Piano Magic
Encyclopedia
Piano Magic is a musical collective
formed in the summer of 1996 by Glen Johnson, Dominic Chennell, and Dick Rance in London
, England
. Their sound has been described as ambient pop, post-rock
, indietronica, coldwave, dark wave and ghostrock. While the most recent releases have seen them operating with a traditional band format, they originally started their career with the intention to base their recordings around their small nucleus and whoever else would like to contribute. Glen Johnson is the only remaining band member from the original trio.
Originally reluctant to perform live, they gave way to label pressure when their first single proved popular on BBC Radio 1 John Peel
show and was awarded Single of the Week in Melody Maker. While recruiting Paul Tornbohm to play drums at these gigs, they pointedly refused to play or sound like any of their released material.
Popular Mechanics
appeared on i/Ché in 1997, a debut album which the press variously described as "ethereal electro pop atmospheric soundscapes" or "simply delighting in... making silly noises" and which the band thought of as "Small Beat, pre-chip... radiophonics". It included vocals by Hazel Burfitt and Raechel Leigh but, with Rance having quit the band, combined two previous single releases with a set of new recordings by Johnson and Chennell.
The duo then briefly recruited American music students, Alexander Perls, Jen Adam and Ezra Feinberg to complete the band, though Chennell too had departed by the time of the second album release Low Birth Weight
in 1998, a record described as "dreamy, trance and organic psychedelia". It introduced the vocals of Caroline Potter who would sing on one further album.
with John A Rivers (producer of Dead Can Dance
and Felt) and showcased its guitar based sound, "a mixture of chiming guitars and processional rhythms", at the Benicassim and BAM music festivals. By now, Piano Magic was proving more popular abroad than in their homeland and the next few years' activity included mainly European tours.
The band, now minus Cheves, signed to 4AD Records in 2000 and released the soundtrack for Spanish director, Bigas Luna
s' Son de Mar
movie in 2001 described as "ethereal, delayed guitar lines... accompanied by various ambient sounds".
Jerome Tcherneyan then replaced Miguel Marin on drums and the second and last album with 4AD, 'Writers Without Homes' in 2002, was released with mixed press reaction; "exquisite, if a touch diffident" and "confused, unfocused, fragile." Its myriad guest artists imported talents from Cocteau Twins
, The Czars
, Tarwater
, Life Without Buildings
and Tram
. It also featured the first vocal recording for thirty-three years of lost '60s/'70s folk heroine, Vashti Bunyan
.
With the addition of Franck Alba and Alasdair Steer, 'The Troubled Sleep Of Piano Magic' was released in 2003 on the Green Ufos label soliciting comparisons with This Mortal Coil and Durutti Column.
of The Czars and Angèle David-Guillou of Klima
. It appeared to confirm a return to their 'exile' status gaining significant attention abroad (including, for example, full feature in the French daily Liberation) but with no coverage at all in any UK broadsheet or music magazine.
The album Part Monster was released in 2007 produced by Guy Fixsen of Laika
.
In 2008, Piano Magic moved to Make Mine Music, an artist-run, artist-owned label collective and released a new EP, Dark Horses, the last release to feature Cedric Pin.
In 2009, Piano Magic released their 10th official album Ovations with contributions by Brendan Perry and Peter Ulrich of Dead Can Dance
.
The band's current line-up is Franck Alba, Glen Johnson, Angèle David-Guillou, Alasdair Steer and Jerome Tcherneyan.
Cedric Pin and Glen Johnson have recorded as 'Future Conditional'. Glen Johnson has recorded as 'Textile Ranch'. Dominic Chennell has recorded as 'Dominic de Nebo' and with the group 'Carphology Collective'.
Musical collective
Musical collective is a phrase used to describe a group of musicians in which membership is flexible and creative control is shared. Such entities have transitioned from the traditional hierarchical configuration that features either a frontman , or a plurality of band members in tension for...
formed in the summer of 1996 by Glen Johnson, Dominic Chennell, and Dick Rance in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 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...
