Pooka (band)
Encyclopedia
Pooka was the former songwriting duo of UK
guitarists/vocalists Sharon Lewis and Natasha Jones. They took their name from Púca
, a mythical Irish
goblin with an uneven temper.
. Lewis and Jones decided to try their luck in London
, and were spotted by WEA Records after being showcased by the manager of Bunjies
(a club they had played in). This resulted in their gaining a 5 album recording contract
. In the US
, Pooka's self-titled debut (produced by John Coxon
) was released in 1993 on Elektra
. Tours with Everything But The Girl
, Tindersticks
, Kristin Hersh
, Al Stewart
and The Levellers
followed. Between their own recordings, Pooka co-wrote some tracks with Ultramarine
for 1995's Bel Air. Pooka's second album, Spinning, was released in September 1997 on Trade 2, a subsidiary of Island Records
and managed by ex-Rough Trade
founder Geoff Travis
.
Garnering praise and support while on tour throughout Europe in the next two years, Pooka released a five song EP
, Monday Mourning, in 1999 on the French Telescopic Records label. In 2001, Lewis and Jones independently released Fools Give Birth To Angels, a self-produced, classically written and arranged collection of new songs, replete with string sections and a hand bell choir. Only 1,000 copies of the CD were produced.
Soon thereafter, their ten year musical partnership came to an abrupt end, but not before the Rough Trade release of Shift.
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...
guitarists/vocalists Sharon Lewis and Natasha Jones. They took their name from Púca
Púca
The Púca is a creature of Celtic folklore, notably in Ireland, the West of Scotland, and Wales. It is one of the myriad fairy folk, and, like many fairy folk, is both respected and feared by those who believe in it....
, a mythical Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
goblin with an uneven temper.
Career
Pooka were formed early in 1992 at Nottingham PolytechnicNottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University is a public teaching and research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as a new university in 1992 from the existing Trent Polytechnic , however it can trace its roots back to 1843 with the establishment of the Nottingham Government School of Design...
. Lewis and Jones decided to try their luck 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...
, and were spotted by WEA Records after being showcased by the manager of Bunjies
Bunjies
Opened in 1953 or 1954, and one of the original folk cafés of the 1950s/1960s, Bunjies Coffee House & Folk Cellar was situated at 27 Litchfield Street , London WC2. Below the café, in a 400 years old wine cellar, was an influential music venue which changed little until its closure in 1999...
(a club they had played in). This resulted in their gaining a 5 album recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
. In the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Pooka's self-titled debut (produced by John Coxon
Spring Heel Jack
Spring Heel Jack is an English electronic music group consisting of John Coxon and Ashley Wales.Formed in 1993 in London, England, Spring Heel Jack began their career exploring drum and bass and jungle, but have since branched out into free improvisation and jazz, collaborating with many acclaimed...
) was released in 1993 on Elektra
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
. Tours with Everything But The Girl
Everything but the Girl
Everything but the Girl was a two-person English band, formed in Hull during 1981, consisting of lead singer and occasional guitarist Tracey Thorn and guitarist, keyboardist, and singer Ben Watt . They are currently inactive although vocalist Tracey Thorn hinted that they may reform someday...
, Tindersticks
Tindersticks
Tindersticks are an Indie rock band from Nottingham, England formed in 1991. They released six albums before singer Stuart A. Staples took on a solo career. The band reunited briefly in 2006, but more permanently the following year...
, Kristin Hersh
Kristin Hersh
Kristin Hersh is an American singer/songwriter who performs solo acoustic concerts; she also continues to perform as lead singer and guitarist for alternative rock group Throwing Muses and the hardcore punk-influenced power trio 50 Foot Wave...
, Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart is a Scottish singer-songwriter and folk-rock musician.Stewart came to stardom as part of the British folk revival in the 1960s and 1970s, and developed his own unique style of combining folk-rock songs with delicately woven tales of the great characters and events from history.He is...
and The Levellers
The Levellers (band)
The Levellers are an English rock band, founded in 1988 and based in Brighton, England. Their musical style is said to be influenced by punk and traditional English music.-1988-1990:...
followed. Between their own recordings, Pooka co-wrote some tracks with Ultramarine
Ultramarine (band)
Ultramarine are a UK-based ambient / ambient house band, formed in the early 1990s by Paul Hammond and Ian Cooper.-Biography:Hammond and Cooper first worked together in the band A Primary Industry during the mid-1980s. Following the split of this band, they formed Ultramarine and released...
for 1995's Bel Air. Pooka's second album, Spinning, was released in September 1997 on Trade 2, a subsidiary of Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
and managed by ex-Rough Trade
Rough Trade
Rough Trade may refer to:*Rough Trade Records, a record label*Rough Trade , linked but independent London record stores*Rough Trade , a Canadian new wave rock band*Rough Trade , an episode of American Dad!...
founder Geoff Travis
Geoff Travis
Geoff Travis is the founder of both Rough Trade Records and the Rough Trade chain of record shops. A former drama teacher and owner of a punk record shop, Travis founded the Rough Trade label in 1978.-Biography:...
.
Garnering praise and support while on tour throughout Europe in the next two years, Pooka released a five song EP
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...
, Monday Mourning, in 1999 on the French Telescopic Records label. In 2001, Lewis and Jones independently released Fools Give Birth To Angels, a self-produced, classically written and arranged collection of new songs, replete with string sections and a hand bell choir. Only 1,000 copies of the CD were produced.
Soon thereafter, their ten year musical partnership came to an abrupt end, but not before the Rough Trade release of Shift.
Studio albums
- 1993 - Pooka
- 1997 - Spinning
- 2001 - Fools Give Birth To Angels
- 2001 - Shift
Vinyl Singles
- 1995 - "Sweet Butterfly"/"Love Song"
- 1996 - "The Insect"/"The Sun"
- 1997 - "Mean Girl"/"Cherry Orchard"
Extended Plays
- 1993 - "City Sick" (Also available as a CassingleCassette singleA cassette single is a music single in the form of a Compact Cassette.- History :...
) - 1994 - "Graham Robert Wood"
- 1997 - "Mean Girl"
- 1999 - "Monday Mourning"
Songs on compilation albums
- 1993 - "Between my Knees" on the album Kale1doscope (various artists)
- 1999 - "Monsoon" on the album Playpen - An Album of New Acoustic Music (various artists)
- 2001 - "Yes Lad" on the album POPvolume#2 (various artists)
Collaborations
- 1995 - Bel Air by UltramarineUltramarine (band)Ultramarine are a UK-based ambient / ambient house band, formed in the early 1990s by Paul Hammond and Ian Cooper.-Biography:Hammond and Cooper first worked together in the band A Primary Industry during the mid-1980s. Following the split of this band, they formed Ultramarine and released...
(Pooka are credited on 4 tracks) - 1996 - Soundtrack To Spleen by Spleen (Pooka are credited on 2 tracks)
- 1999 - The Middle of NowhereThe Middle of Nowhere (Orbital album)The Middle of Nowhere is the fifth album released by Orbital. It was released in 1999, where it peaked at #4 and spent 7 weeks in the UK albums chart.- The album :The track "Know Where to Run" was featured in the PlayStation game Wipeout 3....
by OrbitalOrbital (band)Orbital are a British electronic dance music duo from Sevenoaks, England consisting of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. Their career initially ran from 1989 until 2004, but in 2009 they announced that they would be reforming and headlining The Big Chill, in addition to a number of other live shows...
(Pooka are credited on 1 track - "Otoño") - 1999 - Style (CD Two)Style (Orbital song)"Style" is a 1999 single by the electronica duo Orbital. It was their fourth consecutive single, and fifth overall, to reach the top 20 of the UK singles chart, peaking at number 13....
by Orbital (Pooka are credited on 1 track - "An Fhómhair") - 2000 - Tchin Tchin by Superflu. (Pooka are credited on 1 track - "Le Secret". Only available on the 'Bonus tracks' edition)