Pacific Ocean Fire
Encyclopedia
Pacific Ocean Fire are a folk rock group from Leicester
, England
, who have released five albums. Their music is generally considered alternative or Americana
.
, guitar
), his brother Andy Bennett (drums
), Ross Voce (guitar), and David Fellows (bass
, trumpet
). They cite among their influences Sebadoh
, Dennis Wilson
, Plush
, Tindersticks
, and Silver Jews
. The band recorded two EP
's which they gave away at concerts, leading to American
label Smokeylung picking them up and releasing their self-titled second album in 2005, a North American tour following.
Their third album, From the Station to the Church We are Under the Same Stars, was released on Sorted Records, the title referring to the way it was recorded:
After previously playing the Musician Stage of the Summer Sundae
festival, they performed on the main stage in 2007, also performing at the Truck Festival
and the dumduckerdum Music Festival, then going on to tour the UK with Josh T Pearson. The band's fourth album, Strangers and Deranged Patients was released in November 2007 on the American Azra label. It was followed by a US tour in 2008.
The band split in September 2009 after performing their farewell gig at Camden Dingwalls supporting Drugstore
following an invitation to play from Isabel Monteiro. Their final album, Hibernation songs, written amidst and largely about very personal tragedies for songwriter Jon Bennett, namely the dissolution of his marriage and the death of his father was released on Azra Records in July 2010.
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...
, 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...
, who have released five albums. Their music is generally considered alternative or Americana
Americana (music)
Americana is an amalgam of roots musics formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the American musical ethos; specifically those sounds that are merged from folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and other external influential styles...
.
History
The band formed in 2001 and comprises Jon Bennett (vocalsSinging
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, 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...
), his brother Andy Bennett (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
), Ross Voce (guitar), and David Fellows (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
). They cite among their influences Sebadoh
Sebadoh
Sebadoh is an American indie rock band, formed in 1986 in Westfield, Massachusetts by Eric Gaffney and Dinosaur Jr bass player Lou Barlow. Along with such bands as Pavement and Guided by Voices, Sebadoh helped pioneer lo-fi music, a style of indie rock characterized by low-fidelity recording...
, Dennis Wilson
Dennis Wilson
Dennis Carl Wilson was an American rock and roll musician best known as a founding member and the drummer of The Beach Boys. He was a member of the group from its formation until his death in 1983...
, Plush
Plush (band)
For the artist Liam Hayes and Plush, please see Liam Hayes. This article concerns itself with the South African band Plush.-Members:Rory Eliot is lead singer and rhythm guitarist. He was born in Durban in 1980. He began singing at age 8, got his first guitar at 15 and then combined music and words...
, Tindersticks
Tindersticks
Tindersticks are an Indie rock band from Nottingham, England formed in 1991. They released six albums before singer Stuart A. Staples took on a solo career. The band reunited briefly in 2006, but more permanently the following year...
, and Silver Jews
Silver Jews
Silver Jews was an indie rock band from New York City, formed in 1989 by David Berman along with Pavement's Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich. Berman remained throughout and was the only constant member. During the last few albums, Cassie Berman became a regular member of the band...
. The band recorded two 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...
's which they gave away at concerts, leading to American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
label Smokeylung picking them up and releasing their self-titled second album in 2005, a North American tour following.
Their third album, From the Station to the Church We are Under the Same Stars, was released on Sorted Records, the title referring to the way it was recorded:
"We recorded half of the album at night in a room above Leicester train station. The other half was recorded and mixed at Dave’s home, he lived on a road with “church” in the street name, so that was it".
After previously playing the Musician Stage of the Summer Sundae
Summer Sundae
Summer Sundae is an annual music festival held in Leicester, England which focuses on indie, alternative, and local music...
festival, they performed on the main stage in 2007, also performing at the Truck Festival
Truck Festival
Truck Festival is an annual independent music festival in Oxfordshire, England. It was started in 1998 by the Bennett family , who decided that mainstream festivals such as Glastonbury had become too commercial and predictable. It is held in July at Hill Farm in Steventon, near Abingdon...
and the dumduckerdum Music Festival, then going on to tour the UK with Josh T Pearson. The band's fourth album, Strangers and Deranged Patients was released in November 2007 on the American Azra label. It was followed by a US tour in 2008.
The band split in September 2009 after performing their farewell gig at Camden Dingwalls supporting Drugstore
Drugstore (band)
Drugstore are a London-based alternative and dream pop band led by Brazilian singer-songwriter and bassist Isabel Monteiro , who relocated to England in 1990s, with Dave Hunter on guitar and Mike Chylinski on drums...
following an invitation to play from Isabel Monteiro. Their final album, Hibernation songs, written amidst and largely about very personal tragedies for songwriter Jon Bennett, namely the dissolution of his marriage and the death of his father was released on Azra Records in July 2010.
Singles
- Roadsigns EP (2003)
- Whiskey Fiction EP (2005)
- "Split EP" 10" EP (2005) Sorted (split with Don's Mobile Barbers)
Albums
- Tales of Love and Loss and Living (2003) Self released
- Pacific Ocean Fire (2005) Smokeylung records
- From The Station To The Church We Are Under The Same Stars (2006) Sorted records
- Strangers and Deranged Patients (2007) Azra records
- Hibernation songs (2010) Azra records
Compilation appearances
- Comes With A Smile Vol. 15 - Gloved Hands In A Squeeze (2005) Comes With a Smile, includes "My Drinking Days are Done"
- 50minutes50minutes50minutes is a 2006 charity album, consisting of indie, folk, electronica, and alternative artists from across the world, with all proceeds going to the Medical Foundation....
(2006) Exercise 1, includes "Death on Yr Birthday"
External links
- Official website
- Azra Records website
- Pacific Ocean Fire profile on the Road to V site, Virgin Media
Reviews
- Dowling, Jordan (2007) "Pacific Ocean Fire, Josh T Pearson at Leicester Firebug, Fri 14 Sep" (review), Drowned in SoundDrowned in SoundDrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
- Graham, Steve "Pacific Ocean Fire - From The Station To Church We Are Under The Same Stars" (review), Hybrid Magazine
- Pirie, Karen "Sinister and beautiful country noir" (live review), BBC Leicester
- Edwards, Phil (2006) "Pacific Ocean Fire & Don’s Mobile Barbers “10” Spilt EP”" (review), Americana UK
- Kingsworth, Beck (2006) "Pacific Ocean Fire - From The Station To The Church We Are Under The Same Stars" (review), Twisted Ear
- Cracknell, Robin (2006) "Pacific Ocean Fire - From The Station to the Church We Are Under The Same Stars" (review), Americana UK
- Peacock, Tim (2006) "Pacific Ocean Fire - From The Station to the Church We Are Under The Same Stars" (review), whisperinandhollerin.com
- Searle, Jeremy (2005) "Pacific Ocean Fire - Pacific Ocean Fire" (review), Americana UK
- Searle, Jeremy (2005) "Pacific Ocean Fire - Whiskey Fiction" (review), Americana UK
- Jarvis, Toby (2004) "Pacific Ocean Fire: Roadsigns" (review), Drowned in SoundDrowned in SoundDrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...