. Their sound has been described as ambient pop, post-rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
, indietronica, coldwave, dark wave and ghostrock. While the most recent releases have seen them operating with a traditional band format, they originally started their career with the intention to base their recordings around their small nucleus and whoever else would like to contribute. Glen Johnson is the only remaining band member from the original trio.
Formation and early years: 1996–1998
Piano Magic was formed in the summer of 1996 by Glen Johnson, Dominic Chennell, and Dick Rance in London, England, as a 'bedroom-studio' project with the intention to base their recordings around their small nucleus and whoever else would like to contribute.Originally reluctant to perform live, they gave way to label pressure when their first single proved popular on BBC Radio 1 John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
show and was awarded Single of the Week in Melody Maker. While recruiting Paul Tornbohm to play drums at these gigs, they pointedly refused to play or sound like any of their released material.
Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics (album)
Popular Mechanics is the debut album by Piano Magic, originally released in 1997 on i/Che records.It was recorded at home in North London on 4 and 8 track c46 cassette machines by founding members Glen Johnson and Dominic Chennell with contributions from passing friends...
appeared on i/Ché in 1997, a debut album which the press variously described as "ethereal electro pop atmospheric soundscapes" or "simply delighting in... making silly noises" and which the band thought of as "Small Beat, pre-chip... radiophonics". It included vocals by Hazel Burfitt and Raechel Leigh but, with Rance having quit the band, combined two previous single releases with a set of new recordings by Johnson and Chennell.
The duo then briefly recruited American music students, Alexander Perls, Jen Adam and Ezra Feinberg to complete the band, though Chennell too had departed by the time of the second album release Low Birth Weight
Low Birth Weight
Low Birth Weight is the third album by Piano Magic.- Track listing :# Snowfall Soon 5:01# Crown Estate 4:33# Bad Patient 4:59# The Fun of the Century 5:01# Birdymachine 1:25# Not Fair 4:12...
in 1998, a record described as "dreamy, trance and organic psychedelia". It introduced the vocals of Caroline Potter who would sing on one further album.
Mid-period: 1999–2004
By 1999 only Johnson remained from the original trio and the departure of Chennell leaving him free to lead the band into a much more conventional format and sound. A line-up of Glen Johnson, Miguel Marin, John Cheves and Paul Tornbohm recorded the third album, Artists’ RiflesArtists' Rifles (album)
Artists' Rifles is the fourth album by Piano Magic.- Track listing :# "" 1:16# "No Closure" 5:11# "A Return to the Sea" 5:03# "" 1:22# "You and John are Birds" 5:55# "The Index" 3:29# "" 1:50...
with John A Rivers (producer of Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
and Felt) and showcased its guitar based sound, "a mixture of chiming guitars and processional rhythms", at the Benicassim and BAM music festivals. By now, Piano Magic was proving more popular abroad than in their homeland and the next few years' activity included mainly European tours.
The band, now minus Cheves, signed to 4AD Records in 2000 and released the soundtrack for Spanish director, Bigas Luna
Bigas Luna
Juan José Bigas Luna is a Spanish film director. He began his professional career in the design world, creating the Estudio Gris with Carlos Riart in 1969. In his earlier exhibitions, at the beginning of the sixties, he showed a great interest in conceptual art and the emerging visual technologies...
s' Son de Mar
Son de Mar (soundtrack)
Son de Mar is the fifth album by Piano Magic. It is the soundtrack to a film of the same name by Bigas Luna.- Track listing :# Part 1 6:13# Part 2 2:43# Part 3 2:06# Part 4 1:30# Part 5 9:34# Part 6 15:33...
movie in 2001 described as "ethereal, delayed guitar lines... accompanied by various ambient sounds".
Jerome Tcherneyan then replaced Miguel Marin on drums and the second and last album with 4AD, 'Writers Without Homes' in 2002, was released with mixed press reaction; "exquisite, if a touch diffident" and "confused, unfocused, fragile." Its myriad guest artists imported talents from Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals...
