Dave Tyack
Encyclopedia
Dave Tyack who also recorded under Dakota Oak, was a founding artist on the Twisted Nerve Records
label.
He recorded alongside fellow Twisted Nerve
artists, namely Badly Drawn Boy
and Andy Votel
, on several releases and played drums with two further bands, Misty Dixon and D.O.T. He lived until the age of eight in a small village called Bredenbeck on the edge of the Deister
wood. His debut full length album "am deister" was named after this rural location and many of its tracks were inspired by his childhood adventures. The family moved to Ashbourne, Derbyshire
and it was at sixth form that he formed a short lived band with his friends James Rutledge a.k.a. Pedro and Jimmy Wright. He then studied maths at the University of Manchester
.
Having had no luck in finding band mates for a surf band, he started recording alone on a four-track, mainly playing bass guitar. Having heard Badly Drawn Boy
's EP1 he started taking his tapes to Andy Votel
who then worked at Fat City Records. After several months and numerous demo tapes, Andy decided to sign him to the fledgling Twisted Nerve Records
; which had originally been set up in 1997 merely to release Badly Drawn Boy's recordings. His first release was on Twisted Nerve compilation All Oar Nothing and his recording moniker was Dakota Oak. The band Mum and Dad and the electronic artist Sirconical joined the label at the same time and the Twisted Nerve roster began putting on live shows and DJ sets to promote the artists. Dave felt he needed a band to play his music live, thus he formed Dakota Oak Trio with Jimmy Wright and James Rutledge, but as they developed a rockier sound of their own with all three band members writing music, this became a band in its own right and was renamed D.O.T. to separate it from Dave's solo act. Dave played drums with D.O.T. but he played all instruments on his solo releases. D.O.T. also signed to Twisted Nerve and their first release was a rocking instrumental single called Say Your Prayers in 2000. Dakota Oak, his solo act, released Kaleidascope, a 10" vinyl mini album in April 1999, receiving some excellent reviews. Dave was also an accomplished artist and his own drawing graced the cover of this and most of his other records.
After completing his degree in June 1999, Dave began teacher training but soon realised it wasn't the right career for him. He completed the year's training however and meanwhile released another 10" vinyl mini album, Pastures of Plenty in November 1999. The inspiration for the instrumentals on this record was a trip around the United States. He spent his free time during his year of teaching working on the 26-track am deister album which was eventually released in the spring of 2001. Reviews were almost unanimously positive with many commenting on its originality, innocence and Bavarian quality. This was his first album release on CD and this, coupled with a less-limited release allowed his music to be brought to a larger audience. This album was the only release by "Dave Tyack's Dakota Oak" as Dave wished to leave his old nom de plume behind and become known as David Tyack from this point (this is explained in its inlay card). The one single spawned by this album is "How Danny's friends became a force for good"; the title taken from a chapter title in the John Steinbeck
novel Tortilla Flat
; the single also featured a cover of Neil Young
's Helpless. Meanwhile Dave had gone from teaching to working in the call centre at Smile, the internet bank
, which was a happier time for him, but a publishing deal allowed him to give up his job and concentrate on his music. He began collaborating more, with Badly Drawn Boy on Wrecking the Stage and Mum and Dad on Black Sabbath in 2000 and then joining Misty Dixon, another Twisted Nerve act, initially to aid with four-track recording but eventually playing drums and piano and writing with Jane Weaver
. Misty Dixon's first release was the Milk Money EP in February 2001 with Dave co-writing one of the four tracks "Headlights (and when we drive)", this release also garnered some acclaim.
Twisted Nerve celebrated its thirtieth release in the Autumn of 2001 with a compilation "Everything you always wanted to know about Twisted Nerve but were afraid to ask" featuring tracks from previous releases of all of its artists. The accompanying tour spanned the UK and Dave played at every date, because he performed with so many of the acts. Dave played his own material with a new ensemble, featuring Naomi Hart on cello and Richard Tomlinson (who now records as Voice of the Seven Woods
) playing guitar and cornet. The mini LP that followed, "David Tyack with Richard Tomlinson and Naomi Hart" contained some new compositions, new arrangements of tracks from am deister, a cover of Townes Van Zandt
's Colorado Girl and the traditional song Rock Island Line (which, unusually, Dave sang), all recorded as live in a studio. D.O.T. also released their first album "Across Shawcroft" in October 2001.
