The Zephyrs
Encyclopedia
The Zephyrs is an Edinburgh
, Scotland
-based indie
band. They have released five albums and two EPs containing their shoegazing
folk-rock
style.
It's OK Not to Say Anything was released on the tiny Edinburgh indie label Evol and just 700 copies were printed. Small as this release was, it garnered the attention of Scottish post-rock band Mogwai
who signed The Zephyrs to their own imprint Rock Action
, which was then owned by SouthPaw Records.
In 2001 the band released their second album When the Sky Comes Down It Comes Down on Your Head (which included guest vocals from Mojave 3
's Rachel Goswell
) through SouthPaw Records to excellent reviews. AllMusic.com gave the album 4.5 stars out of 5, exclaiming "[The Zephyrs] manage to combine the epic grandeur of Mogwai
with the country-rock of Gram Parsons
". Unfortunately for the band, SouthPaw Records folded the week the album came out. Their publishing deal evaporated, as did the funding for the album's promotion and the band's tour. In spite of the album's critical success and a well received performance at the Reading Festival
, the band were forced to concede temporary defeat and return to their day jobs.
The Nicol brothers were determined not to let the setback destroy the band. In early 2002 The Zephyrs began work on a new album. At around this time, the Madrid
-based record label Acuarela approached the band. They had loved When the Sky... and invited The Zephyrs to play at the Primavera Sound music festival in Barcelona. Play they did, and in June of that year Acuarela released a four song EP called The Love That Will Guide You Back Home.
By this time the band's line-up had gone through many changes. Only Stuart and David Nicol had remained in the band throughout. Malcolm Cochrane, the band's original lead guitarist who had left after the release of their first album, returned. David Jeans
, a schoolfriend of the Nicol brothers, joined the band to play drums. Robert Dillam, formerly of Adorable
, joined to play guitar. It was this five piece line-up that set off for Spain to embark on a two-week tour arranged by Acuarela.
Throughout this rocky period in the band's history Keith Cullen, of Setanta Records
, had been offering managerial advice. Impressed with the new line-up, and the new demos that were emerging from them, he signed The Zephyrs to Setanta.
Working with long-time friend and producer Michael Brennan, the band completed their third album A Year to the Day which was released on September 2, 2003. Prior to the album release, in the summer of 2003, The Zephyrs performed at the Benicassim Festival
in Spain. Following a short tour of the UK in support of A Year To The Day, the band's live schedule lightened considerably. They played just five shows during 2004.
Much of 2004 was spent recording fourth album Bright Yellow Flowers on a Dark Double Bed which was released in June 2005 on Acuarela. The band appeared at the Benicassim Festival
again in the summer of 2005 and toured both Spain and Italy.
2006 through to 2009 were quiet years for The Zephyrs, although not completely inactive. A 3-piece version of the band (Stuart and David Nicol with Robert Dillam on drums) appeared at the Triku Festival in Spain in October 2008. The band also teamed up with producer Michael Brennan for the first time since 2003 to record and mix songs for a fifth album. Fool of Regrets was released in September 2010 on London-based label Club AC30 preceded by the single Creative Faith and a short tour of the UK. The band, joined by singer/guitarist Emily Hall and keyboardist Will Bates, recorded sessions for Radio Scotland's Vic Galloway show and Marc Riley's BBC Radio 6 Music show in September and October 2010. The album was Vic Galloway's album of the week for 06/09/2010.
Fool Of Regrets reviewed
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
-based indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
band. They have released five albums and two EPs containing their shoegazing
Shoegazing
Shoegazing is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged from the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. It lasted there until the mid 1990s, with a critical zenith reached in 1990 and 1991...
folk-rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
style.
Band history
Brothers Stuart (vocals, guitar) and David Nicol (bass) had been playing music together for many years before forming The Zephyrs. Adopting the band moniker used by their father 25 years before, they released their first album in 1999.It's OK Not to Say Anything was released on the tiny Edinburgh indie label Evol and just 700 copies were printed. Small as this release was, it garnered the attention of Scottish post-rock band Mogwai
Mogwai
The word mogwai is the transliteration of the Cantonese word 魔怪 meaning "monster", "evil spirit", "devil" or "demon".-Mogwai/Mogui in Chinese culture:...
who signed The Zephyrs to their own imprint Rock Action
Rock Action Records
Rock Action Records is a Glasgow-based record label, founded and maintained by Scottish post-rock band Mogwai. The label has showcased such diverse talents as Part Chimp, Errors, Trout, The James Orr Complex and Kling Klang, has licensed music for UK release from Torche, Envy, Afrirampo and...
, which was then owned by SouthPaw Records.
In 2001 the band released their second album When the Sky Comes Down It Comes Down on Your Head (which included guest vocals from Mojave 3
Mojave 3
Mojave 3 are a British band, consisting of Neil Halstead, Rachel Goswell, Simon Rowe, Alan Forrester, and Ian McCutcheon. Goswell, Halstead and McCutcheon previously played in Thames Valley shoegazing band Slowdive....
's Rachel Goswell
Rachel Goswell
Rachel Goswell is a singer-songwriter who was a vocalist with shoegazing pioneers Slowdive. Goswell, along with Neil Halstead, Ian McCutcheon and former Chapterhouse member Simon Rowe became Mojave 3 when Slowdive transitioned to a more country/folk rock style...
