The Total Drop
Encyclopedia
The Total Drop are a four piece art rock
/new wave
band from New Cross
in south-east London
formed in February 2005 by siblings Anna Vincent (vocals/guitar/keyboard) and James Vincent (vocals/bass) and Sam Soper (guitar). The band were joined by drummer Ivan Misquita-Rice in September 2005, prior to which they had used a drum-machine.
The group form part of the New Cross
music 'scene' identified in 2005 by NME
.
The group take their name from a song called (Do The) Total Drop by Deptford
new wave
band The Homosexuals.
The band release records through their own DIY label
Snakes & Ladders
.
The Total Drop have toured in the UK and the USA (In September 2006 the label was invited by a music promoter to take The Total Drop to New York City
for several dates). Snakes & Ladders released the band's first single in January 2007.
, Maps (online), I Think You'll Find That's Fireworks (online), Lobster Quadrille and Antenna.
The band have also had tracks played on ArtRocker's weekly radio programme on London's Resonance FM
and were mentioned on BBC Radio 1
's Best of Unsigned programme with Huw Stephens
when Snakes & Ladders were made 'DIY-label-of-the-week'.
In February 2007, The Total Drop were interviewed as part of a feature on new London bands in Above Magazine.
Some notable quotes:
"An abundance of catchy hooks and a voice of pure magnetism"
"Each tune sounds like a potential single...this band will be massive"
"The Total Drop are a pop band"
"...with great certainty one would expect to hear a lot more from these bands and this label in the coming years."
"...enough innovation to keep the scene on its toes for another decade, genius!"
"...new and challenging while still keeping a heart of pop."
"...a spangle-powered scuzz-pop gem of considerable charm!"
"...a dizzying array of rhythms and interwoven guitar and bass."
"...pure pop without an inch of fat, but effortlessly cool at the same time."
Art rock
Art rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, with influences from art, avant-garde, and classical music. The first usage of the term, according to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, was in 1968. Influenced by the work of The Beatles, most notably their Sgt...
/new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band from New Cross
New Cross
New Cross is a district and ward of the London Borough of Lewisham, England. It is situated 4 miles south-east of Charing Cross. The ward covered by London post town and the SE 14 postcode district. New Cross is near St Johns, Telegraph Hill, Nunhead, Peckham, Brockley, Deptford and Greenwich...
in south-east 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...
formed in February 2005 by siblings Anna Vincent (vocals/guitar/keyboard) and James Vincent (vocals/bass) and Sam Soper (guitar). The band were joined by drummer Ivan Misquita-Rice in September 2005, prior to which they had used a drum-machine.
The group form part of the New Cross
New Cross
New Cross is a district and ward of the London Borough of Lewisham, England. It is situated 4 miles south-east of Charing Cross. The ward covered by London post town and the SE 14 postcode district. New Cross is near St Johns, Telegraph Hill, Nunhead, Peckham, Brockley, Deptford and Greenwich...
music 'scene' identified in 2005 by NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
.
The group take their name from a song called (Do The) Total Drop by Deptford
Deptford
Deptford is a district of south London, England, located on the south bank of the River Thames. It is named after a ford of the River Ravensbourne, and from the mid 16th century to the late 19th was home to Deptford Dockyard, the first of the Royal Navy Dockyards.Deptford and the docks are...
new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band The Homosexuals.
The band release records through their own DIY label
DIY ethic
The DIY ethic refers to the ethic of self-sufficiency through completing tasks oneself as opposed to having others who are more experienced or able complete them for one's behalf. It promotes the idea that an ordinary person can learn to do more than he or she thought was possible...
Snakes & Ladders
Snakes & Ladders Records
Snakes & Ladders Records is a London-based independent DIY label founded in 2005 by members of the London band My Tiger My Timing.The label released music during 2006 and 2007, and then after a hiatus of 4 years, resumed activity in 2011.-Singles:...
.
The Total Drop have toured in the UK and the USA (In September 2006 the label was invited by a music promoter to take The Total Drop to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for several dates). Snakes & Ladders released the band's first single in January 2007.
Press
The Total Drop have been reviewed in several underground music fanzines as well as more mainstream UK magazines including ArtRockerArtRocker
Artrocker is a UK-based collective involved in music promotion and publishing. It was started by Paul Cox and Tom Fawcett who had been co-promoters of a London night called The Sausage Factory...
