Miranda Sex Garden
Encyclopedia
Miranda Sex Garden were a music group from London
, England
. Formed in 1990, they were originally a trio of madrigal
singers. Their first album, Madra
(1991), was entirely a cappella
, with the songs all based on traditional English verse. By their second release, Iris
(1992), the sound evolved into a blend of their madrigal-styled vocals with sounds reminiscent of gothic rock
, darkwave
, ethereal wave
and industrial music
. Their sound became increasingly dark and sophisticated over the years. Around the time of their third album, Fairytales of Slavery
, they said they wanted to create music that evoked a "seductive garden of earthly delights, full of colour and chaos."
remained in the group for their entire run. The performers on their last album, Carnival of Souls, were:
Former members:
Katharine Blake released her debut solo album, Midnight Flower, in 2007
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...
. Formed in 1990, they were originally a trio of madrigal
Madrigal (music)
A madrigal is a secular vocal music composition, usually a partsong, of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Traditionally, polyphonic madrigals are unaccompanied; the number of voices varies from two to eight, and most frequently from three to six....
singers. Their first album, Madra
Madra (album)
Madra is the debut album of Miranda Sex Garden. It stands apart from their later works in that it is entirely a cappella and the songs are all English madrigals...
(1991), was entirely a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
, with the songs all based on traditional English verse. By their second release, Iris
Iris (EP)
Iris is Miranda Sex Garden's second release, and first EP.-Track listing:#"Lovely Joan" – 2:40#"Falling" – 5:39#"Fear" – 7:07#"Blue Light" – 6:30#"Iris" – 7:18...
(1992), the sound evolved into a blend of their madrigal-styled vocals with sounds reminiscent of gothic rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
, darkwave
Darkwave
Dark Wave or darkwave is a music genre that began in the late 1970s, coinciding with the popularity of New Wave and post-punk. Building on those basic principles, dark wave added dark, introspective lyrics and an undertone of sorrow for some bands...
, ethereal wave
Ethereal Wave
Ethereal Wave, also called ethereal darkwave in Europe and ethereal goth or simply ethereal in the US, is a term that describes a subgenre of Dark Wave music...
and industrial music
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
. Their sound became increasingly dark and sophisticated over the years. Around the time of their third album, Fairytales of Slavery
Fairytales of Slavery
Fairytales of Slavery is the penultimate release by Miranda Sex Garden, issued on Mute Records in June 1994. Produced in part by Alexander Hacke of Einstürzende Neubauten, the album blends a great number of elements of different genres, including but not limited to gothic rock, darkwave,...
, they said they wanted to create music that evoked a "seductive garden of earthly delights, full of colour and chaos."
Members
The members in the group changed significantly over time; only Katharine BlakeKatharine Blake
Katharine Blake is a British singer, songwriter and musician originally from London. She was the lead singer of Miranda Sex Garden, and is a founding member, singer and musical director of the musical group the Mediæval Bæbes....
remained in the group for their entire run. The performers on their last album, Carnival of Souls, were:
- Katharine BlakeKatharine BlakeKatharine Blake is a British singer, songwriter and musician originally from London. She was the lead singer of Miranda Sex Garden, and is a founding member, singer and musical director of the musical group the Mediæval Bæbes....
(vocals, 1991–2000) - Trevor Sharpe (drumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s, 1992–2000) - Ben Golomstock (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...
, 1992–2000) - Teresa Casella (bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, 2000) - Mike Servent (keyboardKeyboard 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...
s, 2000) - Barney Hollington (violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and Hammond organHammond organThe Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
, 2000)
Former members:
- Kelly McCusker (vocals, 1991–1994)
- Jocelyn West (vocals, 1991)
- Donna McKevittDonna McKevittDonna McKevitt is an English composer based in London. She studied viola with Gustav Clarkson and voice with Linda Hirst and gained a BA Hons in music at Kingston Polytechnic....
(vocals, 1992–1994) - Hepzibah Sessa (vocals and keyboards, 1994)
Katharine Blake released her debut solo album, Midnight Flower, in 2007
Discography
- MadraMadra (album)Madra is the debut album of Miranda Sex Garden. It stands apart from their later works in that it is entirely a cappella and the songs are all English madrigals...
(1991) - IrisIris (EP)Iris is Miranda Sex Garden's second release, and first EP.-Track listing:#"Lovely Joan" – 2:40#"Falling" – 5:39#"Fear" – 7:07#"Blue Light" – 6:30#"Iris" – 7:18...
(EP, 1992) - SunshineSunshine (EP)Sunshine is Miranda Sex Garden's third release, and second EP.-Track listing:#"Sunshine"#"Muff Diving Size Queen"#"Fear"#"Willie Biddle in His Watery Grave"...
(EP, 1993) - SuspiriaSuspiria (Miranda Sex Garden album)Suspiria is Miranda Sex Garden's third release, and second album. It saw them moving further into the sounds of darkwave and gothic rock.-Track listing:#"Ardera Sempre" – 4:52#"Open Eyes" – 6:30#"Sunshine" – 5:28#"Distance" – 3:22#"Play" – 4:16...
(1993) - Fairytales of SlaveryFairytales of SlaveryFairytales of Slavery is the penultimate release by Miranda Sex Garden, issued on Mute Records in June 1994. Produced in part by Alexander Hacke of Einstürzende Neubauten, the album blends a great number of elements of different genres, including but not limited to gothic rock, darkwave,...
(1994) - Carnival of Souls (2000)