, The Czars
The Czars
The Czars was an alternative rock band, formed in 1994 in Denver by John Grant and Chris Pearson. They released six studio albums, one EP, and three singles in the duration of their career. After the release of Goodbye in 2004, five of the six members of The Czars left the band over the span of...
, Tarwater
Tarwater
Tarwater is a German music duo comprising Bernd Jestram and Ronald Lippok. Tarwater have recorded several albums of mostly instrumental music usually tagged as post-rock.-History:...
, Life Without Buildings
Life Without Buildings
Life Without Buildings were a Glasgow, Scotland based indie rock band. The band, mostly ex-students of the Glasgow School of Art, formed during the summer of 1999. The band initially consisted of Will Bradley , Chris Evans and Robert Johnston . Painter Sue Tompkins joined later that year...
and Tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
. It also featured the first vocal recording for thirty-three years of lost '60s/'70s folk heroine, Vashti Bunyan
Vashti Bunyan
Vashti Bunyan is an English singer-songwriter. In 1970, Bunyan released her first album, Just Another Diamond Day. The album sold very few copies, and Bunyan, discouraged, abandoned her musical career...
.
With the addition of Franck Alba and Alasdair Steer, 'The Troubled Sleep Of Piano Magic' was released in 2003 on the Green Ufos label soliciting comparisons with This Mortal Coil and Durutti Column.
Recent years: 2005 to present
Cedric Pin joined Piano Magic in time for the 2005 album, Disaffected with a melodic, nearly "pop" sound, featuring more guest vocal contributions from John GrantJohn Grant (musician)
John Grant is an American singer-songwriter. He recently launched his career as a solo artist, having previously been lead vocalist with The Czars, an alternative rock band he formed in 1994 in Denver with Chris Pearson....
of The Czars and Angèle David-Guillou of Klima
Klima
Klima or Klíma may refer to:- People :* Edward Klima , American linguist* Ivan Klíma , Czech author* Jan Klíma , Czech physicist...
. It appeared to confirm a return to their 'exile' status gaining significant attention abroad (including, for example, full feature in the French daily Liberation) but with no coverage at all in any UK broadsheet or music magazine.
The album Part Monster was released in 2007 produced by Guy Fixsen of Laika
Laika
Laika was a Soviet space dog that became the first animal to orbit the Earth – as well as the first animal to die in orbit.As little was known about the impact of spaceflight on living creatures at the time of Laika's mission, and the technology to de-orbit had not yet been developed, there...
.
In 2008, Piano Magic moved to Make Mine Music, an artist-run, artist-owned label collective and released a new EP, Dark Horses, the last release to feature Cedric Pin.
In 2009, Piano Magic released their 10th official album Ovations with contributions by Brendan Perry and Peter Ulrich of Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
.
The band's current line-up is Franck Alba, Glen Johnson, Angèle David-Guillou, Alasdair Steer and Jerome Tcherneyan.
Related projects
Glen Johnson released a solo album, Details Not Recorded, under his own name in March 2009 on the Make Mine Music label.Cedric Pin and Glen Johnson have recorded as 'Future Conditional'. Glen Johnson has recorded as 'Textile Ranch'. Dominic Chennell has recorded as 'Dominic de Nebo' and with the group 'Carphology Collective'.
Albums
- Popular MechanicsPopular Mechanics (album)Popular Mechanics is the debut album by Piano Magic, originally released in 1997 on i/Che records.It was recorded at home in North London on 4 and 8 track c46 cassette machines by founding members Glen Johnson and Dominic Chennell with contributions from passing friends...
, (i/Che, 1997) - A Trick of the SeaA Trick of the SeaA Trick of the Sea is the second album by Piano Magic. It is the 13th entry in Darla Records's Bliss Out series.- Track listing :# "A Trick of the Sea" – 20:22# "Halloween Boat" – 18:58...
