The Shortwave Set
Encyclopedia
The Shortwave Set are a British alternative pop band whose debut album, The Debt Collection
, was released in 2005 on Independiente Records. The band's music combines sample
-based music with more traditional songwriting and instrumentation to create a sound the group have described as "Victorian Funk". The band's second album, Replica Sun Machine
, was released on 12 May 2008 by Wall of Sound
.
in southern Sweden
. They have toured with Goldfrapp
, Rilo Kiley
and Gnarls Barkley
. Danger Mouse
, hip-hop producer and one half of Gnarls Barkley has described the band as his favourite contemporary group.
In addition to releasing their own material, The Shortwave Set have provided remixes for Goldfrapp
, Moby
and Scissor Sisters
.
The band's debut album, The Debt Collection
(2005), was highly regarded by critics and featured in many end of year polls for 2005, although this was not matched by a commensurate level of sales. Despite this the record was championed across a wide cross section of media tastemakers. Zane Lowe
made it his Album of the week on his BBC Radio One show, and Lauren Laverne
has supported their singles, making "Is It Any Wonder" her XFM
record of the week, and highlighting "Slingshot" on the BBC
television review programme The Culture Show
. The Times
made The Debt Collection its album of the week, and it also featured at number 3 in the Observer Music Monthly 'First Ten' for July 2005.
Having subsequently parted company with Independiente the band began planning for their second album, releasing one off single "Casual Use" in the interim. The band became friends with Danger Mouse
after he expressed his admiration for The Debt Collection and invited them to act as support for Gnarls Barkley, and it was announced in 2007 that The Shortwave Set were to record their follow up album with the renowned producer in the chair.
The finished record, Replica Sun Machine
, was signed to Wall of Sound
in late 2007 and the band's publishing interests were secured by Chrysalis Music
.
The band made their television debut in 2008, appearing at the behest of Radiohead
producer Nigel Godrich
on his show From the Basement
which aired on the Sky Arts Channel in the UK. They also appeared on Channel 4 (again in the UK) as part of the JD Sessions, and featured in television coverage of Bestival
the same year. Their track "Harmonia" featured in the fourth season of popular American TV drama Ghost Whisperer
.
The band's label confirmed that The Shortwave Set are currently writing and recording material for a third album.
The Debt Collection
The Debt Collection is the debut album by The Shortwave Set, released in 2005 on Independiente Records. The album encompasses what the band described as their "Victorian Funk" period.-Track listing:#"Slingshot"#"Sven Rokk"#"Is it any Wonder?"...
, was released in 2005 on Independiente Records. The band's music combines sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
-based music with more traditional songwriting and instrumentation to create a sound the group have described as "Victorian Funk". The band's second album, Replica Sun Machine
Replica Sun Machine
Replica Sun Machine is the second album by The Shortwave Set.Work began on the album shortly after the release of The Debt Collection. In an interview for Swedish television, singer and songwriter Andrew Pettitt said that by February 2007 the album was completed as far as they were concerned...
, was released on 12 May 2008 by Wall of Sound
Wall of Sound (record label)
Wall of Sound is an independent record label based in London, England. It is part of the [PIAS] Entertainment Group, a European independent music company....
.
Biography
The band consists of Andrew Pettitt (vocals, guitar), Ulrika Bjorsne (vocals, guitar) and David Farrell (samples, decks). They formed in 2003 in London, though Ulrika Bjorsne is originally from AlstermoAlstermo
Alstermo is a locality situated in Uppvidinge Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden with 859 inhabitants in 2005.- Overview :Alstermo is situated along theAlster River in the deep forests of Uppvidinge...
in southern Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. They have toured with Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp are an English electronic music duo, formed in 1999 in London, England, that consists of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory ....
, Rilo Kiley
Rilo Kiley
Rilo Kiley was an American indie rock band based in Los Angeles. Formed in 1998, the band consisted of Jenny Lewis, Blake Sennett, Pierre de Reeder, and Jason Boesel....
and Gnarls Barkley
Gnarls Barkley
Gnarls Barkley is an American soul duo comprising Danger Mouse and Cee Lo Green. Their first studio album St. Elsewhere was released in 2006; along with its first single "Crazy". Both single and album were a major commercial success and have been noted for their large sales by download...
. Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse
Brian Joseph Burton , better known by his stage name Danger Mouse, is an American musician, songwriter and producer. He came to prominence in 2004 when he released The Grey Album, which combined vocal performances from Jay-Z's The Black Album with instrumentals from The Beatles' White Album.He...
, hip-hop producer and one half of Gnarls Barkley has described the band as his favourite contemporary group.