) through SouthPaw Records to excellent reviews. AllMusic.com gave the album 4.5 stars out of 5, exclaiming "[The Zephyrs] manage to combine the epic grandeur of Mogwai
Mogwai
The word mogwai is the transliteration of the Cantonese word 魔怪 meaning "monster", "evil spirit", "devil" or "demon".-Mogwai/Mogui in Chinese culture:...
with the country-rock of Gram Parsons
Gram Parsons
Gram Parsons was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist. Parsons is best known for his work within the country genre; he also mixed blues, folk, and rock to create what he called "Cosmic American Music"...
". Unfortunately for the band, SouthPaw Records folded the week the album came out. Their publishing deal evaporated, as did the funding for the album's promotion and the band's tour. In spite of the album's critical success and a well received performance at the Reading Festival
Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
, the band were forced to concede temporary defeat and return to their day jobs.
The Nicol brothers were determined not to let the setback destroy the band. In early 2002 The Zephyrs began work on a new album. At around this time, the Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
-based record label Acuarela approached the band. They had loved When the Sky... and invited The Zephyrs to play at the Primavera Sound music festival in Barcelona. Play they did, and in June of that year Acuarela released a four song EP called The Love That Will Guide You Back Home.
By this time the band's line-up had gone through many changes. Only Stuart and David Nicol had remained in the band throughout. Malcolm Cochrane, the band's original lead guitarist who had left after the release of their first album, returned. David Jeans
David Jeans
David Jeans , known as Jeansy, is a Scottish drummer. Born in Edinburgh, David has played drums with The Complete Stone Roses, The Zephyrs and Arab Strap.-Biography:...
, a schoolfriend of the Nicol brothers, joined the band to play drums. Robert Dillam, formerly of Adorable
Adorable (band)
Adorable were a British alternative rock band. They formed in Coventry in 1991, and consisted of band members Piotr Fijalkowski , Robert Dillam , Stephen 'Wil' Williams and Kevin Gritton -History:...
, joined to play guitar. It was this five piece line-up that set off for Spain to embark on a two-week tour arranged by Acuarela.
Throughout this rocky period in the band's history Keith Cullen, of Setanta Records
Setanta Records
Setanta Records is a UK Independent record label. The label was at the forefront of the indie Irish music scene in the late eighties and nineties as itchampioned young Irish groups.-History:...
, had been offering managerial advice. Impressed with the new line-up, and the new demos that were emerging from them, he signed The Zephyrs to Setanta.
Working with long-time friend and producer Michael Brennan, the band completed their third album A Year to the Day which was released on September 2, 2003. Prior to the album release, in the summer of 2003, The Zephyrs performed at the Benicassim Festival
Festival Internacional de Benicàssim
The Festival Internacional de Benicàssim is an annual music festival which takes place in the village of Benicàssim, province of Castelló, Valencian Community in Spain. It focuses mainly on pop, rock and electronica artists, as well as having other elements besides music like short films,...
in Spain. Following a short tour of the UK in support of A Year To The Day, the band's live schedule lightened considerably. They played just five shows during 2004.
Much of 2004 was spent recording fourth album Bright Yellow Flowers on a Dark Double Bed which was released in June 2005 on Acuarela. The band appeared at the Benicassim Festival
Festival Internacional de Benicàssim
The Festival Internacional de Benicàssim is an annual music festival which takes place in the village of Benicàssim, province of Castelló, Valencian Community in Spain. It focuses mainly on pop, rock and electronica artists, as well as having other elements besides music like short films,...
again in the summer of 2005 and toured both Spain and Italy.
2006 through to 2009 were quiet years for The Zephyrs, although not completely inactive. A 3-piece version of the band (Stuart and David Nicol with Robert Dillam on drums) appeared at the Triku Festival in Spain in October 2008. The band also teamed up with producer Michael Brennan for the first time since 2003 to record and mix songs for a fifth album. Fool of Regrets was released in September 2010 on London-based label Club AC30 preceded by the single Creative Faith and a short tour of the UK. The band, joined by singer/guitarist Emily Hall and keyboardist Will Bates, recorded sessions for Radio Scotland's Vic Galloway show and Marc Riley's BBC Radio 6 Music show in September and October 2010. The album was Vic Galloway's album of the week for 06/09/2010.
Albums
- It's OK Not to Say Anything (1999, Evol)
- When the Sky Comes Down It Comes Down on Your HeadWhen the Sky Comes Down It Comes Down on Your HeadWhen The Sky Comes Down It Comes Down On Your Head is the second full length album released by Edinburgh based shoegaze band The Zephyrs. It was recorded at The Substation in Cowdenbeath, Scotland. Additional recording took place at Blackwing Studios in London, and at the home of Rachel Goswell .It...
(2001, SouthPaw) - A Year to the Day (2004, SetantaSetanta RecordsSetanta Records is a UK Independent record label. The label was at the forefront of the indie Irish music scene in the late eighties and nineties as itchampioned young Irish groups.-History:...
) - Bright Yellow Flowers on a Dark Double Bed (2005, Acuarela)
- Fool Of Regrets (2010, Club AC30)
Fool Of Regrets reviewed
EPs
- Stargazer EP (2001, Rock Action)
- The Love That Will Guide You Back Home (2002, Acuarela)
Compilations
- A Quiet Riot (2002, Play It Again SamPlay It Again Sam (record label)[PIAS] Recordings is the recorded music division of the [PIAS] Entertainment Group, a European independent artist and label services company.The record labels that operate under the [PIAS] Recordings umbrella are: Play It Again Sam, Wall of Sound and Different Recordings.Aside from the three London...
) song: "Setting Sun" - HomesleepHome 2 (2002, Homesleep) song: "Greyhound Going Somewhere"
- Acuarela Songs 2 (2003, Acuarela) song: "Make Me Lonely"