Mojave 3
Encyclopedia
Mojave 3 are a British
band
, consisting of Neil Halstead
, Rachel Goswell
, Simon Rowe, Alan Forrester, and Ian McCutcheon. Goswell, Halstead and McCutcheon previously played in Thames Valley shoegazing
band Slowdive
.
The band initially existed as a trio, consisting of Halstead, Goswell, and McCutcheon. After Slowdive were dropped by Creation Records
, the trio decided to change musical direction to a dream pop
/country rock
/folk music
style, and were signed by 4AD Records. They took on the new name "Mojave," following a suggestion by Wendy Fonarow
, but upon the discovery of another band already using the name, the "3" was added (in reference to the group's three members). Rowe (formerly of Chapterhouse) and Forrester joined shortly after the release of their first album.
Both Halstead (the main songwriter for the band) and Goswell have released solo albums, also for 4AD. McCutcheon founded and is currently playing with his band called The Loose Salute
who are signed to Heavenly Records
and Graveface Records
.
In 2006, Mojave 3 did a Take-Away Show session with Vincent Moon
. According to Halstead, the band is on hiatus as of 2008, but they are planning to release at least one more album in the future.
Despite still being listed as "on hiatus", the band returned to playing live in 2011, including gigs supporting Band of Horses
. During a radio interview on Israeli radio station Kol HaCampus on May 7, 2011, Halstead said the band are working on new material, and may be recording during the summer.
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...
, consisting of Neil Halstead
Neil Halstead
Neil Halstead is a British guitarist and singer, described as "one of Britain's most respected songwriters" by Allmusic. He was a founding member of Slowdive, a band often associated with the shoegazer musical genre...
, Rachel Goswell
Rachel Goswell
Rachel Goswell is a singer-songwriter who was a vocalist with shoegazing pioneers Slowdive. Goswell, along with Neil Halstead, Ian McCutcheon and former Chapterhouse member Simon Rowe became Mojave 3 when Slowdive transitioned to a more country/folk rock style...
, Simon Rowe, Alan Forrester, and Ian McCutcheon. Goswell, Halstead and McCutcheon previously played in Thames Valley shoegazing
Shoegazing
Shoegazing is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged from the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. It lasted there until the mid 1990s, with a critical zenith reached in 1990 and 1991...
band Slowdive
Slowdive
Slowdive were an English shoegaze band that formed in 1989. The band formed in Reading, Berkshire and primarily consisted of Nick Chaplin , Rachel Goswell , Neil Halstead , and Christian Savill...
.
The band initially existed as a trio, consisting of Halstead, Goswell, and McCutcheon. After Slowdive were dropped by Creation Records
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
, the trio decided to change musical direction to a dream pop
Dream pop
Dream pop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s, when bands like The Passions, Dif Juz, Lowlife and A.R. Kane began fusing post-punk and ethereal experiments with bittersweet pop melodies into dreamy, sensual soundscapes. The term was almost...
/country rock
Country rock
Country rock is sub-genre of popular music, formed from the fusion of rock with country. The term is generally used to refer to the wave of rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s, beginning with Bob Dylan and The Byrds; reaching its greatest...
/folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
style, and were signed by 4AD Records. They took on the new name "Mojave," following a suggestion by Wendy Fonarow
Wendy Fonarow
Wendy Fonarow aka "the indie professor" is an anthropology professor at Glendale College, writer and music industry professional. She is best known for the book Empire of Dirt, and for her column Ask the Indie Professor in The Guardian....
, but upon the discovery of another band already using the name, the "3" was added (in reference to the group's three members). Rowe (formerly of Chapterhouse) and Forrester joined shortly after the release of their first album.
Both Halstead (the main songwriter for the band) and Goswell have released solo albums, also for 4AD. McCutcheon founded and is currently playing with his band called The Loose Salute
The Loose Salute
The Loose Salute are a British band founded by drummer Ian McCutcheon of Slowdive and Mojave 3 who also sings and plays guitar. The band consists of Lisa Billson , Charlotte King , Alan Forrester...
who are signed to Heavenly Records
Heavenly Records
Heavenly Records, aka Heavenly Recordings, is a London-based record label, distributed by EMI. Founded by Jeff Barrett, a former press officer for Creation Records and many successful indie bands of the time including Happy Mondays, Heavenly Recordings' first releases were 7" and 12" singles for...
and Graveface Records
Graveface records
Graveface Records is an independent record label from Chicago, Illinois. It has released recordings by The Appleseed Cast, Monster Movie, Dreamend, Jakob, Spires That in the Sunset Rise, Daturah, The Loose Salute, Hundred Hands, Black Moth Super Rainbow, and Power Pill Fist.List of known releases...
.
In 2006, Mojave 3 did a Take-Away Show session with Vincent Moon
Vincent Moon
Vincent Moon is an independent filmmaker from Paris mainly known for his field work music videos of indie rock related musicians as well as some notable mainstream artists like Tom Jones, R.E.M. or Arcade Fire. Besides making music videos he also makes experimental films and documentaries...
. According to Halstead, the band is on hiatus as of 2008, but they are planning to release at least one more album in the future.
Despite still being listed as "on hiatus", the band returned to playing live in 2011, including gigs supporting Band of Horses
Band of Horses
Band of Horses, originally briefly known as Horses, are an American rock band formed in 2004 in Seattle by Ben Bridwell. They have released three studio albums, the most recent and most successful of which is 2010's Grammy nominated Infinite Arms...
. During a radio interview on Israeli radio station Kol HaCampus on May 7, 2011, Halstead said the band are working on new material, and may be recording during the summer.
Albums
- Ask Me TomorrowAsk Me Tomorrow-Track listing:...
(October 16, 1995) CAD 5013 - Out of TuneOut of Tune (album)Out of Tune is the second album by Mojave 3, released on October 5, 1998.-Track listing:...
(October 5, 1998) CAD 8018 - Excuses for TravellersExcuses for Travellers-Singles:* "In Love with a View" ** 7" vinyl, TAD 2K03*# "In Love with a View"*# "Prayer for the Paranoid" * "Any Day Will Be Fine" ** CD single, BAD 2K04CD; 7" vinyl, AD 2K04*# "Any Day Will Be Fine"...
(May 15, 2000) CAD 2K05 - Spoon and RafterSpoon and RafterSpoon and Rafter is the fourth album by the British country rock-folk group Mojave 3, released on September 22, 2003 in the UK, and a day later in the US. It was received to generally positive reviews, averaging a 76 on Metacritic...
(September 22, 2003) CAD 2309 - Puzzles Like YouPuzzles Like YouPuzzles Like You is the fifth album by the British country rock-folk group Mojave 3, released on June 19, 2006. The album was regarded as taking the band away from their old sound and leading in to a more uptempo style...
(June 19, 2006) CAD 2604
Singles & EPs
- "Who Do You Love" (June 29, 1998) BAD 8011
- "Some Kinda Angel" (September 7, 1998) BAD 8016
- "In Love with a View" (April 3, 2000) TAD 2K03
- "Any Day Will Be Fine" (May 1, 2000) BAD 2K04
- "Return to Sender" (September 11, 2000) BAD 2K17
- "Breaking the Ice" (June 5, 2006) BAD 2602
- "Puzzles Like You" (November 6, 2006) AD 2615
External links
- Official website
- Mojave 3 Gigography
- Mojave 3 at musicOMH.com
- Mojave 3 at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive - Review of Puzzles Like You at Subculture Magazine