In addition to releasing their own material, The Shortwave Set have provided remixes for Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp are an English electronic music duo, formed in 1999 in London, England, that consists of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory ....
, Moby
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
and Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters are an American band "spawned by the scuzzy, gay nightlife scene of New York" who took their name from a sexual position between two women also known as tribadism...
.
The band's debut album, The Debt Collection
The Debt Collection
The Debt Collection is the debut album by The Shortwave Set, released in 2005 on Independiente Records. The album encompasses what the band described as their "Victorian Funk" period.-Track listing:#"Slingshot"#"Sven Rokk"#"Is it any Wonder?"...
(2005), was highly regarded by critics and featured in many end of year polls for 2005, although this was not matched by a commensurate level of sales. Despite this the record was championed across a wide cross section of media tastemakers. Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe also known as 'Zipper', is a radio DJ and television presenter. He was born in New Zealand and grew up in Auckland, where he was a presenter on the local music station Max TV, before moving to England...
made it his Album of the week on his BBC Radio One show, and Lauren Laverne
Lauren Laverne
Lauren Cecilia Fisher , known professionally as Lauren Laverne, is an English radio DJ, television presenter, author and singer...
has supported their singles, making "Is It Any Wonder" her 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...
record of the week, and highlighting "Slingshot" on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television review programme The Culture Show
The Culture Show
The Culture Show is a weekly BBC Two Arts magazine programme. It is broadcast in the UK on Thursday nights at 7pm, focusing on the best of the week's arts and culture news, covering books, art, film, architecture, music, visual fashion and the performing arts...
. The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
made The Debt Collection its album of the week, and it also featured at number 3 in the Observer Music Monthly 'First Ten' for July 2005.
Having subsequently parted company with Independiente the band began planning for their second album, releasing one off single "Casual Use" in the interim. The band became friends with Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse
Brian Joseph Burton , better known by his stage name Danger Mouse, is an American musician, songwriter and producer. He came to prominence in 2004 when he released The Grey Album, which combined vocal performances from Jay-Z's The Black Album with instrumentals from The Beatles' White Album.He...
after he expressed his admiration for The Debt Collection and invited them to act as support for Gnarls Barkley, and it was announced in 2007 that The Shortwave Set were to record their follow up album with the renowned producer in the chair.
The finished record, Replica Sun Machine
Replica Sun Machine
Replica Sun Machine is the second album by The Shortwave Set.Work began on the album shortly after the release of The Debt Collection. In an interview for Swedish television, singer and songwriter Andrew Pettitt said that by February 2007 the album was completed as far as they were concerned...
, was signed to Wall of Sound
Wall of Sound (record label)
Wall of Sound is an independent record label based in London, England. It is part of the [PIAS] Entertainment Group, a European independent music company....
in late 2007 and the band's publishing interests were secured by Chrysalis Music
Chrysalis Music
Chrysalis Music is a British independent music publisher.The company's roots started in west London in 1967 when Chris Wright and Terry Ellis formed the Ellis-Wright Agency. It was formed to manage and book the bands Ten Years After, and Clouds. Ten Years After was managed by Wright, while Clouds...
.
The band made their television debut in 2008, appearing at the behest of Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
producer Nigel Godrich
Nigel Godrich
Nigel Godrich, , is a recording engineer, record producer and musician. He is best known for his work with the English rock band Radiohead and is sometimes referred to as the "sixth member" of the band...
on his show From the Basement
From the Basement
From the Basement is a podcast turned television programme created by music producer and engineer Nigel Godrich that features live performances from various musicians, without a host or audience.-Background:...
which aired on the Sky Arts Channel in the UK. They also appeared on Channel 4 (again in the UK) as part of the JD Sessions, and featured in television coverage of Bestival
Bestival
Bestival is a four-day music festival held at the Robin Hill country park on the Isle of Wight, England. It has been held annually in late summer since 2004. The event is organized by DJ and record producer Rob da Bank and is an off-shoot of his Sunday Best record label and club nights. The initial...
the same year. Their track "Harmonia" featured in the fourth season of popular American TV drama Ghost Whisperer
Ghost Whisperer
Ghost Whisperer is an American television supernatural drama, which ran on CBS from September 23, 2005 to May 21, 2010.The series follows the life of Melinda Gordon , who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts...
.
The band's label confirmed that The Shortwave Set are currently writing and recording material for a third album.
Singles
- "Slingshot" (7" only, 2003, later released as a 10" in 2005)
- "Is It Any Wonder" (10" only, 2005)
- "Repeat to Fade" (7" only 2006)
- "Casual Use" / "Billy" (7" only, 2006)
- "No Social" (2008)
- "Now Til '69" (2008)
- "Glitches N Bugs" (2008)