Ikara Colt
Encyclopedia
Ikara Colt were an English
four-piece art rock
band
, formed by art students at London Guildhall University. They had a five-year career, beginning in 1999 and ending on 17 January 2005. The band had stated in interviews their intention to disband before they "turn into some old, tired and jaded outfit"; this was the reasoning behind the decision to break up after just two album
s and one EP
. In the UK
, the band were signed to the London
based independent record label
, Fantastic Plastic Records
, while Epitaph
distributed their records in the US
.
The band were not typically associated with any particular music scene, playing on tour with a variety of diverse bands, though influences included bands such as Sonic Youth
and The Fall.
In 2003, they undertook a six week tour of the US, with Sweden
's Sahara Hotnights
and the US's The Washdown.
Original bass player Jon Ball left the band in 2003, to be replaced by Tracy Bellaries (formerly of Soulbossa), although Ball was still involved for most of the songwriting process and some of the recording of Modern Apprentice
, the band's second and final album. Bellaries afterwards joined the group Mystery Meat, and later Part Chimp
.
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...
four-piece art rock
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...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, formed by art students at London Guildhall University. They had a five-year career, beginning in 1999 and ending on 17 January 2005. The band had stated in interviews their intention to disband before they "turn into some old, tired and jaded outfit"; this was the reasoning behind the decision to break up after just two album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s and one EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
. In the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the band were signed to 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...
based independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
, Fantastic Plastic Records
Fantastic Plastic Records
Fantastic Plastic Records is a London based record label. It was independent until 15 June 2007 when the Sanctuary Group was bought by the Universal Music Group.-Current artists:* Bearsuit* Bricolage* Guillemots* Luke Haines* New Cassettes* Oppenheimer...
, while Epitaph
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
distributed their records in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The band were not typically associated with any particular music scene, playing on tour with a variety of diverse bands, though influences included bands such as Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
and The Fall.
In 2003, they undertook a six week tour of the US, with Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
's Sahara Hotnights
Sahara Hotnights
Sahara Hotnights is a rock band from Robertsfors, Sweden. Their style incorporates elements of garage rock, power pop and punk. While in Australia, Josephine Forsman bet on a horse named Sahara Hotnights and used the name for the band.-History:...
and the US's The Washdown.
Original bass player Jon Ball left the band in 2003, to be replaced by Tracy Bellaries (formerly of Soulbossa), although Ball was still involved for most of the songwriting process and some of the recording of Modern Apprentice
Modern Apprentice
Modern Apprentice is the final album released by Ikara Colt before their eventual break-up in January 2005. The album was recorded with Tracy Bellaries playing most of the bass parts, despite the fact she had not been in the band for most of the writing process but had only joined after the...
, the band's second and final album. Bellaries afterwards joined the group Mystery Meat, and later Part Chimp
Part Chimp
Part Chimp is a band from Camberwell in London that were formed by Tim Cedar, Jon Hamilton and Nick Prior in 2000. Current line-up is Tim , Jon , Joe McLaughlin and Iain Hinchliffe ....
.
Band members
- Claire Ingram (guitar/vocals)
- Paul Resende (vocals)
- Dominic Young (drums)
- Jon Ball (bass) (1999-2003)
- Tracy Bellaries (bass) (2003-2005)
Albums
- Chat and BusinessChat and BusinessChat and Business is the debut album from British post punk / art rock band Ikara Colt. It was released on Fantastic Plastic Records on March 4th 2002 Chat and Business is the debut album from British post punk / art rock band Ikara Colt. It was released on Fantastic Plastic Records on March 4th...
- (March 2002)- Re-released in December 2003 with Basic Instructions EP
- Modern ApprenticeModern ApprenticeModern Apprentice is the final album released by Ikara Colt before their eventual break-up in January 2005. The album was recorded with Tracy Bellaries playing most of the bass parts, despite the fact she had not been in the band for most of the writing process but had only joined after the...
- (June 2004)
Singles
- "Sink Venice" - May 2001 (b/w "At The Lodge" & "Escalate")
- "One Note" - October 2001 (b/w "Surf 2" & "Kite")
- "Rudd" - February 2002 (b/w "Your Vain Attempts" & "Memory") - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#72 - "Live at the Astoria" - November 2003 (b/w "I'm With Stupid" & "At The Lodge")
- "Wanna Be That Way" - February 2004 (b/w "Leave This Country", "The Other" & "Start Up") - UK #49
- "Wake in the City" - May 2004 (b/w "Til The End", "Keep It To Yourself" & "Repetition") - UK #55
- "Modern Feeling" - October 2004 b/w "Seeing Double", "Ring Road" & "Modern Feeling JCB Mix") - UK #61