Spratleys Japs
Encyclopedia
Spratleys Japs was a British psychedelic rock band formed by Cardiacs
leader Tim Smith
and Joanne Spratley. The band is known to have been inspired by the sound of a malfunctioning Mellotron
loaned to Tim Smith
by Planet Mellotron coordinator Andy Thompson. The Mellotron is used extensively on the Spratleys Japs recordings. (It has since been repaired).
The band's lineup was Tim Smith
(bass guitar, vocals, Mellotron
), Joanne Spratley (vocals, flugelhorn
, Theremin
), Heidi Murphy (electronics devices and synthesisers), Mark Donovan (guitar) and Viv Sherriff (drums). Murphy, Donovan and Sherriff were allegedly members of a band called the Rev-Ups, which initially formed near Mexico
but subsequently moved to the New Forest
area of England
. (As Spratleys Japs have never played live and the Rev-Ups members have not been seen in public, it's possible that both they and the original band are fictional).
The band has released one album - 1998's Pony
- and one single - 1999's "Hazel". Both of these were released on Smith's own All My Eye And Betty Martin Music label. There have been no further releases since then.
Joanne Spratley went on to work with Christian Hayes
' project MIKROKOSMOS.
Cardiacs
Cardiacs are an English alternative rock/psychedelic pop band formed in 1977 and led by Tim Smith. Noted for their complex, varied and intense compositional style and for their eccentric, theatrical stage shows, they have been hailed as an influence by bands as diverse as Blur, Faith No More and...
leader Tim Smith
Tim Smith (Cardiacs)
Tim Smith is an English singer-songwriter, composer, poet, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and music video director....
and Joanne Spratley. The band is known to have been inspired by the sound of a malfunctioning Mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
loaned to Tim Smith
Tim Smith (Cardiacs)
Tim Smith is an English singer-songwriter, composer, poet, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and music video director....
by Planet Mellotron coordinator Andy Thompson. The Mellotron is used extensively on the Spratleys Japs recordings. (It has since been repaired).
The band's lineup was Tim Smith
Tim Smith (Cardiacs)
Tim Smith is an English singer-songwriter, composer, poet, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and music video director....
(bass guitar, vocals, Mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
), Joanne Spratley (vocals, flugelhorn
Flugelhorn
The flugelhorn is a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but with a wider, conical bore. Some consider it to be a member of the saxhorn family developed by Adolphe Sax ; however, other historians assert that it derives from the valve bugle designed by Michael Saurle , Munich 1832 , thus...
, Theremin
Theremin
The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
), Heidi Murphy (electronics devices and synthesisers), Mark Donovan (guitar) and Viv Sherriff (drums). Murphy, Donovan and Sherriff were allegedly members of a band called the Rev-Ups, which initially formed near Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
but subsequently moved to the New Forest
New Forest
The New Forest is an area of southern England which includes the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in the heavily-populated south east of England. It covers south-west Hampshire and extends into south-east Wiltshire....
area of 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...
. (As Spratleys Japs have never played live and the Rev-Ups members have not been seen in public, it's possible that both they and the original band are fictional).
The band has released one album - 1998's Pony
Pony (album)
Pony is the debut and only album to date by the English psychedelic rock band Spratleys Japs. Released in 1998 on All My Eye And Betty Martin Music, the album was a side-project of Cardiacs frontman Tim Smith and his then partner Joanne Spratley...
- and one single - 1999's "Hazel". Both of these were released on Smith's own All My Eye And Betty Martin Music label. There have been no further releases since then.
Joanne Spratley went on to work with Christian Hayes
Christian Hayes
Christian Hayes , also known as Bic Hayes, is an English rock guitarist, singer and songwriter. His highest profile musical role has been fronting the band Dark Star between 1998 and 2001, whom he formed with fellow ex-Levitation members David Francolini and Laurence O'Keefe.He has also played in a...
' project MIKROKOSMOS.