Technique (band)
Encyclopedia
Technique was a female alternative synth pop band from the mid-1990s featuring Kate Holmes of Frazier Chorus and singer Xan Tyler
. The band was named after New Order
's 1989 album of the same name, and they were signed to Creation Records
, the record label owned by Holmes's husband - Alan McGee
.
Holmes and Tyler met at Butterfly, the studio owned by legendary producer
and former Killing Joke
member Youth, where Tyler was working as a session backing vocalist. They began work on their debut album, with synthpop
veteran Stephen Hague and Oasis
producer Owen Morris handling production duties alongside Holmes herself. Other notable contributors to the album included Ash
frontman Tim Wheeler, vocalist Kirsty Hawkshaw and Youth himself on bass.
Technique released two singles on Creation in the summer of 1999 - "Sun is Shining" and "You & Me". "Sun is Shining" reached #64 in the UK Singles Chart
in April 1999 and "You & Me" got to #56 in August of the same year. The album, by now entitled Pop Philosophy, was promo-ed but never officially saw the light of day after McGee decided to close the label. Technique lay dormant for several years while McGee set up his new venture, Poptones
. Holmes and Tyler both contributed to Mission Control's Dub Showcase album (produced by Holmes's long-term associated Mad Professor
), which featured several unreleased songs from Pop Philosophy.
In 2000, C-pop
singer Coco Lee
had a huge hit on the Asian market with a cover of Technique's second single, You and Me. Following this, Poptones released a truncated version of Pop Philosophy in Germany and Asia, featuring seven tracks plus two remixes by Matt Darey
. Sun is Shining and You & Me were also re-released in Germany, and the band toured extensively during 2001.
Technique ended, but more was to come from the mysterious electro-pop band Client
when Tyler was unable to take part in a tour supporting Depeche Mode
. Kate Holmes replaced her with Sarah Blackwood
from Newcastle-upon-Tyne band Dubstar
, and shortly thereafter the two decided to collaborate and write material together, and they created the new band.
From this Depeche Mode tour a new masterplan was put in place, with the two becoming Client A and Client B, plus a new deal with Andy Fletcher's
Toast Hawaii
record label.
Xan Tyler
Xan Tyler is a female British singer.Born and raised in South London, Xan began her singing career in 1991. After working with numerous bands and as session singer, she signed to Alan McGee's Creation Records as one half of synth pop duo Technique .In 1999 Xan and Kate Holmes collaborated with Mad...
. The band was named after New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
's 1989 album of the same name, and they were signed to Creation Records
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
, the record label owned by Holmes's husband - Alan McGee
Alan McGee
Alan McGee has been a record label owner, musician, manager, and music blogger for The Guardian.McGee is best-known for co-forming and running the independent Creation Records label from 1983–1999, and then Poptones from 1999-2007...
.
Holmes and Tyler met at Butterfly, the studio owned by legendary producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and former Killing Joke
Killing Joke
Killing Joke are an English post-punk band formed in October 1978 in Notting Hill, London, England; other sources report the band formed in early 1979.Related news articles: Founding members Jaz Coleman and Geordie Walker have been the only constant members.A key influence on industrial rock,...
member Youth, where Tyler was working as a session backing vocalist. They began work on their debut album, with synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
veteran Stephen Hague and Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
producer Owen Morris handling production duties alongside Holmes herself. Other notable contributors to the album included Ash
Ash (band)
Ash are an alternative rock band that formed in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1992. The band has sold 8 million albums worldwide.-Band beginning, Trailer and 1977 :...
frontman Tim Wheeler, vocalist Kirsty Hawkshaw and Youth himself on bass.
Technique released two singles on Creation in the summer of 1999 - "Sun is Shining" and "You & Me". "Sun is Shining" reached #64 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in April 1999 and "You & Me" got to #56 in August of the same year. The album, by now entitled Pop Philosophy, was promo-ed but never officially saw the light of day after McGee decided to close the label. Technique lay dormant for several years while McGee set up his new venture, Poptones
Poptones
Poptones is a record label launched by Alan McGee after the demise of Creation Records in 1999. Named after a Public Image Limited song, it is seen as something of a return to the staunchly independent roots of Creation...
. Holmes and Tyler both contributed to Mission Control's Dub Showcase album (produced by Holmes's long-term associated Mad Professor
Mad Professor
Mad Professor is a dub music producer and engineer known for his original productions and remix work. He is considered one of the leading producers of dub music’s second generation and was instrumental in transitioning dub into the digital age. He is a prolific producer, contributing to or...
), which featured several unreleased songs from Pop Philosophy.
In 2000, C-pop
C-pop
C-pop is an abbreviation for Chinese popular music , a loosely defined musical genre by artists originating from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Others come from countries where the Chinese language is used by a large number of the population, such as Singapore and Malaysia...
singer Coco Lee
CoCo Lee
Coco Lee , born on 17 January 1975, also known by her official English name as Ferren Lee, is a pop singer, songwriter, record producer and actress. Coco started her career in Hong Kong but, after becoming popular in Taiwan, she was widely considered to be a Taiwan artist. She was born to a Chinese...
had a huge hit on the Asian market with a cover of Technique's second single, You and Me. Following this, Poptones released a truncated version of Pop Philosophy in Germany and Asia, featuring seven tracks plus two remixes by Matt Darey
Matt Darey
Matthew Jonathan "Matt" Darey has been a trance music producer since 1994. He is also a member of Lost Tribe with Red Jerry. He is perhaps best known for his work in the Euphoria trance series and for 'Gamemaster' and his remixes of Agnelli & Nelson's "El Niño". In 2005, his first major U.S...
. Sun is Shining and You & Me were also re-released in Germany, and the band toured extensively during 2001.
Technique ended, but more was to come from the mysterious electro-pop band Client
Client (band)
Client are an English electronic musical group from London. They are most popular in Germany where they have had limited commercial success...
when Tyler was unable to take part in a tour supporting Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
. Kate Holmes replaced her with Sarah Blackwood
Sarah Blackwood (British musician)
Sarah Blackwood is an English recording artist. She came to prominence as the lead singer of Dubstar, and then as a singer-songwriter in Client...
from Newcastle-upon-Tyne band Dubstar
Dubstar
Dubstar are an English band, performing mostly dream pop and indie dance music, as well as occasional pop ballads and, on later releases, guitar-heavy rock with an industrial influence. The group was formed in 1992 by Steve Hillier and Chris Wilkie in Newcastle-upon-Tyne...
, and shortly thereafter the two decided to collaborate and write material together, and they created the new band.
From this Depeche Mode tour a new masterplan was put in place, with the two becoming Client A and Client B, plus a new deal with Andy Fletcher's
Andrew Fletcher (musician)
Andy Fletcher , known as "Fletch", is a co-founder and member of the English synth band Depeche Mode.-Depeche Mode:...
Toast Hawaii
Toast Hawaii (record label)
Toast Hawaii is a record label founded by Depeche Mode's Andrew Fletcher and named after his reported fondness for the sandwich. The label is independent, but its North American releases are distributed by Mute Records.-History:...
record label.