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After 2 self released 7"es and a real breakthrough
with their early 2001 "Glam Cripple" EP (Chemikal Underground/FUKD),
Aereogramme, led by former Ganger guitarist Craig B,
have made a quantum leap beyond the sum of their disparate
influences.
Masters of discipline and finesse, their loud-to-quiet-to-loud
transitions are a cool enough rollercoaster ride as
is. But this Glasgow trio's songs are unusually soulful
and affecting in ways we don't associate with "post-rock".
Steve Clark of THE LIST said, "They consistently transform
calm into mayhem and fury back into restraint without
any surface glitches or overlap"
Formed in April 1998 by Craig B and Campbell
McNeil, AEROGRAMME were the result of a desperate
bid to find an outlet for the work of Craig B that somehow
just didn't suit Craig's former band, GANGER and LES
TINGLIES whose own output was slightly different:
"It all started with myself (craig) and campbell in
a lock up in Dalmarnock where we set up our gear and
planned on doing something that incorporated acoustic
guitars and electronic noises. We wrote the first single
and just as we released it we met Martin Scott who became
our drummer and the aereogramme sound changed. I loved
Les Tinglies. We were nothing like ganger but quite
a bit like aereogramme. We put out our own 7-inch which
sold well because of the incredible covers that Phaythe,
the bassist, hand printed herself. There were two versions,
a cream cover with a black print and a black cover with
a black print. The black one was my fav. Very Spinal
Tap. "
The addition of Martin Scott as drummer was to be the
catalyst that they needed to transform their rather
raw, melancholic form of electronica into the perfect
springboard for something a little more diverse. Supports
for bands such as LOW, GENEVA, and THE DELGADOS and
he release of two 7" singles; "Translations" and "Hatred"
for Glasgow label, BBABI-YAGA saw the fortunes of the
band rise. By the beginning of 2000, they were signed
to CHEMIKAL UNDERGROUND. A session for Peel and a live
link up on Steve Lamacq’s Evening Session to kick off
BBCMUSIC LIVE also ensured success.
Craig takers it up:
"It was very strange. I have no problem with saying
that there was a small part of the audience that were
utter bastards. They were not there to see us which
is fair enough but they were trying to get their voices
heard on radio 1 by shouting out the same things over
our quiet moments. The average age of the audience must
have been about 12. "
Their debut Chemikal Underground release, "The Glam
Cripple EP" - part of the labels fukd I.d. single series,
sold out of it’s 2,000 pressing on the week of release.
'A Story In White' comes out October 9 .The Matador
edition of the album will include the forthcoming UK
single "Zionist Timing," as well as 3 non-LP tracks
from Chemikal Underground's 'White Paw' EP.
Aereogramme's first US tour is in the works for later
in 2001.
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