The High Llamas
Encyclopedia
The High Llamas are a London
-based musical group, formed by the Irish guitarist and songwriter Sean O'Hagan
after the demise of his group Microdisney
. O'Hagan writes and arranges the music and the rest of the group consists of drummer Rob Allum, keyboardist/cellist Marcus Holdaway, and ex-Microdisney bassist Jon Fell. Guitarist John Bennett played with the band for several years, leaving in 2000. The core group is augmented by guitarist Pete Aves and vibist/percussionist Dominic Murcott, both for live performances and on record.
and bossa nova
, film composers of the 1960s, and 1990s European electronic music
. O'Hagan's work most frequently included references to Brian Wilson
's psychedelic period and/or kitsch
lounge revival
. Although O'Hagan sometimes expresses discomfort at reviewers' claims of derivative works, he generally wears his influences on his sleeve, even naming several more recent songs after the composers and pop musicians who most inspired that particular track. (Examples: "Bach
Ze
", "Pat Mingus
", "Shuggie
Todd
") The Beach Boys
' influence on O'Hagan is most obvious on the expansive, cinematic 1996 album Hawaii, a musical spaghetti western
on themes of tourism
and colonialism
. It blended elements of Pet Sounds
, Smile
, and Wild Honey
such that O'Hagan was recommended by Bruce Johnston
to produce an eventually mixed Beach Boys comeback LP. Sean had played on some The Beach Boys
dates. Incidentally, Sean's Llamas had previously provided a backing band for Arthur Lee
Love
in the mid 90's.
The High Llamas' own musical arrangements vary according to album, but marimbas, nylon-string guitar
s, and heavily reverbed pounding tack piano
s are often featured. For a period in the late 1990s, O'Hagan's work was often marked by distinctive vintage synthesizer
"gurgling" or "bouncing" effects, first explored and developed in Turn-On, his experimental collaboration record with members of Stereolab
. The High Llamas' albums are also notable for frequent guest appearances by members of that band, with whom O'Hagan once played guitar, and for whom he often contributes string and horn arrangements.
The High Llamas infrequently tour and only release an album every few years; since the group was dropped by V2 Records
they have made it clear that their records are personal projects that do not support them financially. O'Hagan frequently does arranging and production work for artists like The Boo Radleys
, Doves, Super Furry Animals
and Sondre Lerche
, and percussionist Allum has worked with Turin Brakes
and the Lightning Seeds
. Their work for V2 is anthologized on the compilation Retrospective, Rarities and Instrumentals, and they continue to record for Duophonic Records
(UK) and Drag City
(US).
Can Cladders
saw a slight return to form in 2007, plus some favourable touring. In 2008 Sean teamed up with the artist Jean Pierre Muller to publish Musical Paintings Vol. 1. The film soundtrack "La Vie D'Artiste", with Tim Gane of Stereolab
, followed. Talahomi Way
(Drag City, 2011) was released on April 11, 2011 in the UK. It has received very good reviews. Generally making a return to Sean O'Hagan's superb form of the mid 1990's, the album is a sweet reminder of how original perfectly crafted pop music can be made. Very much now a cult figure, the band successfully toured the United Kingdom in May 2011. They toured Spain in July 2011, and then played The Headstock Festival on September 12, 2011. Two gigs followed in Japan in late September. Four gigs have been lined up for December 2011 in Norwich, Milton Keynes, York and Edinburgh.
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...
-based musical group, formed by the Irish guitarist and songwriter Sean O'Hagan
Sean O'Hagan
Sean O'Hagan is a founding member of Irish indie band Microdisney. In the 1990s he formed The High Llamas and released a number of highly acclaimed albums showing influences as diverse as The Beach Boys, Ennio Morricone, Antonio Carlos Jobim and avant-garde electronica...
after the demise of his group Microdisney
Microdisney
Microdisney was an Irish musical duo, formed in 1980 by Cathal Coughlan and Sean O'Hagan .-Original line-up:*Vocals: Cathal Coughlan*Guitar: Sean O'Hagan*Keyboards: Nick Montgomery*Bass: Jon Fell...
. O'Hagan writes and arranges the music and the rest of the group consists of drummer Rob Allum, keyboardist/cellist Marcus Holdaway, and ex-Microdisney bassist Jon Fell. Guitarist John Bennett played with the band for several years, leaving in 2000. The core group is augmented by guitarist Pete Aves and vibist/percussionist Dominic Murcott, both for live performances and on record.
