Black Star Liner

Infobox musical artist
Name = Black Star Liner


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Origin = England
Genre = House Techno Ambient house Reggae Dub Asian
Years_active = 1994-2001
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Current_members = Choque Hosein Tom Salmon Chris Harrop
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Notable_instruments = Sitar
Tabla

Black Star Liner were formed in Leeds in 1994, by Choque Hosein, Tom Salmon, and Chris Harrop. Their music consisted of a mix of asian music (sitar and tabla), dance music and dub reggae.

History

They formed Soundclash Records to release their initial recordings - Smoke the Prophets EP, and High Turkish Influence.

After receiving single of the week in the NME for Smoke the Prophets [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/b/blackstarliner/|title=Black Star Liner Smoke the Prophets, NME Single of the Week ] , they recorded 3 peel sessions [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/b/blackstarliner/|title=Black Star Liner BBC Peel Session|publisher=bbc.co.uk] the first of which was was broadcast in April 1995.

The Peel session enabled them to secure a record deal with EXP, which was run by Feargal Sharkey from The Undertones and Richard Norris from The Grid. Their debut album, Yemen Cutta Connection was released in September 1996, with a press launch on Dartmoor involving Jimmy Cauty and Bill Drummond from The KLF. The album received critical praise, inciuding album of the week in The Guardian. [cite web|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=54U93KEMlNwC&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&dq=black+star+liner+single+of+the+week&source=web&ots=1ivZg_FBrU&sig=y3accBai8iAaLZGX94ESsely5yo&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result|title=Brimful of Asia Black Star Liner Guardian Album of the Week]

After the demise of EXP, Rob Dickens from WEA signed Black Star Liner, and they recorded their 2nd album Bengali Bantam Youth Experience, which featured the single Superfly and Bindi. Again receiving substantial critical acclaim [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/new_music_releases/265412.stm|title=BBC Review of Bengali Bantam Youth|publisher=news.bbc.co.uk|date=31 Jan 1999] [cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/friday_review/story/0,,322379,00.html|title=Guardian Review of Bengali Bantam Youth|publisher=guardian.co.uk|date=29 Jan 1999] , the album was also nominated for the 1999 Mercury Music Prize. [cite web|url=http://www.list.co.uk/article/10361-mercury-music-prize-2008-shortlist-announced/|title=Mercury Music Prize 2008 shortlist announced|publisher=List.co.uk|date=22 July 2008] , and their live act was also praised [cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/1999/jan/28/artsfeatures1|title=Guardian Review, Black Star Liner Jazz Cafe, London]

Labelled as part of the Asian Underground, they worked with Tjinder Singh's Cornershop and are featured in the book Brimful of Asia [cite web|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=54U93KEMlNwC&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&dq=black+star+liner+single+of+the+week&source=web&ots=1ivZg_FBrU&sig=y3accBai8iAaLZGX94ESsely5yo&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result|title=Brimful of Asia Black Star Liner Biography]

Discography

*"Smoke The Prophets EP (12")" Soundclash 1994
*"High Turkish Influence (12")" Soundclash 1995
*"The Jaws EP (10")" EXP Recordings 1995
*"Haláal Rock E.P. (CD, EP)" EXP Recordings 1996
*"Haláal Rock EP (12")" EXP Recordings 1996
*"Harmon Session Special XI (12")" EXP Recordings 1996
*"Yemen Cutta Connection (LP)" EXP Recordings 1996
*"Yemen Cutta Connection (CD)" EXP Recordings 1996
*"Rock Freak (CD, Maxi)" WEA International Inc. 1997
*"Rock Freak EP (12")" Warner Music UK Ltd. 1997
*"Superfly And Bindi (CD, Maxi)" WEA International Inc. 1998
*"Superfly And Bindi (12", Promo)" WEA International Inc. 1998
*"Superfly And Bindi (12")" Warner Music UK Ltd. 1998
*"Bengali Bantam Youth Experience! (CD)" Warner Music UK Ltd. 1999
*"Twelve Inch Confrontation Mix (CD)" Echo Beach 2000
*"Yemen Cutta Connection (CD)" Echo Beach 2001

References