Looper
Encyclopedia
Looper are a Scottish indie-pop band, fronted by Stuart David
, former Belle and Sebastian bassist.
The band formed in 1998 for a show at the Glasgow School of Art
and released their first single "Impossible Things" on the Subpop label a few months later.
Originally consisting of Stuart and his wife, Karn (who was mainly responsible for visual elements in the live shows, such as video projections, super 8
films, kinetic sculptures and photographic projections), they soon became a fully fledged band, adding Ronnie Black (guitarist) and Scott Twynholm (keyboards) to their lineup.
Their first album
, Up a Tree, was released in 1999 on the Sub Pop
label in the U.S. and by Jeepster Records
in the rest of the world. It was followed in 2000 by The Geometrid
on the same labels. After touring the U.S. for three months with The Flaming Lips
in 2000 they signed to Mute Records
for five albums. They recorded and released one, The Snare, and then walked away from Mute, shocked by the conservative approach of the once cutting-edge label, which sold itself to EMI
during Looper's tenure.
Since then, Looper have been releasing their music free to the public at their Looperama website, funding this experiment by licensing the use of their songs in high-profile Hollywood films and ad campaigns, including the film Vanilla Sky
and a Xerox
advertising campaign. Other films their songs have appeared in include The Edukators
, The Girl Next Door, Out Cold
, and Dog Park
.
Their most recognizable song is "Mondo '77" from their second album, The Geometrid. It has been featured in American television commercials for Xerox and Partnership for a Drug-Free America
, in numerous films including Vanilla Sky and The Edukators, and on the American Dad episode "All About Steve". Another track from that album, "My Robot", is featured in the film The Girl Next Door. These two songs are also featured in the Xbox
video game Project Gotham Racing
. The song "Burning Flies", from the album Up a Tree, is part of the soundtrack to the Mission Hill
episode "Stories of Hope and Forgiveness".
Stuart David
Stuart David is a Scottish musician, who formerly was a bassist with Belle & Sebastian and then went on to front Looper . He is the author of the novels Nalda Said and The Peacock Manifesto published by I.M.P. Fiction in 1999 and 2001...
, former Belle and Sebastian bassist.
The band formed in 1998 for a show at the Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art is one of only two independent art schools in Scotland, situated in the Garnethill area of Glasgow.-History:It was founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Government School of Design. In 1853, it changed its name to The Glasgow School of Art. Initially it was located at 12 Ingram...
and released their first single "Impossible Things" on the Subpop label a few months later.
Originally consisting of Stuart and his wife, Karn (who was mainly responsible for visual elements in the live shows, such as video projections, super 8
Super 8 mm film
Super 8 mm film is a motion picture film format released in 1965 by Eastman Kodak as an improvement of the older "Double" or "Regular" 8 mm home movie format....
films, kinetic sculptures and photographic projections), they soon became a fully fledged band, adding Ronnie Black (guitarist) and Scott Twynholm (keyboards) to their lineup.
Their first album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Up a Tree, was released in 1999 on the Sub Pop
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
label in the U.S. and by Jeepster Records
Jeepster Records
Jeepster Records is a London, England-based independent record label which is currently the home of bands Parka and SixNationState. The label is noted for having been the home of critically acclaimed artists Belle and Sebastian and Snow Patrol....
in the rest of the world. It was followed in 2000 by The Geometrid
The Geometrid
The Geometrid is the second album from the Scottish group Looper. It was released on Jeepster Records in Europe, and on Sub Pop in the US and Canada...
on the same labels. After touring the U.S. for three months with The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
in 2000 they signed to Mute Records
Mute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
for five albums. They recorded and released one, The Snare, and then walked away from Mute, shocked by the conservative approach of the once cutting-edge label, which sold itself to EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
during Looper's tenure.
Since then, Looper have been releasing their music free to the public at their Looperama website, funding this experiment by licensing the use of their songs in high-profile Hollywood films and ad campaigns, including the film Vanilla Sky
Vanilla Sky
Vanilla Sky is a 2001 American psychological thriller film directed, co-produced and co-written by Cameron Crowe. The film is an English-language remake of the 1997 Spanish movie Abre los ojos , the screenplay for which was written by Alejandro Amenábar and Mateo Gil...
and a Xerox
Xerox
Xerox Corporation is an American multinational document management corporation that produced and sells a range of color and black-and-white printers, multifunction systems, photo copiers, digital production printing presses, and related consulting services and supplies...
advertising campaign. Other films their songs have appeared in include The Edukators
The Edukators
The Edukators is a German-Austrian film made by the Austrian director Hans Weingartner and released in 2004. Nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, it stars Daniel Brühl, Stipe Erceg and Julia Jentsch....
, The Girl Next Door, Out Cold
Out Cold (2001 film)
Out Cold is a 2001 American comedy film about a group of snowboarders in Alaska. It is the first feature film by the music video directing team The Malloys. The movie presents itself as something of a parody of 1980's "ski school" movies and makes a number of references to the film Casablanca...
, and Dog Park
Dog park
A dog park is a facility set aside for dogs to exercise and play off-leash in a controlled environment under the supervision of their owners...
.
Their most recognizable song is "Mondo '77" from their second album, The Geometrid. It has been featured in American television commercials for Xerox and Partnership for a Drug-Free America
Partnership for a Drug-Free America
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is a non-profit organization that helps parents prevent, intervene in and find treatment for drug and alcohol use by their children...
, in numerous films including Vanilla Sky and The Edukators, and on the American Dad episode "All About Steve". Another track from that album, "My Robot", is featured in the film The Girl Next Door. These two songs are also featured in the Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
video game Project Gotham Racing
Project Gotham Racing
Project Gotham Racing is a racing game, the first in its series, developed by Bizarre Creations and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox gaming console, and released on 9th November 2001 in North America, and 14th March 2002 in Europe.The first title in the franchise, Project Gotham...
. The song "Burning Flies", from the album Up a Tree, is part of the soundtrack to the Mission Hill
Mission Hill
Mission Hill is an American animated television series that first aired on The WB in 1999. Although 18 episodes were planned, only 13 episodes were produced. The show was put on hiatus by the WB Network after two episodes due to poor ratings. It returned to the WB in the summer of 2000 but was...
episode "Stories of Hope and Forgiveness".
Discography
- Up a Tree (1999)
- The GeometridThe GeometridThe Geometrid is the second album from the Scottish group Looper. It was released on Jeepster Records in Europe, and on Sub Pop in the US and Canada...
(2000) - The Snare (2002)