, (Darla, 1998) - Low Birth WeightLow Birth WeightLow Birth Weight is the third album by Piano Magic.- Track listing :# Snowfall Soon 5:01# Crown Estate 4:33# Bad Patient 4:59# The Fun of the Century 5:01# Birdymachine 1:25# Not Fair 4:12...
, (Rocket Girl, 1999) - Artists' RiflesArtists' Rifles (album)Artists' Rifles is the fourth album by Piano Magic.- Track listing :# "" 1:16# "No Closure" 5:11# "A Return to the Sea" 5:03# "" 1:22# "You and John are Birds" 5:55# "The Index" 3:29# "" 1:50...
, (Rocket Girl, 2000) - Son de MarSon de Mar (soundtrack)Son de Mar is the fifth album by Piano Magic. It is the soundtrack to a film of the same name by Bigas Luna.- Track listing :# Part 1 6:13# Part 2 2:43# Part 3 2:06# Part 4 1:30# Part 5 9:34# Part 6 15:33...
, (4AD, 2001) - Writers Without HomesWriters Without HomesWriters Without Homes is the sixth album by Piano Magic.- Track listing :# " Silence" – 6:40# "Postal" – 3:08# "Modern Jupiter" – 4:41# "" – 1:31# "The Season Is Long" – 8:43# "Certainty" – 3:13...
, (4AD, 2002) - The Troubled Sleep of Piano MagicThe Troubled Sleep of Piano Magic- Track listing :# Saint Marie 5:40# The Unwritten Law 3:20# Speed the Road, Rush the Lights 7:44# Help Me Warm This Frozen Heart 4:32# I Am the Teacher's Son 6:29# The End of a Dark, Tired Year 5:01# The Tollbooth Martyrs 5:17...
, (Green UFOs, 2003) - DisaffectedDisaffectedDisaffected is the eighth album by Piano Magic.- Track listing :# "You Can Hear the Room" – 6:22# "Love & Music" – 4:50# "Night of the Hunter" – 3:16# "Disaffected" – 7:18# "Theory of Ghosts" – 4:01# "Your Ghost" – 5:35...
(Darla, 2005) - Part MonsterPart MonsterPart Monster is the ninth album by Piano Magic. It was released on May 29, 2007.- Track listing :# The Last Engineer 5:38# England's Always Better 6:04# Incurable 4:45# Soldier Song 5:01...
(Important, 2007) - Ovations (Make Mine Music, 2009)
Singles
- "Wrong French", (i/Che, 1996)
- "Wintersport", (i/Che, 1997)
- "For Engineers", (Wurlitzer, 1997)
- "Music for Rolex", (Lissy's, 1998)
- "There's No Need for Us to Be Alone", (Rocket Girl, 1998)
- "Fun of the Century", (Piao!, 1998)
- "Mort Aux Vaches", (Staalplat, 1998)
- "Music for Annahbird", (Piao!, 1998)
- "Amongst the Books, an Angel", (Acetone, 1999)
- "Panic Amigo", (Morr MusicMorr MusicMorr Music is an independent record label based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 1999 by Thomas Morr. Most artists on the label fall into the categories of intelligent dance music, electronica and dreampop, but all reflect Thomas Morr's personal taste...
, 2000) - "I Came to Your Party Dressed as a Shadow", (Acuarela, 2001)
- "Speed the Road, Rush the Lights", (Green UFOs, 2003)
- "Saint Marie EP", (Green UFOs, 2003)
- "The Opencast Heart EP", (Important Records, 2005)
- "Never It Will Be the Same Again" [Limited Edition of 100 copies], (EN/OF, 2006)
- "Incurable EP", (Important Records, 2006)
- "Dark Horses EP", (Make Mine Music, 2008)
Related releases
- Bird Heart In Wool, Textile Ranch (Very Friendly, 2005)
- Klima, Klima (Peacefrog, 2007)
- We Don't Just Disappear, Future Conditional (LTM, 2008)
- Brave New Wales, Various Artists (Fourier Transform, 2008)
- Details Not Recorded, Glen Johnson (Make Mine Music, 2009)