We Are The Physics
Encyclopedia
We Are the Physics are an indie band from Glasgow, Scotland. The band draws influences from new wave
, pop
, indie, and math rock
, and has a "B-movie" aesthetic.
, The Skids
, Polysics
, Buddy Holly
and Ex Models
, and describe their sound as "mutant science punk rock" (described by them as "...a way to make fairly derivative sound more interesting"). They have played gigs with Art Brut, Polysics
, You Say Party! We Say Die!
and 30 Seconds To Mars
, and have appeared on Marc Riley's Brain Surgery on BBC 6 Music
. In a concert review, the BBC
said of vocalist Michael M: "he doesn’t actually sing so much as run around like one of those aliens from Mars Attacks
".
In April 2008, We Are the Physics' video for their single "You Can Do Athletics, btw
" (directed by Colin Kennedy
) was released, featuring the band as patients in a 1960s style hospital being 'upgraded' by singer Michael M, dressed as a doctor, in order to destroy a 50-ft woman attacking Glasgow. The single was awarded 'Single of the Week' by Drowned in Sound
in April 2008. This single preceded the band's debut album, We Are the Physics Are OK at Music
, released through This Is Fake DIY Records in May 2008. A headlining tour commenced to promote it. The album was generally well-received. The Independent
's Simon Price described the album: "The majority of tracks on their debut album sound like the Dead Kennedys' "California Uber Alles" and Soft Cell's "Memorabilia" blended in a cement mixer: an unholy chaos of screeches and bleeps, clangs and shouts", while The Mirror described the album as "short, sharp and to-the-jugular". Drowned in Sound
were less complementary, describing the album as "an entirely one-dimensional debut that will either become a favourite of attention-deficit sorts everywhere or be consigned to whatever shores all those unsold Ikara Colt and KaitO LPs washed up on".
In an interview at the T in the Park
festival in 2008, the band said that they were already bored with the songs on their debut album, and were writing songs for their second album. The band have since been in the studio recording new tracks for their second album, some of which have already made their live debut.
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, indie, and math rock
Math rock
Math rock is a rhythmically complex guitar-based style of experimental rock that emerged in the 1980s and that was very influenced by progressive rock like King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Henry Cow - and 20th century composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage...
, and has a "B-movie" aesthetic.
Biography
We Are the Physics hail from Glasgow, Scotland, and were founded in 2005. Originally known as We Are the Physics Club And Therefore Everything We Say Is Fact, the quartet claim inspiration from bands such as DevoDevo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
, The Skids
The Skids
Skids were an art-punk/punk rock and new wave band from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, founded in 1977 by Stuart Adamson , William Simpson , Thomas Kellichan and Richard Jobson...
, Polysics
Polysics
is a Japanese new wave and rock band from Tokyo, who dubs its unique style as "technicolor pogo punk". It was named after a brand of synthesizer, the Korg Polysix. The band started in 1997, but got their big break in 1998 at a concert in Tokyo...
, Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
and Ex Models
Ex Models
Ex Models is a no wave-influenced band based in Brooklyn, New York.-Career:The band, based around brothers Shahin and Shahryar Motia, was started while they were in high school. They reunited after college to make their first album, Other Mathematics, released in 2001 on Ace Fu Records...
, and describe their sound as "mutant science punk rock" (described by them as "...a way to make fairly derivative sound more interesting"). They have played gigs with Art Brut, Polysics
Polysics
is a Japanese new wave and rock band from Tokyo, who dubs its unique style as "technicolor pogo punk". It was named after a brand of synthesizer, the Korg Polysix. The band started in 1997, but got their big break in 1998 at a concert in Tokyo...
, You Say Party! We Say Die!
You Say Party! We Say Die!
You Say Party was a Canadian five piece dance-punk band from Abbotsford, British Columbia. Their album Hit the Floor! was released in September 2005, and the band recently completed their second Canadian tour, an appearance at South by Southwest and a tour of the United States, before touring the...
and 30 Seconds To Mars
30 Seconds to Mars
30 Seconds to Mars is an American rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 1998. Since 2007, the band has consisted of actor Jared Leto , Shannon Leto and Tomo Miličević...
, and have appeared on Marc Riley's Brain Surgery on BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music is one of the BBC's digital radio stations, was launched on 11 March 2002 and originally codenamed Network Y. It was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years....
. In a concert review, 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...
said of vocalist Michael M: "he doesn’t actually sing so much as run around like one of those aliens from Mars Attacks
Mars Attacks
Mars Attacks is a science fiction trading card series released in 1962. The cards feature artwork by science-fiction artist Wallace Wood and tell the story of the invasion of Earth by cruel, hideous Martians. The cards depicted futuristic battle scenes and bizarre methods of Martian attack, torture...
".
In April 2008, We Are the Physics' video for their single "You Can Do Athletics, btw
You Can Do Athletics, btw
"You Can Do Athletics, btw" was the third single by We Are The Physics and the first to be released from their debut album on new label This Is Fake DIY Records...
" (directed by Colin Kennedy
Colin Kennedy
Colin Kennedy was a notorious 19th century criminal in San Francisco, California. An Ohio native, Kennedy left his family to make his name and fortune in the west. However, Kennedy became a well known criminal and committed one of the most notorious multiple-murders of his time.-Early life:Born...
) was released, featuring the band as patients in a 1960s style hospital being 'upgraded' by singer Michael M, dressed as a doctor, in order to destroy a 50-ft woman attacking Glasgow. The single was awarded 'Single of the Week' by Drowned in Sound
Drowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
in April 2008. This single preceded the band's debut album, We Are the Physics Are OK at Music
We Are The Physics Are OK At Music
We Are the Physics Are OK at Music is the debut full-length album of purveyors of Mutant Science Punk Rock, We Are the Physics, released via This Is Fake DIY Records on the 5th of May, 2008. The album is to have special "3D artwork": the cd case will fold out into a stage scene, and band members...
, released through This Is Fake DIY Records in May 2008. A headlining tour commenced to promote it. The album was generally well-received. The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
's Simon Price described the album: "The majority of tracks on their debut album sound like the Dead Kennedys' "California Uber Alles" and Soft Cell's "Memorabilia" blended in a cement mixer: an unholy chaos of screeches and bleeps, clangs and shouts", while The Mirror described the album as "short, sharp and to-the-jugular". Drowned in Sound
Drowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
were less complementary, describing the album as "an entirely one-dimensional debut that will either become a favourite of attention-deficit sorts everywhere or be consigned to whatever shores all those unsold Ikara Colt and KaitO LPs washed up on".
In an interview at the T in the Park
T in the Park
T in the Park is a major British music festival that has been held annually since 1994. It is named after its main sponsor, the brewing company Tennents. It was originally held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire but since 1997 has been held at a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire...
festival in 2008, the band said that they were already bored with the songs on their debut album, and were writing songs for their second album. The band have since been in the studio recording new tracks for their second album, some of which have already made their live debut.
Singles
- Less Than ThreeLess Than Three (song)"Less Than Three" is a debut release by We Are the Physics....
(2006) One - Fear of Words / This Is Vanity (2007) One
- You Can Do Athletics, btwYou Can Do Athletics, btw"You Can Do Athletics, btw" was the third single by We Are The Physics and the first to be released from their debut album on new label This Is Fake DIY Records...
(2008) This is Fake DIY
External links
- WATP - Official website/
- Record labels website
- Kane, Jon (2008) "Interview: We Are the Physics", NMENMEThe New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
Reviews
- McKinley, Fiona (2008) "We Are the Physics - We Are the Physics Are OK At Music (This Is Fake DIY)", MusicOMH