Shelleyan Orphan
Encyclopedia
Shelleyan Orphan is a British
alternative music
group, that peaked during the 1980s and early 1990s.
, England, where they discovered a mutual appreciation of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley
. Two years later, after taking the name Shelleyan Orphan from the Shelley poem "Spirit Of Solitude
", the pair moved to London
to seek out orchestral elements to add to their voices.
In June 1984, the band got their first break and landed a session with David Jensen
for BBC Radio 1
. The band signed with Rough Trade Records
in 1986 and released the singles
, "Cavalry of Cloud" and "Anatomy of Love".
In 1987, the band released their first of three album
s: Helleborine. Named after the Helleborine
orchid said to have the power to cure madness, the album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios
with producer Haydn Bendall
. Helleborine included an assortment of guest musicians including Stuart Elliott
(the drummer for Kate Bush
), and Kate's brother Paddy Bush
.
In 1989, they released Century Flower. So called after a flower that blooms only once in its lifetime, this album was intended to mark "an event which affects enormous change, maybe once in a century: on a world scale, the atomic bomb: on a personal level, the death of someone close to you". Produced by David M. Allen
, the band's sound caught the ear of The Cure's Robert Smith
, who invited the band to accompany them on their Disintegration Tour. While on the Disintegration tour, Caroline Crawley began a relationship with Cure drummer Boris Williams
.
In 1991, the band would receive another break when Crawley was approached by 4AD Records founder Ivo Watts-Russell
who asked her to appear on four tracks of This Mortal Coil
's Blood. Crawley was permitted to do her own interpretations of the tracks, and would appear in the video for the Syd Barrett
cover, "Late Night." With Jem Tayle, Shelleyan Orphan recorded and released tracks for several compilation album
s during this period.
In 1992, Shelleyan Orphan returned with their album, Humroot. Named after Tayle's childhood dog, Humroot and was recorded by Bill Buchanan, and the band was joined by Boris Williams, Porl Thompson
(The Cure) and Roberto Soave (Presence
).
Shortly after Humroots release, Shelleyan Orphan disbanded. Tayle formed his own band, Elephantine, and Crawley, along with Williams and Soave, formed Babacar
. Soon after, Tayle joined Babacar as a fulltime member, though not contributing to the songwriting.
In 2000, the band reunited to record a cover of Tim Buckley
's "Buzzin' Fly" for Sing a Song for You: A Tribute to Tim Buckley.
A new album, entitled We Have Everything We Need, was released in October 2008 on One Little Indian Records.
Singles
Promotional EP
Compilations
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...
alternative music
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
group, that peaked during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Career
In 1980, Caroline Crawley and Jemaur Tayle met in BournemouthBournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
, England, where they discovered a mutual appreciation of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Percy Bysshe Shelley was one of the major English Romantic poets and is critically regarded as among the finest lyric poets in the English language. Shelley was famous for his association with John Keats and Lord Byron...
. Two years later, after taking the name Shelleyan Orphan from the Shelley poem "Spirit Of Solitude
Alastor, or The Spirit of Solitude
Alastor, or The Spirit of Solitude is a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley, written from September 10 to December 14 in 1815 in Bishopsgate, London and first published in 1816. The poem was without a title when Shelley passed it along to his contemporary and friend, Thomas Love Peacock. The poem is 720...
", the pair moved to 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...
to seek out orchestral elements to add to their voices.
In June 1984, the band got their first break and landed a session with David Jensen
David Jensen
David "Kid" Jensen , is a Danish Canadian-born, British radio DJ.-Early career:Born in a Danish family residing Victoria, British Columbia, Jensen began his career in his home country at the age of sixteen playing jazz and classical music. He then joined Radio Luxembourg at the age of eighteen in...
for BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
. The band signed with Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
in 1986 and released the singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Cavalry of Cloud" and "Anatomy of Love".
In 1987, the band released their first of three album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s: Helleborine. Named after the Helleborine
Helleborine
Helleborine is the common name for a number of species of orchid. It does not correspond to any currently used taxonomic category. Some of the plants called helleborines are classified in the genus Epipactis, some in genus Cephalanthera. A genus Helleborine was formerly recognised but has now...
orchid said to have the power to cure madness, the album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
with producer Haydn Bendall
Haydn Bendall
Haydn Bendall is a British music record producer, engineer and mixer. He was Chief Engineer at Abbey Road Studios for ten years and was awarded the Audio Pro Industry Excellence Award for Best Studio Engineer in 2009.-Career:...
. Helleborine included an assortment of guest musicians including Stuart Elliott
Stuart Elliott (drummer)
Stuart Elliott is an English rock drummer, who has played along with David Byron, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Al Stewart, The Alan Parsons Project, Kate Bush, Paul McCartney and Keats....
(the drummer for Kate Bush
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
), and Kate's brother Paddy Bush
Paddy Bush
Paddy Bush is an English musician, instrument maker, and artist. He is best known for his work with his sister, Kate Bush, and has appeared on all of her studio albums. Bush often plays standard instruments such as the guitar, mandolin, and harmonica, along with more exotic and unusual...
.
In 1989, they released Century Flower. So called after a flower that blooms only once in its lifetime, this album was intended to mark "an event which affects enormous change, maybe once in a century: on a world scale, the atomic bomb: on a personal level, the death of someone close to you". Produced by David M. Allen
David M. Allen
David M. Allen is a British record producer, engineer and mixer. He is mostly known for his work with new wave, synth pop and goth rock bands including The Cure, The Sisters of Mercy, The Chameleons, Depeche Mode, The Associates, The Human League, Clan of Xymox, Gianna Nannini, Shelleyan Orphan and...