, Maps (online), I Think You'll Find That's Fireworks (online), Lobster Quadrille and Antenna.
The band have also had tracks played on ArtRocker's weekly radio programme on London's Resonance FM
Resonance FM
Resonance 104.4 FM is a London based non-profit community radio station run by the London Musicians' Collective .The station is staffed by four permanent staff members, including programme controller Ed Baxter and over 300 volunteer technical and production staff.Until September 2007, ResonanceFM...
and were mentioned on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's Best of Unsigned programme with Huw Stephens
Huw Stephens
Huw Stephens is a radio presenter currently broadcasting shows on BBC Radio 1.-Early life and career:Stephens was born in Cardiff, Wales, the son of the author and literary journalist Meic Stephens...
when Snakes & Ladders were made 'DIY-label-of-the-week'.
In February 2007, The Total Drop were interviewed as part of a feature on new London bands in Above Magazine.
Some notable quotes:
"An abundance of catchy hooks and a voice of pure magnetism"
"Each tune sounds like a potential single...this band will be massive"
"The Total Drop are a pop band"
"...with great certainty one would expect to hear a lot more from these bands and this label in the coming years."
"...enough innovation to keep the scene on its toes for another decade, genius!"
"...new and challenging while still keeping a heart of pop."
"...a spangle-powered scuzz-pop gem of considerable charm!"
"...a dizzying array of rhythms and interwoven guitar and bass."
"...pure pop without an inch of fat, but effortlessly cool at the same time."
EPs
- TTD NYC EP - Snakes & Ladders RecordsSnakes & Ladders RecordsSnakes & Ladders Records is a London-based independent DIY label founded in 2005 by members of the London band My Tiger My Timing.The label released music during 2006 and 2007, and then after a hiatus of 4 years, resumed activity in 2011.-Singles:...
S&LCD003 (limited release EP put together when the band visited New York City in September 6)
Singles
- Your Excellency - Snakes & Ladders RecordsSnakes & Ladders RecordsSnakes & Ladders Records is a London-based independent DIY label founded in 2005 by members of the London band My Tiger My Timing.The label released music during 2006 and 2007, and then after a hiatus of 4 years, resumed activity in 2011.-Singles:...
S&LCD004 (January 7) - Nuit Americaine - Snakes & Ladders RecordsSnakes & Ladders RecordsSnakes & Ladders Records is a London-based independent DIY label founded in 2005 by members of the London band My Tiger My Timing.The label released music during 2006 and 2007, and then after a hiatus of 4 years, resumed activity in 2011.-Singles:...
S&L007 (May 7)
Compilations
- Prime Number - On Snakes & Ladders RecordsSnakes & Ladders RecordsSnakes & Ladders Records is a London-based independent DIY label founded in 2005 by members of the London band My Tiger My Timing.The label released music during 2006 and 2007, and then after a hiatus of 4 years, resumed activity in 2011.-Singles:...
compilation 'S&LCD001' (March 6) - An Educated Guess - On Snakes & Ladders RecordsSnakes & Ladders RecordsSnakes & Ladders Records is a London-based independent DIY label founded in 2005 by members of the London band My Tiger My Timing.The label released music during 2006 and 2007, and then after a hiatus of 4 years, resumed activity in 2011.-Singles:...
compilation 'S&LCD001' (March 6) - Prime Number - On Dance At My feet compilation 'skyburstexplosion' (May 6)
- An Educated Guess - On ArtRockerArtRockerArtrocker is a UK-based collective involved in music promotion and publishing. It was started by Paul Cox and Tom Fawcett who had been co-promoters of a London night called The Sausage Factory...
covermount compilation 'DIY Labels 2' (August 6) - An Educated Guess - On Lobster Quadrille Magazine covermount compilation (October 6)
See also
- Snakes & Ladders RecordsSnakes & Ladders RecordsSnakes & Ladders Records is a London-based independent DIY label founded in 2005 by members of the London band My Tiger My Timing.The label released music during 2006 and 2007, and then after a hiatus of 4 years, resumed activity in 2011.-Singles:...
(the band members run this London-based D.I.Y. record label) - The Roaring TwentiesThe Roaring Twenties (band)The Roaring Twenties are an English four piece art rock/new wave band from London and Brighton formed in 2003 at Sussex University...
(James Vincent's other band)