Language of Flowers (band)
Encyclopedia
Language of Flowers are a five piece indie-pop band originally from Belfast
in Northern Ireland
signed to San Francisco indie label Shelflife Records
. As of 2006 its members are located in London
, Manchester
and Belfast. The band's sound is characteristic of the British C86
movement with heavy use of jangling Rickenbacker
12-string guitars, airy female vocals and bright pop melodies.
) and Marc McCourt (guitar
) hastily assembled a band with their friend Jeff Lynas on vocals to support the twee pop band Heavenly
after they had booked them to play in Derry, Northern Ireland. This initial incarnation of the band split up immediately after their first gig (which included a cover of Velocity Girl by Primal Scream
) after Heavenly’s singer Amelia Fletcher
compared their shambolic sound to riot grrl band Huggy Bear, quite the opposite of the poppy, melodic Sarah Records
influenced style they were aiming for. They would not play again for over 10 years.
influenced band. With Tara taking up vocal duties and Ashton on rhythm guitar they began searching for a drummer around Belfast. Ironically in a city famous for banging its drums this turned out to be a difficult challenge and after exhausting the local area, Colm turned to Bentley Cooke, with whom he shared a flat with whilst living in Leicester
in the mid-90's but who was now based in Manchester, England. After recording a 4 track demo the band quickly signed to Shelflife and released their debut album Songs About You in 2004. The album was well received by international fanzines with reviews noting the band's classic indie pop influences from the aforementioned bands Field Mice and Heavenly as well as The Smiths
, Comet Gain
, The Go-Betweens
and Lush
.
The band spent 2005-2006 playing across the UK with other indie pop bands Camera Obscura (band)
, Trembling Blue Stars
, Malcolm Middleton
and Pipas as well as touring around Northern Europe.
Language of Flowers disbanded in 2007. Colm and Bentley have gone on to form the krautpop-lounge-gaze band Help Stamp Out Loneliness, whilst Marc is currently recording an album with his new Belfast Goth band, Solemn Novena
.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
signed to San Francisco indie label Shelflife Records
Shelflife Records
Shelflife Records is a Portland and San Francisco based independent record label run by Ed Mazzucco and Matthew Bice and has produced such bands as Days, Acid House Kings, and The Radio Dept.- History :...
. As of 2006 its members are located in 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...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and Belfast. The band's sound is characteristic of the British C86
C86 (music)
C86 is a cassette compilation released by the British music magazine NME in 1986, featuring new bands licensed from independent labels of the time. As a phrase, C86 quickly evolved into shorthand for a guitar-based musical genre characterised by "jangly" guitars and fey melodies, although other...
movement with heavy use of jangling Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric and bass guitar manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California...
12-string guitars, airy female vocals and bright pop melodies.
Language of Flowers Mk1 (1992)
Language of Flowers Mk1 started out in 1992 when friends Colm McCrory (bass guitarBass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) and Marc McCourt (guitar
Guitar
The 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...
) hastily assembled a band with their friend Jeff Lynas on vocals to support the twee pop band Heavenly
Heavenly
Heavenly may refer to:In music:* Heavenly , a twee pop band from Oxford, England* Heavenly , a power metal band from Paris, France* Heavenly , released in 1959....
after they had booked them to play in Derry, Northern Ireland. This initial incarnation of the band split up immediately after their first gig (which included a cover of Velocity Girl by Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
) after Heavenly’s singer Amelia Fletcher
Amelia Fletcher
Amelia Fletcher is a British singer, songwriter, guitarist, and economist. She has been the frontwoman of an evolving series of pop groups from the 1980s to the present...
compared their shambolic sound to riot grrl band Huggy Bear, quite the opposite of the poppy, melodic Sarah Records
Sarah Records
Sarah Records was a UK independent record label active between 1987 and 1995, best known for its recordings of indie pop.The label was formed in Bristol in 1987 by Clare Wadd and Matt Haynes, and grew out of the fanzine scene at the time, Haynes having previously edited Are You Scared To Get...
influenced style they were aiming for. They would not play again for over 10 years.
Language of Flowers Mk2 (2003 - 2007)
In 2003 Marc and Colm decided to reform the band after mutual friends Ashton Cameron and Tara Simpson had toyed with the idea of starting a Field MiceThe Field Mice
The Field Mice were an indie pop band on the indie label Sarah Records. Initially a duo from South London suburb of Mitcham comprising Robert Wratten and Michael Hiscock, their first EP, Emma's House, was released in November 1988, and reached number 20 in the UK Independent Chart...
influenced band. With Tara taking up vocal duties and Ashton on rhythm guitar they began searching for a drummer around Belfast. Ironically in a city famous for banging its drums this turned out to be a difficult challenge and after exhausting the local area, Colm turned to Bentley Cooke, with whom he shared a flat with whilst living in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
in the mid-90's but who was now based in Manchester, England. After recording a 4 track demo the band quickly signed to Shelflife and released their debut album Songs About You in 2004. The album was well received by international fanzines with reviews noting the band's classic indie pop influences from the aforementioned bands Field Mice and Heavenly as well as The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, Comet Gain
Comet Gain
Comet Gain are a British indie pop band, formed by singer-songwriter and guitarist David Bower in 1992, with influences including punk, post-punk and northern soul...
, The Go-Betweens
The Go-Betweens
The Go-Betweens were an indie rock band formed in Brisbane, Australia in 1977 by singer-songwriters and guitarists, Robert Forster and Grant McLennan. They were later joined by Lindy Morrison on drums, Robert Vickers on bass guitar and Amanda Brown on violin, oboe, guitar, and backing vocals,...
and Lush
Lush
-People:* Archibald Lush, a Welsh school inspector* Billy Lush, an American actor* David Lush, Canadian politician* Ernie Lush, American Baseball player* Jay Laurence Lush, an American geneticist* Jane Lush, a British worker...
.
The band spent 2005-2006 playing across the UK with other indie pop bands Camera Obscura (band)
Camera Obscura (band)
Camera Obscura are an indie pop band from Glasgow, Scotland. The band formed in 1996 and have released four albums to date.-History:Camera Obscura were formed in 1996 by Tracyanne Campbell, John Henderson, and Gavin Dunbar. Several other members performed with the band before David Skirving joined...
, Trembling Blue Stars
Trembling Blue Stars
Trembling Blue Stars is a London-based band that currently includes members Robert Wratten and Beth Arzy . Begun as a side project of Wratten's previous band Northern Picture Library, Trembling Blue Stars became Wratten's main band when Northern Picture Library broke up in 1995...
, Malcolm Middleton
Malcolm Middleton
Malcolm Bruce Middleton is a Scottish musician best known for his work with Aidan Moffat in post-folk indie band Arab Strap as well as his solo career writing and producing...
and Pipas as well as touring around Northern Europe.
Language of Flowers disbanded in 2007. Colm and Bentley have gone on to form the krautpop-lounge-gaze band Help Stamp Out Loneliness, whilst Marc is currently recording an album with his new Belfast Goth band, Solemn Novena
Solemn Novena
Solemn Novena were a gothic rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland.-History:Solemn Novena formed in early 2006 in Belfast, Northern Ireland...
.
Band members
- Tara Simpson - Vocals, Guitar, Percussion
- Marc McCourt - Guitar
- Colm McCrory - Bass Guitar, Vocals
- Ashton Cameron - Guitar
- Bentley Cooke - Drums
- Robert Cardwell - Drums
- Jeff Lynas - Guitar, Vocals
- Ciaran Neeson - Vocals
- Gavin Dunbar - Drums
- Michael Cassidy - Other Instrument