If you don't give my football back, I'm gonna get my dad on you." - Ginsters used "My Patch" for an ad campaign in the UK in 2006 and 2007.
- For the 2007 holiday season, Target featured a commercial in which an adaptation of Noir's song "My Patch" is playing while windows in a large Advent calendar open and close. The original lyrics, "If you ever step on my patch / I'll bring you down, I'll bring you down" were modified. In the commercial, A different singer sings "Holidays are times of magic / We're counting down, we're counting down".
- The BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
panel game The Unbelievable TruthThe Unbelievable TruthThe Unbelievable Truth is a BBC radio comedy panel game made by Random Entertainment, devised by Graeme Garden and Jon Naismith. It is very similar to the occasional I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue game "Lies, All Lies", which was first played in 1985...
uses the opening bars of 'My Patch' as its theme song. - 'My Patch' was used in a trailer for the PlayStation 3PlayStation 3The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
video game LittleBigPlanetLittleBigPlanetLittleBigPlanet, commonly abbreviated LBP, is a puzzle platformer video game, based on user-generated content, for the PlayStation 3 first announced on 7 March 2007, by Phil Harrison at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, California...
which was shown at the E3 games conference, and also as a main track in the full game. It can be heard in various levels. - On the TV Series Life, the song Don't You Worry was used on episode 218 and Happy Day Today was used on 208.
- 'Don't You Worry' was used in the movie The September IssueThe September IssueThe September Issue is a 2009 American documentary film about the behind-the-scenes drama that follows editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and her staff during the production of the September 2007 issue of American Vogue magazine. The film is directed by R.J. Cutler and produced by Eliza Hindmarch and...
Albums
- Tower of LoveTower of LoveTower of Love is the debut album by Manchester based multi-instrumentalist Jim Noir.-Track listing:UK release# "My Patch"# "I Me You I'm Your"# "Computer Song"# "How to Be So Real"# "Eanie Meany"# "Tower of Love"# "The Key of C"...
(12 December 2005) My Dad Recordings - Jim NoirJim Noir (album)Jim Noir is the self-titled second album by Manchester based multi-instrumentalist Jim Noir.-Track listing:Everything by Jim Noir.# "Welcome Commander Jameson" - 1:00# "All Right" - 4:22# "What U Gonna Do" - 2:56# "Don't You Worry" - 3:30...
(7 April 2008) My Dad Recordings - Zooper Dooper (16 November 2010)
Singles and EPs
- Eanie Meany EP (2004)
- My Patch EP (2005)
- A Quiet Man EP (2005)
- The Key of C (2006)
- My Patch (re-issue) (2006) No.65 UK
- Eanie Meany (re-issue) (2006) No.67 UK
- All Right EP (2007)
- What U Gonna Do (2008)
Noir Club releases
Every month, a new EP or demo album is given away for free through the official Jim Noir newsletter Noir Club.- Melody Junction (December 2010)
- Super Hooper Dookie Bay by The Dook (January 2011)
- Early Learnings 98 - 05 Part I (February 2011)
- Early Learnings 98 - 05 Part II (March 2011)
- Early Learnings 98 - 05 Part III (April 2011)
- Pieces of Bob (May 2011)
- Rainbuns and Blank Ends (June 2011)
- Special Features Of A Camel (July 2011)
- The Cheese of Jims Command (August 2011)
- Intermission (September 2011)
- Timepiece (October 2011)
- Light End At The (November 2011)