International Observer
Encyclopedia
International Observer is a New Zealand
band
formed by Tom Bailey, musician and ex-lead singer of the British
band
the Thompson Twins
, who rose to fame during the 1980s. Their initial debut album Seen
featured Māori visual artist Rakai Karaitiana as part of the project.
and subsequent group Babble, Bailey had taken to producing the New Zealand band Stellar* whilst still being resident in the country (Bailey would subsequently move back to Europe in 2005). The success of this collaboration allowed him to focus on his own music which had moved into the world of dub
music, or "chill music" as it is sometimes referred to in New Zealand.
The initial venture into the public consciousness was through playing festivals in New Zealand. The success of his two hour sets allowed Bailey to build a following for International Observer. When time came to compile a studio recording, there were enough pieces to complete a box set. The debut release was Seen
released initially on the project's own IO Audio label. However, when the album emerged in the UK
, the Birmingham-based dub
label Different Drummer took on the task of distributing the album. After the release of the debut album, and prior to Bailey's relocation to Europe, Karaitiana left the project.
The second album All Played Out
was released in 2005 only in New Zealand on the Round Trip label. The album contained unreleased music that had been initially recorded for the Seen
album.
In 2007, third album Heard saw a more international release, as Bailey moved back to Europe to live in France, and perform live at several dates in the UK
. For the widening audience of the project, and with aspirations towards the US
market, Heard contained a mixture of tracks from the All Played Out
album, as well as London from the Seen EP, live and further unreleased cuts. The album also featured a cover created by his new wife and artist Lauren Drescher.
The fourth album Felt was released in 2009 and features a take on the classic folk song House of the Rising Sun.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
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 Tom Bailey, musician and ex-lead singer of the British
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...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
the Thompson Twins
Thompson Twins
The Thompson Twins were a British pop group that were formed in April 1977 and disbanded in May 1993. They achieved considerable popularity in the mid 1980s, scoring a string of hits in the United Kingdom, the United States and around the globe. The band was named after the two bumbling detectives...
, who rose to fame during the 1980s. Their initial debut album Seen
Seen (album)
Seen is the debut album from International Observer, the solo project of former Thompson Twins and Babble musician Tom Bailey. Released in 2001, an EP of the same name was released a year later featuring a different mix of existing album track Vale along with the new track London...
featured Māori visual artist Rakai Karaitiana as part of the project.
Career
Following from the ashes of both the Thompson TwinsThompson Twins
The Thompson Twins were a British pop group that were formed in April 1977 and disbanded in May 1993. They achieved considerable popularity in the mid 1980s, scoring a string of hits in the United Kingdom, the United States and around the globe. The band was named after the two bumbling detectives...
and subsequent group Babble, Bailey had taken to producing the New Zealand band Stellar* whilst still being resident in the country (Bailey would subsequently move back to Europe in 2005). The success of this collaboration allowed him to focus on his own music which had moved into the world of dub
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
music, or "chill music" as it is sometimes referred to in New Zealand.
The initial venture into the public consciousness was through playing festivals in New Zealand. The success of his two hour sets allowed Bailey to build a following for International Observer. When time came to compile a studio recording, there were enough pieces to complete a box set. The debut release was Seen
Seen (album)
Seen is the debut album from International Observer, the solo project of former Thompson Twins and Babble musician Tom Bailey. Released in 2001, an EP of the same name was released a year later featuring a different mix of existing album track Vale along with the new track London...
released initially on the project's own IO Audio label. However, when the album emerged 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 Birmingham-based dub
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
label Different Drummer took on the task of distributing the album. After the release of the debut album, and prior to Bailey's relocation to Europe, Karaitiana left the project.
The second album All Played Out
All Played Out
All Played Out is the second album from Tom Bailey's solo project International Observer. Released in 2005.-Track listing:...
was released in 2005 only in New Zealand on the Round Trip label. The album contained unreleased music that had been initially recorded for the Seen
Seen (album)
Seen is the debut album from International Observer, the solo project of former Thompson Twins and Babble musician Tom Bailey. Released in 2001, an EP of the same name was released a year later featuring a different mix of existing album track Vale along with the new track London...
album.
In 2007, third album Heard saw a more international release, as Bailey moved back to Europe to live in France, and perform live at several dates 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...
. For the widening audience of the project, and with aspirations towards the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
market, Heard contained a mixture of tracks from the All Played Out
All Played Out
All Played Out is the second album from Tom Bailey's solo project International Observer. Released in 2005.-Track listing:...
album, as well as London from the Seen EP, live and further unreleased cuts. The album also featured a cover created by his new wife and artist Lauren Drescher.
The fourth album Felt was released in 2009 and features a take on the classic folk song House of the Rising Sun.
Albums
| Year | Albums |
|---|---|
| 2001 | Seen Seen (album) Seen is the debut album from International Observer, the solo project of former Thompson Twins and Babble musician Tom Bailey. Released in 2001, an EP of the same name was released a year later featuring a different mix of existing album track Vale along with the new track London... |
| 2005 | All Played Out All Played Out All Played Out is the second album from Tom Bailey's solo project International Observer. Released in 2005.-Track listing:... |
| 2007 | Heard |
| 2009 | Felt |