Subterraneans (band)
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| Subterraneans | |
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 Subterraneans, pictured in 1996.
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| Background information | |
| Origin | London, UK |
| Genre(s) | Alternative Rock, Avant-Garde, Psychedelic Rock, Post-punk, Shoegaze |
| Years active | 1992-present |
| Label(s) | Electric, Cadiz, Radar Music/MotionFX GmbH, Rhythm of Life, BMP, Osceola |
| Members | |
| Jude Rawlins Carl Homer Robin Phillips Guy Evans |
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Subterraneans are an art-rock band from London, England. Fronted by former Angelhead vocalist and songwriter Jude Rawlins, they also feature former Wave guitarist Carl Homer, former Solstice bass player Robin Phillips, and Van der Graaf Generator drummer Guy Evans.
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[edit] History
Subterraneans were formed in Camden Town, London, in 1992, by Jude Rawlins and Carl Homer. Their name was taken from a track on the seminal 1977 David Bowie album Low. Subterraneans were given their name by Billy Mackenzie. Eschewing the normal music industry channels, they started their own label, The Electric Label, with £500 that Homer had inherited. Rawlins' experience with Angelhead, and advice from friend Toni Halliday, whose band Curve had succeeded in breaking through commercially whilst retaining a strict DIY ethic, convinced Subterraneans that there was no need to pursue a career through the normal channels. Instead of studio time, Subterraneans purchased their own recording equipment, recording their first album, and all their subsequent work, in locations chosen entirely for their convenience, atmosphere and amusement value. The band have never used a commercial recording studio, and have never worked with a producer. Their first release was the 12" single "Dream Fades Into Dark" in February 1992. Their debut album, April May June, released in December 1993, took its title from a line in Jean Paul Sartre's existentialist essay Nausea.
Despite critical success and definite commercial potential, after their 1994 tour, Rawlins and Homer returned immediately to recording a second album. This was because Rawlins in particular, who was now free of the influence of drink and drugs, felt that the band had outgrown the material on April May June.
The recording of the second Subterraneans album Mona Lisa was problematical. When the band went on the Mona Lisa Tour in December 1996 the record itself was only two thirds complete; it was released, without fanfare, in January 1998.
Subterraneans quit touring in May 1997, following a particularly gruelling show at the Highbury Garage in London. Although they gave exhaustion as their reason, it has been suggested that they were deeply affected by the death of Billy Mackenzie in January 1997, and lost their taste for performing.
The hiatus lasted until 2002, although Jude appeared at a Nick Drake tribute concert in Norwich, England, in April 2000, performing the Drake songs "Pink Moon" and "One of These Things First".
In the interim Subterraneans remained active, recording their Pandora's Box soundtrack, released in 2001 by Paul Haig's Rhythm of Life label, as well as releasing a cover of the Rolling Stones classic "The Last Time", featuring Angie, former wife of David Bowie.
Subterraneans returned to the stage in July 2002. Although Jude Rawlins had always shown literary leanings in his musical work, they were more evident in the new material.
Subterraneans recorded the album Soul Mass Transit, released in March 2006.
On 27th March 2007, Subterraneans took part in the Billy Mackenzie Tribute Concert at Shepherd's Bush Empire, London. Paul Haig joined them onstage, breaking his own eighteen year performing hiatus.
In November 2007 the band headlined the inaugural Ghosts of Independent Music festival in Berlin, Germany. This performance was recorded and released as the album Live in Berlin in February 2008.
[edit] Film, Theatre and Television
Subterraneans have recorded soundtracks for several films, including the official 70th anniversary soundtrack to G.W. Pabst's celebrated movie Pandora's Box, starring Louise Brooks, and Maya Deren's At Land.
Their music has also featured in shows by performance artist Judy Neville (whose voice can also be heard on Subterraneans' track "Fall Out"), and poet Suzanne Andrade, whose 2006 Edinburgh Festival show Invisible Ink included excerpts from the band's Pandora's Box soundtrack.
[edit] Discography
- Dream Fades Into Dark (1992 single)
- April May June (1993 album)
- Slide EP (1995 EP)
- No featuring Billy Mackenzie (1996 single)
- She Walks On Water (1997 single)
- Hazel Eyes (1998 single)
- Mona Lisa (1998 album)
- Pandora's Box (2001 album)
- The Last Time featuring Angie Bowie (2002 single)
- Orly Flight (2003 compilation album)
- Canticle in D (2001 single)
- Themes for Maya Deren (2004 film soundtrack project, theatrical and commercial DVD release, CD release delayed until 2007)
- Soul Mass Transit (2006 album)
- Live in Berlin (2008 album)
[edit] Sources
- Rawlins, Jude (2004). Cul, de Sac: Lyrics, Prose and Poems 1987-2004 (3rd ed.). Hampstead House Press. ISBN 1-4116-0895-X.
- Clark, Lisa (Feb. 11, 2005). The Lives of Jude Rawlins. Artsweek.