Musical style
The High Llamas' output (including the eponymous debut album, technically credited to "Sean O'Hagan") showed influences including pre-1950s American pop and folk, Brazilian jazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
, film composers of the 1960s, and 1990s European electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
. O'Hagan's work most frequently included references to Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
's psychedelic period and/or kitsch
Kitsch
Kitsch is a form of art that is considered an inferior, tasteless copy of an extant style of art or a worthless imitation of art of recognized value. The concept is associated with the deliberate use of elements that may be thought of as cultural icons while making cheap mass-produced objects that...
lounge revival
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
. Although O'Hagan sometimes expresses discomfort at reviewers' claims of derivative works, he generally wears his influences on his sleeve, even naming several more recent songs after the composers and pop musicians who most inspired that particular track. (Examples: "Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
Ze
Tom Zé
Tom Zé is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer who was influential in the Tropicália movement of 1960s Brazil. After the peak of the Tropicália period, Zé went into relative obscurity: it was only in the 1990s, when the musician and label head David Byrne discovered an album recorded...
", "Pat Mingus
Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus Jr. was an American jazz musician, composer, bandleader, and civil rights activist.Mingus's compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third stream, free jazz, and classical music...
", "Shuggie
Shuggie Otis
Shuggie Otis is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, and multi-instrumentalist....
Todd
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
") The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
' influence on O'Hagan is most obvious on the expansive, cinematic 1996 album Hawaii, a musical spaghetti western
Spaghetti Western
Spaghetti Western, also known as Italo-Western, is a nickname for a broad sub-genre of Western films that emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's unique and much copied film-making style and international box-office success, so named by American critics because most were produced and...
on themes of tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
and colonialism
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
. It blended elements of Pet Sounds
Pet Sounds
Pet Sounds is the eleventh studio album by the American rock band The Beach Boys, released May 16, 1966, on Capitol Records. It has since been recognized as one of the most influential records in the history of popular music and one of the best albums of the 1960s, including songs such as "Wouldn't...
, Smile
Smile (Brian Wilson album)
Smile, sometimes typeset with the idiosyncratic partial capitalization SMiLE, or referred to as Brian Wilson Presents Smile is a solo album by Brian Wilson, with lyrics by Van Dyke Parks released on September 28, 2004 on CD and two-disc vinyl LP...
, and Wild Honey
Wild Honey (album)
-Singles:* "Wild Honey" b/w "Wind Chimes" , 23 October 1967 US #31; UK #29* "Darlin'" b/w "Here Today" , 18 December 1967 US #19; UK #11....
such that O'Hagan was recommended by Bruce Johnston
Bruce Johnston
Bruce Arthur Johnston is a member of The Beach Boys and a songwriter, remembered especially for composing "I Write the Songs". Johnston was not one of the original members of the band...
to produce an eventually mixed Beach Boys comeback LP. Sean had played on some The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
dates. Incidentally, Sean's Llamas had previously provided a backing band for Arthur Lee
Arthur Lee
Arthur Lee may refer to:*Arthur Lee , U.S. envoy to France*Arthur Lee, 1st Viscount Lee of Fareham , British soldier and diplomat*Arthur Lee , American psychedelic-rock musician...
Love
Love
Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels...
in the mid 90's.
The High Llamas' own musical arrangements vary according to album, but marimbas, nylon-string guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, and heavily reverbed pounding tack piano
Tack piano
In music, the tack piano is a permanently altered version of an ordinary piano, in which tacks or nails are placed on the hammers of the instrument at the point where the hammers hit the strings, giving the instrument a tinny, more percussive sound...
s are often featured. For a period in the late 1990s, O'Hagan's work was often marked by distinctive vintage synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
"gurgling" or "bouncing" effects, first explored and developed in Turn-On, his experimental collaboration record with members of Stereolab
Stereolab
Stereolab are an alternative music band formed in 1990 in London, England. The band originally comprised songwriting team Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier , both of whom remained at the helm across many lineup changes...
. The High Llamas' albums are also notable for frequent guest appearances by members of that band, with whom O'Hagan once played guitar, and for whom he often contributes string and horn arrangements.
The High Llamas infrequently tour and only release an album every few years; since the group was dropped by V2 Records
V2 Records
V2 Records is a record label that is owned by Universal Music Group as of October 2007. The label was founded in 1996 by Richard Branson, five years after he sold Virgin Records to EMI....
they have made it clear that their records are personal projects that do not support them financially. O'Hagan frequently does arranging and production work for artists like The Boo Radleys
The Boo Radleys
-Studio albums:-Compilation albums:-Extended plays:-Singles:-External links:* * * * * * by Laurent Orseau * *...
, Doves, Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band that lean towards psychedelic rock and electronic experimentation. Since their formation in Cardiff, Wales in 1993, the band has consisted of Gruff Rhys , Huw Bunford , Guto Pryce , Cian Ciaran and Dafydd Ieuan Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band...
and Sondre Lerche
Sondre Lerche
-Career:Sondre Lerche was born in Bergen, Norway. Growing up, Lerche was heavily influenced by the '80s pop that emanated from his older siblings' rooms. Compelled by a defining fascination for bands such as The Beatles, A-ha, the Beach Boys, and Prefab Sprout, Lerche began formal guitar...
