Andrew Montgomery
Encyclopedia
Andrew Montgomery is a Scottish
singer who is best known as a member of late '90s Aberdeen
indie band Geneva
.
Steven Dora in Aberdeen, in 1992, and they began writing music together. They later got together with guitarist Stuart Evans, bassist Keith Graham and drummer Douglas Caskie, and formed a band called Sunfish.
In 1996 The band was signed to the record label Nude
, who were well known at the time as the record label for the bands Suede
, The Jennifers
(later Supergrass
) and Black Box Recorder
. It was at this time that the band changed its name, first to Garland, then to Geneva
.
Geneva
had moderate chart success and a loyal fan base, with four Top 40 singles
and a critically acclaimed debut album, Further, which was released in 1997. Following over a year of wrangling with their record label, their follow-up album, Weather Underground, was released in 2000. As a consequence of the complete lack of publicity surrounding its release, the album and its two singles bombed, and the band split up later that year.
At the height of their career, Geneva received wide critical acclaim, particularly with regard to Montgomery's singing voice. Often referred to as "angelic"1, "heavenly"1 or "celestial", there was a distinct 'choirboy' quality to Montgomery's voice.
Following the band's split, Montgomery moved to New York City
, where he met and began collaborating with a number of musicians, including Steve Slingeneyer of Soulwax
, and Ben Ellis of Serafin
and Catherine Wheel
. His most notable collaboration at this time was with experimental composer Ben Neill
, and he featured heavily on Neill's 2002 album Automotive. Montgomery later accompanied Neill on his tour of the US.
During this period Montgomery travelled regularly between New York
and the UK. It was while he was spending time in England that he engaged in a collaboration with Overseer, culminating in a contribution to his 2003 album Wreckage.
Montgomery moved permanently back to UK in 2003, and formed a London
-based band called Amityville with guitarist Stuart Peck and drummer David Bevis, plus a number of contributors including the aforementioned Ben Ellis, who by this time had also returned to the UK.
Amityville did well on the London
gig circuit and generated some press and industry interest, and they released a limited edition EP, Pacific Radio Fire, which quickly sold out. But ultimately the band was too indie rock
-centred for the mood of the British pop band scene at the time, which was based around highly melodic soft indie such as Coldplay
and Keane, and the band failed to get signed. They broke up in 2005, but Montgomery and Peck continue to collaborate.
Montgomery moved to Brighton
in 2005 and, following the break-up of Amityville, embarked on a collaboration with Keris Howard, formerly of the band Harper Lee. They named themselves St. Famous.
However in March 2009 Montgomery announced on the band's myspace page that Keris Howard has decided to leave and Montgomery is now working on his debut solo album.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
singer who is best known as a member of late '90s Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
indie band Geneva
Geneva (band)
Geneva were a British indie band from Aberdeen, Scotland.-Career:The band were formed in 1992 by vocalist Andrew Montgomery and guitarist Steven Dora. They recruited second guitarist Stuart Evans, bass player Keith Graham and finally drummer Craig Brown. Craig was later replaced by Douglas Caskie...
.
Musical career
Montgomery met guitaristGuitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Steven Dora in Aberdeen, in 1992, and they began writing music together. They later got together with guitarist Stuart Evans, bassist Keith Graham and drummer Douglas Caskie, and formed a band called Sunfish.
In 1996 The band was signed to the record label Nude
Nude Records
Nude Records was a London based record label, set up in 1992 by Saul Galpern who had previously been involved in the success of artists such as Simply Red, the Fall, Julian Cope, The Triffids, The Slits and The Au Pairs. The label's first success was with Suede. Suede's debut album was the fastest...
, who were well known at the time as the record label for the bands Suede
Suede (band)
Suede are an English alternative rock band from London, formed in 1989. The group's most prominent early line-up featured singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Bernard Butler, bass player Mat Osman and drummer Simon Gilbert. By 1992, Suede were hailed as "The Best New Band in Britain", and attracted...
, The Jennifers
The Jennifers
The Jennifers were a short-lived British rock group formed at Wheatley Park School and featuring vocalist Gaz Coombes, guitarist Nic Goffey, drummer Danny Goffey and bassist Andy Davies...
(later Supergrass
Supergrass
Supergrass was an English alternative rock band from Oxford. The band consisted of brothers Gaz and Rob Coombes , Mick Quinn and Danny Goffey ....
) and Black Box Recorder
Black Box Recorder (band)
Black Box Recorder were an English indie rock group. They debuted in 1998 with England Made Me and followed this up with The Facts of Life, which gave them their first hit with the single of the same name in April 2000. Their third album, Passionoia, was released in 2003...