2002 saw Dave collaborating, writing and recording for several releases. At the time of his disappearance he had completed recording on the first Misty Dixon album and the second D.O.T. album. He played on Jane Weaver's mini-album "Like an aspen leaf", released in May 2002 and recorded new music for the Twisted Nerve compilation Zoo. He completed recording with Malcolm Mooney on Rip Van Winkle and also painted several paintings for the project, for exhibition and for the album's artwork. He was demo-ing new material with lyrics before he went on holiday.
Dave was found dead on the island of Corsica
in June 2004, nearly two years after being declared missing, having apparently fallen to his death. An album titled Rip Van Winkle which featured his music was released posthumously. The album contained a reading of Rip Van Winkle
, read by former Can
front man Malcolm Mooney
.
TN021 – How Danny's Friends Became A Force For Good (as Dakota Oak)
Mini LPs
TN005 – Kaleidascope (as Dakota Oak)
TN008 – Pastures Of Plenty (as Dakota Oak)
TN031 – Dave Tyack With Richard Tomlinson
& Naomi Hart
Albums
TN022 – Am Deister (as Dakota Oak) – was also a 4 track VHS
TN043 – Rip Van Winkle (With Malcolm Mooney
)
Compilation Appearances
TN003 – All Oar Nothing
TNXMS001 – Christmas Stocking Filler
TN009 – Modern Music For Motorcycles
TN015cd – Bends For 166 Miles
TN030 – Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Twisted Nerve
TN040 – Twisted Nerve Zoo
Elsewhere
TN014 – J'adore Le Batterie
TNXL005 – Badly Drawn Boy
– Wrecking The Stage (playing drums)
TN024 – Mum&Dad – Black Sabbath (playing drums)
)
"Deeply wonderful. A seriously good album."(Sunday Times)
"A unique and impressive record... lush instrumentals and gorgeous acoustic ditties. Awesome." (4/5 – Uncut)
"Beautiful, melodic Bavarian folk." (i-D)
"A rare and honest evocation of our youth." (4/5 – Jockey Slut)
Twisted Nerve Records
Twisted Nerve Records is a Manchester, England-based record label. It is most well known for being the home of the singer-songwriter Badly Drawn Boy, who co-founded the label with Andy Votel.-Musical artists:...
label.
He recorded alongside fellow Twisted Nerve
Twisted Nerve Records
Twisted Nerve Records is a Manchester, England-based record label. It is most well known for being the home of the singer-songwriter Badly Drawn Boy, who co-founded the label with Andy Votel.-Musical artists:...
artists, namely Badly Drawn Boy
Badly Drawn Boy
Damon Gough is an English alternative music singer/songwriter. He was born on 2 October 1969, in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. He grew up in the Breightmet area of Bolton, Lancashire, England....
and Andy Votel
Andy Votel
Andrew Shallcross, known by his stage name Andy Votel, is an electronic musician, DJ and record producer, co-founder of Twisted Nerve Records and the reissue label Finders Keepers Records...
, on several releases and played drums with two further bands, Misty Dixon and D.O.T. He lived until the age of eight in a small village called Bredenbeck on the edge of the Deister
Deister
The Deister is a chain of hills in the German state of Lower Saxony, about 15 mi southwest of the city of Hanover. It runs in a north-westerly direction from Springe in the south to Rodenberg in the north. The next the chain of hills that attaches in the south is called Small Deister...
wood. His debut full length album "am deister" was named after this rural location and many of its tracks were inspired by his childhood adventures. The family moved to Ashbourne, Derbyshire
Ashbourne, Derbyshire
Ashbourne is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales, England. It has a population of 10,302.The town advertises itself as 'The Gateway to Dovedale'.- Local customs :...
and it was at sixth form that he formed a short lived band with his friends James Rutledge a.k.a. Pedro and Jimmy Wright. He then studied maths at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
.
Having had no luck in finding band mates for a surf band, he started recording alone on a four-track, mainly playing bass guitar. Having heard Badly Drawn Boy
Badly Drawn Boy
Damon Gough is an English alternative music singer/songwriter. He was born on 2 October 1969, in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. He grew up in the Breightmet area of Bolton, Lancashire, England....
