The Beep Seals
Encyclopedia
The Beep Seals were an English
psychedelic
indie rock
band
from Manchester
.
guitarist Ian Smith, Jack Cooper, Phil Anderson and Milo Scaglioni. They began working on demos
after touring with Jim Noir
in support of his Tower of Love
album
as his backing band. In October 2006, the band played their first gig
(a tribute to the recently deceased Syd Barrett
) drafting in drummer
Jay Sikora. Milo Scaglioni left in 2007, and in 2008 joined a band from his native Italy, Jennifer Gentle
Before the recording of the band's debut album, former Alfie bassist Sam Morris joined the band.
In April 2007, the Beep Seals recorded their first single
, "Tell Your Friends" / "I Used To Work At The Zoo", which was released on vinyl
via Kings & Creature Recordings. After their second release on London
's Heron Recordings
, "Stars" / "Chariot Song", the band began work on their debut album, Things That Roar which was released in the UK on Heron Recordings and in Japan on Kurofune Records.
In support of Things That Roar, The Beep Seals supported and toured with Jarvis Cocker
, Dead Meadow
, Teenage Fanclub
, The Fall, The Ting Tings
, British Sea Power
, Vetiver
, Camera Obscura
and Acid Mothers Temple
.
It was announced on 1 April 2009 via the band's MySpace that the band had split up. The final gig was set for May in Glasgow at Beepfest - a festival set around the band, but this was cancelled at the last minute.
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...
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...
indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
from Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.
Career
The Beep Seals were formed in 2006 by AlfieAlfie (band)
Alfie were an English indie rock band from Manchester. They were originally signed to Twisted Nerve Records before moving to EMI sub-label Regal Zonophone Records.-Twisted Nerve years :...
guitarist Ian Smith, Jack Cooper, Phil Anderson and Milo Scaglioni. They began working on demos
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
after touring with Jim Noir
Jim Noir
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...
in support of his 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"...
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...
as his backing band. In October 2006, the band played their first gig
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
(a tribute to the recently deceased Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
) drafting in drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Jay Sikora. Milo Scaglioni left in 2007, and in 2008 joined a band from his native Italy, Jennifer Gentle
Jennifer Gentle
-History:Jennifer Gentle was formed by Marco Fasolo and Alessio Gastaldello in early 2000, after the breakup of Marco’s previous band, Carcers. Later, these two young men teamed up with guitarist Isacco Maretto and bassist Nick Crivellari, which would complete the early stage of this Northern...
Before the recording of the band's debut album, former Alfie bassist Sam Morris joined the band.
In April 2007, the Beep Seals recorded their first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Tell Your Friends" / "I Used To Work At The Zoo", which was released on vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
via Kings & Creature Recordings. After their second release on 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...
's Heron Recordings
Heron Recordings
Heron Recordings is an independent record label based in London, England. Bands on the label include The Beep Seals, Goldheart Assembly, Jennifer Gentle, The See See and Mossy Pine....
, "Stars" / "Chariot Song", the band began work on their debut album, Things That Roar which was released in the UK on Heron Recordings and in Japan on Kurofune Records.
In support of Things That Roar, The Beep Seals supported and toured with Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Branson Cocker is an English musician and frontman for the band Pulp. Through his work with the band, Cocker became a figurehead of the Britpop movement of the mid-1990s. Following Pulp's hiatus Cocker has led a successful solo career...
, Dead Meadow
Dead Meadow
Dead Meadow is an American hard rock band that formed in Washington, D.C. in 1998. Currently comprising vocalist and guitarist Jason Simon, bassist Steve Kille and drummer Mark Laughlin, the band has released five studio albums and one live album.-Biography:...
, Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub are an alternative rock band from Bellshill, Scotland. The band is composed of Norman Blake , Raymond McGinley , Gerard Love and Francis MacDonald , with songwriting duties shared equally among Blake, McGinley and Love...
, The Fall, The Ting Tings
The Ting Tings
The Ting Tings are an English music duo comprising Jules de Martino and Katie White . They formed in December 2007 while based at Islington Mill Studios in Salford...
, British Sea Power
British Sea Power
British Sea Power are an indie rock band based in Brighton, England, although three of the band members originally come from Kendal in Cumbria. Critics have likened their sound to a variety of groups, from The Cure and Joy Division to the Pixies and Arcade Fire. The band are famed for their live...
, Vetiver
Vetiver
Chrysopogon zizanioides, commonly known as vetiver , is a perennial grass of the Poaceae family, native to India. In western and northern India, it is popularly known as khus. Vetiver can grow up to 1.5 metres high and form clumps as wide. The stems are tall and the leaves are long, thin, and...
, Camera Obscura
Camera obscura
The camera obscura is an optical device that projects an image of its surroundings on a screen. It is used in drawing and for entertainment, and was one of the inventions that led to photography. The device consists of a box or room with a hole in one side...
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...
.
It was announced on 1 April 2009 via the band's MySpace that the band had split up. The final gig was set for May in Glasgow at Beepfest - a festival set around the band, but this was cancelled at the last minute.
Appearances
- The band appeared at a variety of music festivalMusic festivalA music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
s in the UKUnited KingdomThe 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...
: Green Man FestivalGreen Man FestivalThe Green Man Festival is an independent music festival held annually in the Brecon Beacons, Wales. It has evolved from a one-day, 300 capacity event in 2003, to a three-day festival with live music including psych, folk, indie, dance and Americana across five stages, as well as DJs playing...
, Latitude FestivalLatitude FestivalThe Latitude Festival is an annual music festival that takes place in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk, England. It was first held in July 2006....
, Secret Garden Party and Llama. - The Beep Seals have been championed by BBC 6Music's Marc RileyMarc RileyMarc Riley is a British musician, alternative rock critic and radio DJ on BBC 6 Music. Formerly a member of The Fall, he had his own record label, In-Tape, and also worked as a record plugger...
, recording three live sessions for him since 2007. - Their track, "Stars and Biting Glass", has been used on the BBC ThreeBBC ThreeBBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
comedyComedyComedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
, Massive. - "I Used To Work At The Zoo" has been used by the BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
on their programmeTelevision programA television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
, Animal ParkAnimal ParkAnimal Park was a television documentary about the life of keepers and animals at Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire, England, aired over 9 series on the BBC from 2000 until 2009. It also covered the daily life of workers in Longleat House, the estate and the gardens.-Main series:Animal Park was...
.
Discography
- April 2007 - "Tell Your Friends" / "I Used To Work At The Zoo" 7" (Kings & Creatures)
- August 2007 - "Stars" / "Chariot Song" 7" Heron RecordingsHeron RecordingsHeron Recordings is an independent record label based in London, England. Bands on the label include The Beep Seals, Goldheart Assembly, Jennifer Gentle, The See See and Mossy Pine....
- December 2007 - "Beep Seals Sampler" (Limited editionSpecial editionThe terms special edition, limited edition and variants such as deluxe edition, collector's edition and others, are used as a marketing incentive for various kinds of products, originally published products related to the arts, such as books, prints or recorded music and films, but now including...
) - June 2008 - Things That Roar - album - Heron Recordings
External links
- Official MySpace
- [ Discography at Allmusic.com]