Even as We Speak
| Even As We Speak | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Australia |
| Genres | indie pop, indie rock |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Labels | Sarah Records, Phantom Records, Egg Records, Big Home Productions |
| Associated acts | Her Name in Lights, The Shrinking Violets, Julian Knowles |
| Members |
Mary Wyer Mathew Love Rob Irwin Julian Knowles Anita Rayner |
| Past members |
Neil Johnson Scott Leishman Bjarn Paul Clarke |
Even As We Speak is an indie band from Sydney, Australia. Formed in the mid 1980s, founding members Matthew Love (guitar, banjo, vocals) and Mary Wyer (vocals, guitar) were later joined by Rob Irwin (bass) Anita Rayner (drums, banjo, mandolin), Paul Clarke (guitar, vocals) and Julian Knowles (keyboards, guitar, production). After a series of vinyl releases on Australian independent labels including Phantom Records,[1] and success on the Australian indie scene, they came to the attention of BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel who started to play the band's 1987 indie guitar cover of New Order Bizarre Love Triangle on his show. This brought them to the attention of UK audiences and began a relationship with UK indie label Sarah Records. The band released several singles and an album on Sarah Records, three of which reached the Top 5 of the Melody Maker and New Musical Express UK independent music charts in 1992 and 1993.
Between 1992 and 1993, the group recorded three sessions for John Peel and one session for Mark Goodier for BBC Radio 1.[2] They were among the few Australian bands to record Peel Sessions – others were The Birthday Party, The Triffids, The Go-Betweens and Laughing Clowns. These sessions were released as the album 'Yellow Food: The Peel Sessions' [3] in June 2014. A session was also recorded for Radio France. The band's music is an unusual hybrid of accessible pop and more experimental elements. Some commentators consider them to be key figures in the post-C86 subculture in the UK, although their music breaks out of conventional pop moulds to experiment with forms.
Wyer formed a pop rock band, Her Name in Lights, which issued their debut album, Into the Light Again, in October 2004.[4] Egg Records of Glasgow has compiled Even As We Speak's five Australian vinyl singles into a 17-song CD, A Three Minute Song is One Minute Too Long (2007).[5]
In recent years the band have reformed to play some sporadic live shows, most recently to mark the release of ‘Yellow Food: The Peel Sessions’ a compilation album of the complete sessions recorded for the BBC between 1992 and 1993. Recently, the band has been working on a new 5 track EP release.
In May 2016 the band played the New York City Popfest nycpopfest.org
Discography
- Small Fish in a Big Machine (1986). Voyeur Records. Vinyl, Single, 45 RPM, 7"
- I Won't Have to Think About You (1987). Big Home Productions. Vinyl, 7", EP
- Blue Suburban Skies (1987). Big Home Productions. Vinyl, Single, 45 RPM, 7"
- Goes So Slow (1989) Phantom Records. Limited Edition Red Vinyl, Single, 45 RPM, 7"
- Outgrown This Town (1990). Phantom Records. Vinyl, 12" EP
- Nothing Ever Happens (1990). Sarah Records. Vinyl, 7", EP
- One Step Forward (1991). Sarah Records. Vinyl, 7", EP, 33 ⅓ RPM
- Beautiful Day (1991). Sarah Records. Vinyl, 7", Single
- Feral Pop Frenzy (1993) Sarah Records. Vinyl 12"/CD album
- Feral Pop Frenzy (1993) Quattro, Japan, CD album (includes extra tracks)
- Blue Eyes Deceiving Me (1993). Sarah Records. Vinyl 7"/CD EP
- A Three Minute Song Is One Minute Too Long (2005). Egg Records. CD Compilation
- Even As We Speak/In A Day (2000). Gifted Records. Split Single. Vinyl, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM
- Yellow Food: The Peel Sessions (2014). Feral Pop Records. Album. Digital Release.
References
- ↑ "Even As We Speak Discography".
- ↑ "BBC Radio 1 - Keeping it Peel - Even As We Speak".
- ↑ "Yellow Food: The Peel Sessions". Retrieved 8 June 2014.
- ↑ "Artists :: Her Name in Lights". Australian Music Online. November 2004. Archived from the original on 5 September 2007. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
- ↑ "A Three Minute Song is One Minute Too Long". Retrieved June 3, 2014.