Spherical Objects (band)
Encyclopedia
Spherical Objects were an important representative of the Manchester
, UK-based experimental independent post-punk
scene of the late 70s (including other more or less experimental groups like The Passage
, Steve Miro & The Eyes, Tirez Tirez
and Grow Up). All these bands were hosted under the Object Music record label. Many of them shared musicians, thus the movement looked more like a musical collective (actually, there was indeed a Manchester Musicians Collective, started by Dick Witts
of Passage).
Leader and heart of the band was Steve Solamar (real name Steve Scrivener), a distinct song/lyrics writer with a peculiar vocal style that has been described as either "terrible", or at least "idiosyncratic".
In summer 1978, they recorded their first LP, Past And Parcel. Their best came with Elliptical Optimism (1979) and Further Ellipses (1980). The former still keeps contact with punk
and 60s garage
sound. Further Ellipses somewhere departs from the diy sound of previous releases and puts more emphasis on ultra-romantic melodic synthesizer
tunes (The "Final Part", "The Root"), a small share of Latin
guitar melancholy and a better polished production. Nevertheless, tracks like Set Free betray the strong influence of gospel
& rhythm & blues; an unusual feature for a British post-punk band of that period.
In 1980, Solamar collaborated with Steve Miro as the Noyes (i.e. "noise") Brothers, to produce more experimental music forms. They recorded a double LP (Sheep From Goats), which was far more unconventional than anything they had created with their own bands. Other Solamar projects were Warriors and Alternomen Unlimited, while John Bisset Smith was involved into the band Grow Up (all recording for Object Music).
In 1981, Spherical Objects recorded their last LP, No Man's Land. It was a return to more archetypal rock forms like those perverted and twisted in Elliptical Optimism. However, the vigour and inventiveness of the latter were notably lacking.
After 1981 very little information exists for Steve Solamar or other Spherical Objects members. Solamar changed gender and, soon after No Man's Land, disbanded Spherical Objects and stopped supporting the Object Music label, because he wanted to make a radical change in his (her) life. Duncan Prestbury is now teaching at The Manchester College (formerly City College Manchester) and playing Nu-Jazz. Between 2008 and 2010 LTM undertook an extensive Object reissue program, including CD versions of all four Spherical Objects albums as well as the Noyes Brothers set.
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, UK-based experimental independent post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
scene of the late 70s (including other more or less experimental groups like The Passage
The Passage (band)
The Passage were a post-punk band from Manchester, UK who appeared on several record labels including Cherry Red Records, and their own label Night & Day, a subsidiary label to Virgin Records.-Biography:...
, Steve Miro & The Eyes, Tirez Tirez
Tirez Tirez
Tirez Tirez was an American rock band led by composer/performer Mikel Rouse, the band's only constant member. The group was active from 1978 through 1988, and had a new wave/art rock sensibility that was strongly influenced by minimalism.-History:...
and Grow Up). All these bands were hosted under the Object Music record label. Many of them shared musicians, thus the movement looked more like a musical collective (actually, there was indeed a Manchester Musicians Collective, started by Dick Witts
Dick Witts
Richard "Dick" Witts is a professional musicologist, music historian, and ex leader of 1980s band The Passage. He was born in Cleethorpes on the coast of Lincolnshire, England....
of Passage).
Leader and heart of the band was Steve Solamar (real name Steve Scrivener), a distinct song/lyrics writer with a peculiar vocal style that has been described as either "terrible", or at least "idiosyncratic".
In summer 1978, they recorded their first LP, Past And Parcel. Their best came with Elliptical Optimism (1979) and Further Ellipses (1980). The former still keeps contact with punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and 60s garage
Garage punk
Garage punk is a fusion of garage rock and punk rock. It is fast-paced lo-fi music characterized by a dirty, choppy guitar sound—usually played by bands who are on independent record labels or who are unsigned...
sound. Further Ellipses somewhere departs from the diy sound of previous releases and puts more emphasis on ultra-romantic melodic synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
tunes (The "Final Part", "The Root"), a small share of Latin
Latin American music
Latin American music, found within Central and South America, is a series of musical styles and genres that mixes influences from Spanish, African and indigenous sources, that has recently become very famous in the US.-Argentina:...
guitar melancholy and a better polished production. Nevertheless, tracks like Set Free betray the strong influence of gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
& rhythm & blues; an unusual feature for a British post-punk band of that period.
In 1980, Solamar collaborated with Steve Miro as the Noyes (i.e. "noise") Brothers, to produce more experimental music forms. They recorded a double LP (Sheep From Goats), which was far more unconventional than anything they had created with their own bands. Other Solamar projects were Warriors and Alternomen Unlimited, while John Bisset Smith was involved into the band Grow Up (all recording for Object Music).
In 1981, Spherical Objects recorded their last LP, No Man's Land. It was a return to more archetypal rock forms like those perverted and twisted in Elliptical Optimism. However, the vigour and inventiveness of the latter were notably lacking.
After 1981 very little information exists for Steve Solamar or other Spherical Objects members. Solamar changed gender and, soon after No Man's Land, disbanded Spherical Objects and stopped supporting the Object Music label, because he wanted to make a radical change in his (her) life. Duncan Prestbury is now teaching at The Manchester College (formerly City College Manchester) and playing Nu-Jazz. Between 2008 and 2010 LTM undertook an extensive Object reissue program, including CD versions of all four Spherical Objects albums as well as the Noyes Brothers set.
Band members
- Steve Solamar (Guitar, Vocals, Harmonica)
- John Bisset Smith (Guitar, Vocals)
- Frederick Burrows (Bass, Guitar)
- Duncan Prestbury (Keyboards, Vocals)
- Roger Hilton (Drums)
Discography
- Past And Parcel - Object Music (LP, 1978) (CD, 2008)
- The Kill/The Knot - Object Music (7", 1978)
- Seventies Romance/Sweet Tooth - Object Music (7", 1979)
- Objectivity The Object Singles Album (various artists compilation, Object Music, 1979)
- Elliptical Optimism - Object Music (LP, 1979) (CD, 2008)
- Further Ellipses - Object Music (LP, 1980) (CD, 2008)
- No Man's Land - Object Music (LP, 1981) (CD, 2008)