, and percussionist Allum has worked with Turin Brakes
Turin Brakes
Turin Brakes are a modern folk duo, comprising Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian, hailing from Balham, London. They had a UK top 5 hit with their song "Painkiller ".-1999–2003:...
and the Lightning Seeds
Lightning Seeds
The Lightning Seeds are an English alternative rock and pop band from Liverpool, England formed in 1989 by Ian Broudie , formerly of the Big in Japan band....
. Their work for V2 is anthologized on the compilation Retrospective, Rarities and Instrumentals, and they continue to record for Duophonic Records
Duophonic Records
Duophonic Ultra High Frequency Disks Limited, known as Duophonic Super 45s, is a London based independent record label formed by the British pop group Stereolab...
(UK) and Drag City
Drag City (record label)
Drag City is a Chicago-based independent record label. It was established with a Royal Trux release in 1990 in Chicago, Illinois by Dan Koretzky and Dan Osborn.Drag City specializes in experimental indie rock acts...
(US).
Can Cladders
Can Cladders
Can Cladders is the eighth studio album by London-based musical project The High Llamas, released on February 19, 2007 on Drag City.-Track listing:#"The Old Spring Town" – 3:29#"Winter's Day" – 4:48#"Sailing Bells" – 3:03#"Boing Backwards" – 0:44...
saw a slight return to form in 2007, plus some favourable touring. In 2008 Sean teamed up with the artist Jean Pierre Muller to publish Musical Paintings Vol. 1. The film soundtrack "La Vie D'Artiste", with Tim Gane of Stereolab
Stereolab
Stereolab are an alternative music band formed in 1990 in London, England. The band originally comprised songwriting team Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier , both of whom remained at the helm across many lineup changes...
, followed. Talahomi Way
Talahomi Way
Talahomi Way is the ninth studio album by London-based musical project The High Llamas, released on April 19, 2011 on Drag City.-Track listing:#"Berry Adams" - 4:10#"Wander, Jack Wander" – 3:40#"Take My Hand" – 2:34#"Woven and Rolled" – 3:09...
(Drag City, 2011) was released on April 11, 2011 in the UK. It has received very good reviews. Generally making a return to Sean O'Hagan's superb form of the mid 1990's, the album is a sweet reminder of how original perfectly crafted pop music can be made. Very much now a cult figure, the band successfully toured the United Kingdom in May 2011. They toured Spain in July 2011, and then played The Headstock Festival on September 12, 2011. Two gigs followed in Japan in late September. Four gigs have been lined up for December 2011 in Norwich, Milton Keynes, York and Edinburgh.
Discography
- High Llamas [credited to Sean O'Hagan] (Demon, 1990)
- Santa Barbara (V2, 1992)
- Gideon Gaye (V2, 1994)
- HawaiiHawaii (album)Hawaii is the fourth studio album by English musical project the High Llamas, released on January 1, 1996, on V2 Records.- Track listing :All songs written by Sean O'Hagan.# Cuckoo Casino# Sparkle Up# Literature Is Fluff# Nomads# Snapshot Pioneer...
(V2, 1996) - UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#62 - Cold and Bouncy (V2, 1998)
- Lollo Rosso (remix album, V2, 1998)
- Snowbug (V2, 1999)
- Buzzle BeeBuzzle BeeBuzzle Bee is the sixth studio album by English musical project The High Llamas, released on October 23, 2000 on Drag City.- Track listing :# "The Passing Bell" – 6:31# "Pat Mingus" – 4:25# "Get Into the Galley Shop" – 4:38...
(Drag City, 2000) - Retrospective, Rarities and Instrumentals (compilation, V2, 2003)
- Beet, Maize & CornBeet, Maize & CornBeet, Maize & Corn is the seventh studio album by London-based musical project The High Llamas, released on October 7, 2003 on Drag City. The style of the album is a notable departure from earlier High Llamas efforts, eschewing all electronic keyboards and effects in favor of a sound dominated by...
(Drag City, 2003) - Can CladdersCan CladdersCan Cladders is the eighth studio album by London-based musical project The High Llamas, released on February 19, 2007 on Drag City.-Track listing:#"The Old Spring Town" – 3:29#"Winter's Day" – 4:48#"Sailing Bells" – 3:03#"Boing Backwards" – 0:44...
(Drag City, 2007) - Talahomi WayTalahomi WayTalahomi Way is the ninth studio album by London-based musical project The High Llamas, released on April 19, 2011 on Drag City.-Track listing:#"Berry Adams" - 4:10#"Wander, Jack Wander" – 3:40#"Take My Hand" – 2:34#"Woven and Rolled" – 3:09...
(Drag City, 2011)
External links
- The High Llamas
- MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
archive of Can Cladders reviews