Sizer Barker
Encyclopedia
Sizer Barker was an indie band from Liverpool
, England
.
and sampler
duties were carried out by Jamie McCarthy, an experimental composer who had helped Brown shape and ultimately complete the band's distinctive demos. The distorted bass and vocals which characterised its sound served to rough up songs with an essentially pop sensibility.
Despite generating interest from various labels the band was unable to secure a deal and decided to release a single on its manager's label, Hug Records.
Co-produced by Markus Dravs
, the single "Day By Day" was well received at radio, making single of the week on Radio 1
, Radio 2
, Virgin Radio
and XFM
amongst others. Following this initial interest, the band prepared to release a second single, "Something In The Park". It was cancelled, however, because of its lyrical content following the tragic events of 9/11. The band withdrew to the studio to start work on an album. Brown, Bruzon and new keyboard player and programmer, Matt Childs, began the task of self-producing the album which eventually found its way to the hands of Peter Gabriel
who signed the band to his Real World label in 2003.
With Markus Dravs back on keyboard, the album Hotel Juicy Parlour was completed and released on Pre Records, an imprint set up by Real World. Later that year the band toured Europe as a support act on the final leg of Peter Gabriel
's "Growing Up" tour.
Following further tours and yet more changes to the line up, Brown and Bruzon retreated to work on material to follow up Hotel Juicy Parlour. After more than a year and with two new members, James Walsh and Vidar Norheim, they decided to launch a new project, WaveMachines, with releases planned for late 2007.
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, 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...
.
Members
- Carl Brown - vocals, 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...
- Tim Bruzon - 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...
, keyboardsKeyboard 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... - Maria Hughes - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
History
Formed in 1998 by singer Carl Brown, the band began performing under the name "The Modernaires" with what was to be the first of many line ups. HarmoniumHarmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
and sampler
Sampler (musical instrument)
A sampler is an electronic musical instrument similar in some respects to a synthesizer but, instead of generating sounds, it uses recordings of sounds that are loaded or recorded into it by the user and then played back by means of a keyboard, sequencer or other triggering device to perform or...
duties were carried out by Jamie McCarthy, an experimental composer who had helped Brown shape and ultimately complete the band's distinctive demos. The distorted bass and vocals which characterised its sound served to rough up songs with an essentially pop sensibility.
Despite generating interest from various labels the band was unable to secure a deal and decided to release a single on its manager's label, Hug Records.
Co-produced by Markus Dravs
Markus Dravs
Markus Dravs is a music producer, programmer, engineer, and mixer.After hearing Brian Eno's collaboration with David Byrne "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts", he decided to get into engineering....
, the single "Day By Day" was well received at radio, making single of the week on 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...
, Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
, Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio
Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
and XFM
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
amongst others. Following this initial interest, the band prepared to release a second single, "Something In The Park". It was cancelled, however, because of its lyrical content following the tragic events of 9/11. The band withdrew to the studio to start work on an album. Brown, Bruzon and new keyboard player and programmer, Matt Childs, began the task of self-producing the album which eventually found its way to the hands of Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
who signed the band to his Real World label in 2003.
With Markus Dravs back on keyboard, the album Hotel Juicy Parlour was completed and released on Pre Records, an imprint set up by Real World. Later that year the band toured Europe as a support act on the final leg of Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
's "Growing Up" tour.
Following further tours and yet more changes to the line up, Brown and Bruzon retreated to work on material to follow up Hotel Juicy Parlour. After more than a year and with two new members, James Walsh and Vidar Norheim, they decided to launch a new project, WaveMachines, with releases planned for late 2007.
Discography
- "Day By Day" - single, Hug Records
- "Something In the Park" - single, Hug Records
- Songs From The Parlour - EP, Pre Records
- Hotel Juicy Parlour - album, Pre Records
- "Climb Aboard" - single, Pre Records
- "Day By Day" - single, Pre Records
- "Transmission Land" - single, Pre Records