's EP1 he started taking his tapes to Andy Votel
Andy Votel
Andrew Shallcross, known by his stage name Andy Votel, is an electronic musician, DJ and record producer, co-founder of Twisted Nerve Records and the reissue label Finders Keepers Records...
who then worked at Fat City Records. After several months and numerous demo tapes, Andy decided to sign him to the fledgling Twisted Nerve Records
Twisted Nerve Records
Twisted Nerve Records is a Manchester, England-based record label. It is most well known for being the home of the singer-songwriter Badly Drawn Boy, who co-founded the label with Andy Votel.-Musical artists:...
; which had originally been set up in 1997 merely to release Badly Drawn Boy's recordings. His first release was on Twisted Nerve compilation All Oar Nothing and his recording moniker was Dakota Oak. The band Mum and Dad and the electronic artist Sirconical joined the label at the same time and the Twisted Nerve roster began putting on live shows and DJ sets to promote the artists. Dave felt he needed a band to play his music live, thus he formed Dakota Oak Trio with Jimmy Wright and James Rutledge, but as they developed a rockier sound of their own with all three band members writing music, this became a band in its own right and was renamed D.O.T. to separate it from Dave's solo act. Dave played drums with D.O.T. but he played all instruments on his solo releases. D.O.T. also signed to Twisted Nerve and their first release was a rocking instrumental single called Say Your Prayers in 2000. Dakota Oak, his solo act, released Kaleidascope, a 10" vinyl mini album in April 1999, receiving some excellent reviews. Dave was also an accomplished artist and his own drawing graced the cover of this and most of his other records.
After completing his degree in June 1999, Dave began teacher training but soon realised it wasn't the right career for him. He completed the year's training however and meanwhile released another 10" vinyl mini album, Pastures of Plenty in November 1999. The inspiration for the instrumentals on this record was a trip around the United States. He spent his free time during his year of teaching working on the 26-track am deister album which was eventually released in the spring of 2001. Reviews were almost unanimously positive with many commenting on its originality, innocence and Bavarian quality. This was his first album release on CD and this, coupled with a less-limited release allowed his music to be brought to a larger audience. This album was the only release by "Dave Tyack's Dakota Oak" as Dave wished to leave his old nom de plume behind and become known as David Tyack from this point (this is explained in its inlay card). The one single spawned by this album is "How Danny's friends became a force for good"; the title taken from a chapter title in the John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck
John Ernst Steinbeck, Jr. was an American writer. He is widely known for the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden and the novella Of Mice and Men...
novel Tortilla Flat
Tortilla Flat
Tortilla Flat is an early John Steinbeck novel set in Monterey, California. The novel was the author's first clear critical and commercial success....
; the single also featured a cover of Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
's Helpless. Meanwhile Dave had gone from teaching to working in the call centre at Smile, the internet bank
Smile (bank)
Smile, or smile.co.uk, is a British internet bank, and a trading division of The Co-operative Bank. It was established as the UK's first full internet bank in 1999. Other banks, like Egg and First-e, had opened in previous years but Smile was the first to offer full-service current accounts,...
, which was a happier time for him, but a publishing deal allowed him to give up his job and concentrate on his music. He began collaborating more, with Badly Drawn Boy on Wrecking the Stage and Mum and Dad on Black Sabbath in 2000 and then joining Misty Dixon, another Twisted Nerve act, initially to aid with four-track recording but eventually playing drums and piano and writing with Jane Weaver
Jane Weaver
Jane Weaver is a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Liverpool, England. She runs the record label Bird.-Background:Weaver has performed as part of the Britpop group Kill Laura, the folktronica project Misty Dixon and as a solo artist....
. Misty Dixon's first release was the Milk Money EP in February 2001 with Dave co-writing one of the four tracks "Headlights (and when we drive)", this release also garnered some acclaim.
Twisted Nerve celebrated its thirtieth release in the Autumn of 2001 with a compilation "Everything you always wanted to know about Twisted Nerve but were afraid to ask" featuring tracks from previous releases of all of its artists. The accompanying tour spanned the UK and Dave played at every date, because he performed with so many of the acts. Dave played his own material with a new ensemble, featuring Naomi Hart on cello and Richard Tomlinson (who now records as Voice of the Seven Woods
Voice of the Seven Woods
Voice of the Seven Woods is the project of a Bolton based musician, Rick Tomlinson, who has released several 7" EPs and self-released CD-Rs. The band is most commonly associated with the Manchester alternative music scene, and is regularly associated with the B-Music collective; a Manchester...
