Animals That Swim
Encyclopedia
Animals That Swim are a musical group who formed in London
, England
, 1989, with a line-up of stand-up drums, piano, trumpet and "a nifty line in clever narrative lyrics". In March 2011 they recorded two new songs for online release, the first tracks from an as yet untitled album.
(1993-6) and Terry De Castro (2000–01).
Animals That Swim released their debut single, "King Beer", in 1992 via their own Beachheads In Space record label. It was a 7" vinyl-only release, limited to just 300 copies, although, allegedly, Hank stored many other copies in his slightly unsanitary attic for sale at a later date "when we're like Take That". This allegation has never been proved. Their second single, "Roy" (which took the form of an imaginary conversation with the ghost of Roy Orbison
), was released the following year. This, along with their third single, "50 Dresses" - a 10" vinyl-only EP - helped the band come to wider attention as the group won critical acclaim for their mixture of "slice of life" lyrics and magic realism
, and their distinctive use of the trumpet
as a lead instrument.
Having had several single of the weeks in the UK's national music press, the band issued a further single in September, 1994, "Madame Yevonde", as a prelude to their debut album Workshy. The single's title, along with the album's sleeve art, both referenced the British photography pioneer
of the same name. "Pink Carnations", a 5-track single, followed 6 months later, featuring an alternate version to the album mix. 'Workshy' was number 15 in the NME's list of best albums of 1994.
The band issued two albums on the Elemental label, but work on a third LP eventually ground to a halt after Elemental was taken over by One Little Indian in 1996. In 1999, a demo, "Dirt", was featured on a various artists EP on the independent Snowstorm label, which subsequently commissioned a third Animals That Swim album, some of which was recorded in the peaceful rooms of producer Dare Mason's home. In a preview article for a gig at The Monarch, London
on 9 August 2000, John Robinson
writing for The Guardian
commented on the band's comeback from a three-year absence;
The band was inactive from 2001 to 2011, although Snowstorm issued a best of compilation album
, Faded Glamour in 2004, with sleevenotes by Hugh Barker.
In 2009, former Animals That Swim bassist, Terry De Castro, (better known as a member of Cinerama
and The Wedding Present
) released a cover version of the group's song "East St. O'Neill" on her solo album A Casa Verde.
In March 2011, the band recorded two new songs, "Tiny Lucifer" and "Silver Rays" which will be released online on iTunes, release dates to be announced on the band's Wordpress blog and via Twitter.
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...
, England
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...
, 1989, with a line-up of stand-up drums, piano, trumpet and "a nifty line in clever narrative lyrics". In March 2011 they recorded two new songs for online release, the first tracks from an as yet untitled album.
History
The band was initially formed by brothers Hugh Barker and Hank Starrs (born Jeffrey Barker), before adding a third brother to the line-up, Al Barker, along with Del Crabtree, initially on bass guitar, followed by the trumpet. Throughout their history, the group had numerous bass players; Charlie Luciano (original line-up), then Crabtree, Dave Harris (1991), Lenie Mets (1991–93), Anthony CooteAnthony Coote
Anthony Coote is an English musician who has worked with a number of groups/individuals.He was recruited to Ruby Blue in 1988 following an advertisement in the Melody Maker magazine and was present on their best known album recording "Down from Above"...
(1993-6) and Terry De Castro (2000–01).
Animals That Swim released their debut single, "King Beer", in 1992 via their own Beachheads In Space record label. It was a 7" vinyl-only release, limited to just 300 copies, although, allegedly, Hank stored many other copies in his slightly unsanitary attic for sale at a later date "when we're like Take That". This allegation has never been proved. Their second single, "Roy" (which took the form of an imaginary conversation with the ghost of Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
), was released the following year. This, along with their third single, "50 Dresses" - a 10" vinyl-only EP - helped the band come to wider attention as the group won critical acclaim for their mixture of "slice of life" lyrics and magic realism
Magic realism
Magic realism or magical realism is an aesthetic style or genre of fiction in which magical elements blend with the real world. The story explains these magical elements as real occurrences, presented in a straightforward manner that places the "real" and the "fantastic" in the same stream of...