. It was at this time that the band changed its name, first to Garland, then to Geneva
Geneva (band)
Geneva were a British indie band from Aberdeen, Scotland.-Career:The band were formed in 1992 by vocalist Andrew Montgomery and guitarist Steven Dora. They recruited second guitarist Stuart Evans, bass player Keith Graham and finally drummer Craig Brown. Craig was later replaced by Douglas Caskie...
.
Geneva
Geneva (band)
Geneva were a British indie band from Aberdeen, Scotland.-Career:The band were formed in 1992 by vocalist Andrew Montgomery and guitarist Steven Dora. They recruited second guitarist Stuart Evans, bass player Keith Graham and finally drummer Craig Brown. Craig was later replaced by Douglas Caskie...
had moderate chart success and a loyal fan base, with four Top 40 singles
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...
and a critically acclaimed debut album, Further, which was released in 1997. Following over a year of wrangling with their record label, their follow-up album, Weather Underground, was released in 2000. As a consequence of the complete lack of publicity surrounding its release, the album and its two singles bombed, and the band split up later that year.
At the height of their career, Geneva received wide critical acclaim, particularly with regard to Montgomery's singing voice. Often referred to as "angelic"1, "heavenly"1 or "celestial", there was a distinct 'choirboy' quality to Montgomery's voice.
Following the band's split, Montgomery moved 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...
, where he met and began collaborating with a number of musicians, including Steve Slingeneyer of Soulwax
Soulwax
Soulwax, headed by David and Stephen Dewaele, are an alternative rock/electronic band from Ghent, Belgium. Next to the Dewaele brothers, Soulwax consists of bassist Stefaan Van Leuven and drummer Steve Slingeneyer. They were first noticed after the release of their album Much Against Everyone's...
, and Ben Ellis of Serafin
Serafin
Serafin is the rock band from London who formed and began playing in September 2000.Often compared to almost anything in the rock industry, Serafin's sound is sometimes compared to bands like Pixies, Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, Placebo, Radiohead, Blur and Jacob's Mouse.-History :The original...
and Catherine Wheel
Catherine Wheel
Catherine Wheel were a four-piece alternative rock band from Great Yarmouth, England. The band was active from 1990 to 2000, experiencing fluctuating levels of commercial success, and embarking on many lengthy tours.-Biography:...
. His most notable collaboration at this time was with experimental composer Ben Neill
Ben Neill
Ben Neill is a composer and trumpeter who has studied with La Monte Young. His music has been recorded on the Thirsty Ear, Astralwerks, Verve, and Six Degrees labels. Neill spent seven years as the music curator for The Kitchen in New York. He has collaborated with DJ Spooky, David Wojnarowicz...
, and he featured heavily on Neill's 2002 album Automotive. Montgomery later accompanied Neill on his tour of the US.
During this period Montgomery travelled regularly between New York
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...
and the UK. It was while he was spending time in England that he engaged in a collaboration with Overseer, culminating in a contribution to his 2003 album Wreckage.
Montgomery moved permanently back to UK in 2003, and formed a 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...
-based band called Amityville with guitarist Stuart Peck and drummer David Bevis, plus a number of contributors including the aforementioned Ben Ellis, who by this time had also returned to the UK.
Amityville did well on the 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...
gig circuit and generated some press and industry interest, and they released a limited edition EP, Pacific Radio Fire, which quickly sold out. But ultimately the band was too indie rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
-centred for the mood of the British pop band scene at the time, which was based around highly melodic soft indie such as Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
and Keane, and the band failed to get signed. They broke up in 2005, but Montgomery and Peck continue to collaborate.
Montgomery moved to Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
in 2005 and, following the break-up of Amityville, embarked on a collaboration with Keris Howard, formerly of the band Harper Lee. They named themselves St. Famous.
However in March 2009 Montgomery announced on the band's myspace page that Keris Howard has decided to leave and Montgomery is now working on his debut solo album.
Quotes
"The fountain burst of puretone sound that flies from his gob is one of the most emotionally resonant phenomena in current pop and in conjunction with his taste for dark-night-of-the-soul lyrics and the swooping, string-laden melodies of (mostly) Steven Dora, it makes Geneva the strongest mystique magnets this side of a weeping statue of Mary Magdalene."1
"It's the voice that you fall for, of course. There are easy reference points - Jeff Buckley, David McAlmont, Radiohead - but what thrills most is Montgomery's restraint. He could show off, demonstrate his "virtuosity", ultimately be used by his ability; remarkably, he resists."2
"Geneva have carved their own identity with Montgomery's astonishing vocal range. The man is in command of several more octaves than most and his beautifully pure vocals are counterpointed by the chiming notes of the instrumentation"3
Geneva's singer Andrew Montgomery is simply one of the best you will ever hear. Higher and higher he goes, more and more exalted he seems by the songs ... an amazing natural gift ... the vocal melodies are uncanny, different, almost devotional."4