) playing guitar and cornet. The mini LP that followed, "David Tyack with Richard Tomlinson and Naomi Hart" contained some new compositions, new arrangements of tracks from am deister, a cover of Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt
John Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
's Colorado Girl and the traditional song Rock Island Line (which, unusually, Dave sang), all recorded as live in a studio. D.O.T. also released their first album "Across Shawcroft" in October 2001.
2002 saw Dave collaborating, writing and recording for several releases. At the time of his disappearance he had completed recording on the first Misty Dixon album and the second D.O.T. album. He played on Jane Weaver's mini-album "Like an aspen leaf", released in May 2002 and recorded new music for the Twisted Nerve compilation Zoo. He completed recording with Malcolm Mooney on Rip Van Winkle and also painted several paintings for the project, for exhibition and for the album's artwork. He was demo-ing new material with lyrics before he went on holiday.
Dave was found dead on the island of Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
in June 2004, nearly two years after being declared missing, having apparently fallen to his death. An album titled Rip Van Winkle which featured his music was released posthumously. The album contained a reading of Rip Van Winkle
Rip Van Winkle
"Rip Van Winkle" is a short story by the American author Washington Irving published in 1819, as well as the name of the story's fictional protagonist. Written while Irving was living in Birmingham, England, it was part of a collection entitled The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon...
, read by former Can
Can (band)
Can was an experimental rock band formed in Cologne, West Germany in 1968. Later labeled as one of the first "krautrock" groups, they transcended mainstream influences and incorporated strong minimalist and world music elements into their often psychedelic music.Can constructed their music largely...
front man Malcolm Mooney
Malcolm Mooney
Malcolm Mooney is an American singer, poet, and artist, probably best known as the original vocalist for German krautrock band Can.-Biography:Mooney began singing in high school, and was a member of an a cappella vocal group known as the Six Fifths...
.
Discography
SinglesTN021 – How Danny's Friends Became A Force For Good (as Dakota Oak)
Mini LPs
TN005 – Kaleidascope (as Dakota Oak)
TN008 – Pastures Of Plenty (as Dakota Oak)
TN031 – Dave Tyack With Richard Tomlinson
Voice of the Seven Woods
Voice of the Seven Woods is the project of a Bolton based musician, Rick Tomlinson, who has released several 7" EPs and self-released CD-Rs. The band is most commonly associated with the Manchester alternative music scene, and is regularly associated with the B-Music collective; a Manchester...
& Naomi Hart
Albums
TN022 – Am Deister (as Dakota Oak) – was also a 4 track VHS
TN043 – Rip Van Winkle (With Malcolm Mooney
Malcolm Mooney
Malcolm Mooney is an American singer, poet, and artist, probably best known as the original vocalist for German krautrock band Can.-Biography:Mooney began singing in high school, and was a member of an a cappella vocal group known as the Six Fifths...
)
Compilation Appearances
TN003 – All Oar Nothing
TNXMS001 – Christmas Stocking Filler
TN009 – Modern Music For Motorcycles
TN015cd – Bends For 166 Miles
TN030 – Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Twisted Nerve
TN040 – Twisted Nerve Zoo
Elsewhere
TN014 – J'adore Le Batterie
TNXL005 – Badly Drawn Boy
Badly Drawn Boy
Damon Gough is an English alternative music singer/songwriter. He was born on 2 October 1969, in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. He grew up in the Breightmet area of Bolton, Lancashire, England....
– Wrecking The Stage (playing drums)
TN024 – Mum&Dad – Black Sabbath (playing drums)
Critical Acclaim
"Hypnotically wonky... like discovering a spooky Eastern European carnival in your attic."(NMENME
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...
)
"Deeply wonderful. A seriously good album."(Sunday Times)
"A unique and impressive record... lush instrumentals and gorgeous acoustic ditties. Awesome." (4/5 – Uncut)
"Beautiful, melodic Bavarian folk." (i-D)
"A rare and honest evocation of our youth." (4/5 – Jockey Slut)