, and their distinctive use of the trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
as a lead instrument.
Having had several single of the weeks in the UK's national music press, the band issued a further single in September, 1994, "Madame Yevonde", as a prelude to their debut album Workshy. The single's title, along with the album's sleeve art, both referenced the British photography pioneer
Yevonde
Yevonde Cumbers Middleton was an English photographer, who pioneered the use of colour in portrait photography...
of the same name. "Pink Carnations", a 5-track single, followed 6 months later, featuring an alternate version to the album mix. 'Workshy' was number 15 in the NME's list of best albums of 1994.
The band issued two albums on the Elemental label, but work on a third LP eventually ground to a halt after Elemental was taken over by One Little Indian in 1996. In 1999, a demo, "Dirt", was featured on a various artists EP on the independent Snowstorm label, which subsequently commissioned a third Animals That Swim album, some of which was recorded in the peaceful rooms of producer Dare Mason's home. In a preview article for a gig at The Monarch, 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...
on 9 August 2000, John Robinson
John Robinson
-Academics:*John Martin Robinson , English Officer of Arms and historian*John Alan Robinson , philosopher and mathematician*John Thomas Romney Robinson , Irish astronomer and physicist*John T. Robinson, paleontologist...
writing for The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
commented on the band's comeback from a three-year absence;
Animals That Swim — the group of beaten-looking thirtysomethings that [Hank] fronts — are the vehicle for his observations, and having enjoyed a penurious existence for eight years, this gig, after a three-year gap, represents a suitably down-at-heel return to public performance. The group's evident poverty is only matched, however, by the richness of their music.
The band was inactive from 2001 to 2011, although Snowstorm issued a best of compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Faded Glamour in 2004, with sleevenotes by Hugh Barker.
Recent updates
In 2007 frontman and lead singer Hank Starrs — now a film producer and writer — made a brief comeback to guest on the single "Direct Hit" with English Art-pop group Art Brut. Hugh Barker works for a publishing company as an editor, and is co-author of Faking It, a book about authenticity in music. His next book Hedge Britannia will be published by Bloomsbury in March 2012. Al Barker went to university and got a degree in history and journalism in 2007; he now works in music, theatre and tourism. The band were asked to play gigs in London in 2008, but they declined.In 2009, former Animals That Swim bassist, Terry De Castro, (better known as a member of Cinerama
Cinerama (band)
Cinerama were a UK indie pop band, headed up by David Gedge, the frontman for The Wedding Present.-Career:Originally formed in 1998 while on a break from The Wedding Present, Cinerama started as a duo of Gedge and his then-girlfriend Sally Murrell...
and The Wedding Present
The Wedding Present
The Wedding Present are a British indie rock group based in Leeds, England, formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms...
) released a cover version of the group's song "East St. O'Neill" on her solo album A Casa Verde.
In March 2011, the band recorded two new songs, "Tiny Lucifer" and "Silver Rays" which will be released online on iTunes, release dates to be announced on the band's Wordpress blog and via Twitter.
Band members
- Hugh Barker – guitarGuitarThe 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...
- Hank Starrs – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Al Barker – keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, guitar - Del Crabtree – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
Albums
- Workshy (1994)
- I Was the King, I Really Was the KingI Was the King, I Really Was the KingI Was the King, I Really Was the King is the second album by British alternative rock band Animals That Swim, released in June 1996 via Elemental Records.-Critical reception:...
(1996) - Happiness From A Distant Star (2001)
Singles and EPs
- "King Beer" (1992)
- "Roy"/"Weary Mind" (1993)
- "50 Dresses" EP (1993)
- "Madame Yevonde" (1994)
- "Pink Carnations" EP (1995)
- "The Greenhouse" (1996)
- "Faded Glamour" (1996)
- "The Moon And The Mothership" (2001)
- "All Your Stars Are Out" (2001)
- "Tiny Lucifer"/"Silver Rays" (2011)