, the band's sound caught the ear of The Cure's Robert Smith
Robert Smith (musician)
Robert James Smith is an English musician. He is the lead singer, guitar player and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure, and its only constant member since its founding in 1976...
, who invited the band to accompany them on their Disintegration Tour. While on the Disintegration tour, Caroline Crawley began a relationship with Cure drummer Boris Williams
Boris Williams
Boris Peter Bransby-Williams is an English drummer best known for his extensive work with The Cure . He had previously worked with various artists, including Thompson Twins, Kim Wilde, Strawberry Switchblade and Tomato City...
.
In 1991, the band would receive another break when Crawley was approached by 4AD Records founder Ivo Watts-Russell
Ivo Watts-Russell
Ivo Watts-Russell was joint-founder with Peter Kent of the English indie record label 4AD. He has also produced several records, himself preferring to use the term "musical director" to explain his role in the creation....
who asked her to appear on four tracks of This Mortal Coil
This Mortal Coil
This Mortal Coil was a gothic dream pop supergroup led by Ivo Watts-Russell, founder of the British record label 4AD. Although Watts-Russell and John Fryer were technically the only two official members, the band's recorded output featured a large rotating cast of supporting artists, many of whom...
's Blood. Crawley was permitted to do her own interpretations of the tracks, and would appear in the video for the Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
cover, "Late Night." With Jem Tayle, Shelleyan Orphan recorded and released tracks for several compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s during this period.
In 1992, Shelleyan Orphan returned with their album, Humroot. Named after Tayle's childhood dog, Humroot and was recorded by Bill Buchanan, and the band was joined by Boris Williams, Porl Thompson
Porl Thompson
Porl Thompson is an English musician best known for his work with The Cure.-Life and work:Thompson is the oldest of four children; he has two brothers and one sister...
(The Cure) and Roberto Soave (Presence
Presence (band)
Presence was a short-lived British new wave band started by Gary Biddles, Lol Tolhurst, and Michael Dempsey. Dempsey and Tolhurst were founding members of The Cure, and Biddles was a former Cure roadie who previously played in Fools Dance with Simon Gallup...
).
Shortly after Humroots release, Shelleyan Orphan disbanded. Tayle formed his own band, Elephantine, and Crawley, along with Williams and Soave, formed Babacar
Babacar
Babacar was a short-lived worldbeat supergroup formed in England, featuring former members of Shelleyan Orphan, The Cure, and Presence. The group released one album in their brief existence, their self-titled debut album in 1998, before the band dissolved when Shelleyan Orphan reunited in...
. Soon after, Tayle joined Babacar as a fulltime member, though not contributing to the songwriting.
In 2000, the band reunited to record a cover of Tim Buckley
Tim Buckley
Timothy Charles Buckley III was an American vocalist, and musician. His music and style changed considerably through the years; his first album was mostly folk oriented, but over time his music incorporated jazz, psychedelia, funk, soul, avant-garde and an evolving "voice as instrument," sound...
's "Buzzin' Fly" for Sing a Song for You: A Tribute to Tim Buckley.
A new album, entitled We Have Everything We Need, was released in October 2008 on One Little Indian Records.
Discography
Albums- Helleborine Rough Trade, 1987 (LP/CD) - UK Indie #5
- Helleborine (US Version) Columbia, 1988(?). (LP/CD)
- Century Flower Rough Trade, 1989 (CD) - UK Indie #19
- Century Flower (US Version) Columbia, 1989 (CD)
- Humroot Columbia/Rough Trade, 1992 (CD)
- We Have Everything We Need One Little Indian, 2008 (CD)
Singles
- "Cavalry of Cloud" Rough Trade, 1986 (7"/12")
- "Anatomy of Love" Rough Trade, 1987 (7"/12") - UK Indie #12
- "Shatter" Rough Trade, 1989 (7"/12")
Promotional EP
- Century Flower (Japanese Promo) Columbia, 1990 (CD)
- Waking Up Columbia/Rough Trade, 1992 (CD)
Compilations
- "Suffer Dog" The Liberator, Artists for Animals Deltic Records, 1989 (CD)
- "Ice" on Acoustic Christmas Columbia/Sony, 1990 (CD)
- "Who Loves the Sun" on Heaven & Hell - A Tribute To The Velvet Underground (Volume Two) Imaginary RecordsImaginary RecordsImaginary Records was an independent record label based in Heywood, Lancashire, England, which specialised mainly in indie rock and post-punk. It was created and owned by Alan Duffy, known for his lyrical contributions to Porcupine Tree's first two albums, On the Sunday of Life and Up the...
, 1991 (CD) - "Joey" on Brittle Days - A Tribute To Nick DrakeBrittle Days - A Tribute to Nick DrakeBrittle Days - A Tribute To Nick Drake is a 1992 compilation album released by Imaginary Records in the UK. The album features contemporary artists performing cover versions of songs by Nick Drake...
Imaginary RecordsImaginary RecordsImaginary Records was an independent record label based in Heywood, Lancashire, England, which specialised mainly in indie rock and post-punk. It was created and owned by Alan Duffy, known for his lyrical contributions to Porcupine Tree's first two albums, On the Sunday of Life and Up the...
, 1992 (CD) - "Buzzin' Fly" on Sing a Song for You: A Tribute to Tim Buckley Manifesto Records, 2000 (CD)