Jape (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Jape


Img_capt = Jape
Img_size = 330
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = flagicon|Ireland County Dublin, Ireland
Genre = Electronic-rock
Years_active = 2003? – present
Label = Trust Me I'm A Thief
Associated_acts = Black Belt Jones, The Redneck Manifesto, David Kitt, The Raconteurs, Soulwax
URL =
Current_members = Richie Egan
Past_members =
Notable_instruments = Vocals, electronics, bass

Jape are an Irish electronic/rock band from Dublin. Fronted by Richie Egan (formerly of Black Belt Jones and The Redneck Manifesto) they have released three albums to date, "Cosmosphere" (2003), [cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2003/0612/jape.html|title=Jape - Cosmosphere|accessdate=2008-10-06|publisher=RTÉ] "The Monkeys in the Zoo Have More Fun Than Me" (2004) and "Ritual" (2008).

The second album's opening track "Floating", produced by David Kitt, became a firm favourite among DJs on late night alternative music shows after being released as a single. [cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/1202/jape.html|title=Jape - The Monkeys in the Zoo Have More Fun Than Me|accessdate=2008-10-06|publisher=RTÉ] "Floating" is regularly covered by The Raconteurs during their live sets (Brendan Benson sang a sample of the chorus during the group's largest Irish performance at Oxegen 2008) and is a staple of Soulwax DJ sets. [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/atl/news_specific183778.shtml|title=Flaming Lips Support Bill Confirmed|accessdate=2008-10-06|publisher=BBC] A third album, entitled "Ritual", was released on June 6th 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-irish_news/jape-reveals-album-details/spId/3718F6C7-A7FE-7025-B0184B12CB918C88.html|title=Jape reveals album details|date=2008-02-20|accessdate=2008-02-24|publisher=MUSE.ie]

Career

Pre-Jape era

Richie Egan was previously part of Black Belt Jones. After leaving Black Belt Jones he became known to a wider audience as bass player in instrumental rock band The Redneck Manifesto, whilst he also toured as part of David Kitt’s live band. By 2003 Egan had developed Jape, making many of his first appearances as a support act at Redneck Manifesto's live shows before releasing debut album Cosmosphere on the Volta Sounds label.

Debut album (2003)

"Cosmosphere" was released on the Volta Sounds label in 2003 and is 33 minutes in length.

The full tracklisting of "Cosmosphere" is:
# "Cosmosphere"
# "Into Lines"
# "Wishful Thinking"
# "Haunt Me"
# "Nilsson"
# "I Don't Know"
# "All Your Friends"
# "When You've Lost All Your Looks"

The Monkeys in the Zoo Have More Fun Than Me (2004)

Jape's second album, "The Monkeys in the Zoo Have More Fun Than Me" was released by Trust Me I'm A Thief Records in 2004 and is 37 minutes in length. It contains the well-known single "Floating", produced by David Kitt and given much airplay on Today FM presenter Donal Dineen's "Here Comes the Night" show. The "Floating" single found a fan in Brendan Benson who regularly covers the track as part of The Raconteurs live show.

The full tracklisting of "The Monkeys in the Zoo Have More Fun Than Me" is:
# "Floating"
# "Reminding Me"
# "How Much Light"
# "The Hardest Thing To Do"
# "To The Sea"
# "A Journey Is Just A Memory"
# "Autumn Summer"
# "Always Knew"

Ritual (2008)

"Ritual", Jape's first album in four years, was released on June 5th. It entered the Irish album charts at number 15 and features 10 tracks, including a host of live favourites such as "Streetwise", "Graveyard" and "Strike Me Down". The album was preceded by the single "I Was A Man", whilst a host of Irish dates to promote the album include playing support to The Flaming Lips at Belsonic in Belfast on August 11 2008 as well as an appearance at Electric Picnic 2008, their second such appearance after Electric Picnic 2006.

The full tracklisting of "Ritual" is:
# "Christopher and Anthony"
# "I Was a Man"
# "Replays"
# "Graveyard"
# "Phil Lynott"
# "Streetwise"
# "At the Heart of All This Strangeness"
# "Apple in an Orchard"
# "Strike me Down"
# "Nothing Lasts Forever"

References

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/richiejape Jape on MySpace]
* [http://www.trustmeimathief.com/artists/jape.html Jape at Trust Me I'm A Thief Record Label]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artist/zjvr/ Jape biography at BBC]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3OSoBFzhLI "Floating" video]
* [http://www.drop-d.ie/article.php?article_id=615 Interview with Jape - Drop-D.ie]