Gravenhurst (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Gravenhurst

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Img_capt = Performing at the Summer Sundae festival, 2006
Img_size =
Landscape = Yes
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Bristol, England
Genre = Alternative rock
Years_active =
Label = Warp
Associated_acts =
URL =
Current_members = Nick Talbot
Alex Wilkins
Past_members = Dave Collingwood
Huw Cooksley
Notable_instruments =

Gravenhurst is a vehicle for the music of singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Nick Talbot, who lives in Bristol, England and is currently signed to Warp Records.

History

While Talbot began performing solo and continues to do so, since 1999 many other Bristol musicians have helped expand Gravenhurst into a powerful live band, with long-time drummer Dave Collingwood also contributing significant performance and production work to the recordings. On recent tours, Robin Allender played bass.

Gravenhurst's latest album, "The Western Lands", was released on 10 September 2007. May 2008 saw the release of a double A-side single, "Nightwatchman’s Blues"/"Farewell, Farewell".

Gravenhurst has been described as dark and highly atmospheric, veering between the noisy shoegazing sound of guitar bands such as My Bloody Valentine, the harmony-laden singer-songwriter territory of Simon and Garfunkel, and the highly intricate fingerpicking guitar styles of Bert Jansch and Nick Drake. [ [http://wm09.allmusic.com All Music Guide] ] Earlier releases were grounded in acoustic and folk styles, while "Fires in Distant Buildings" made moves towards psychedelic rock. Flying Saucer Attack, a cult Bristol outfit who released a series of feedback-drenched, folk-inspired albums in the early 1990s, have been cited by Talbot as a major influence. [Loose Lips Sink Ships Magazine January 2005] .

A constant in the Gravenhurst sound is Talbot's fragile voice and vocal harmonies, intricate guitar work and unsettling and mysterious lyrical themes. [ All Music Guide [http://wm09.allmusic.com] ] .

Gravenhurst wrote and recorded original soundtrack music for the film "Ein Freund Von Mir". As well as the bespoke "Song Among The Pine", the Gravenhurst songs "Animals", "The Velvet Cell" and "Song From Under The Arches" feature prominently in the film. An instrumental version of the song "Nicole" is featured in the acclaimed Shane Meadows film "This Is England".

Gravenhurst has recorded cover versions of Hüsker Dü's "Diane", "See My Friends" by The Kinks, "Farewell, Farewell" by Fairport Convention and "Longest River" by War Against Sleep.

Nick Talbot also played guitar on two songs from the second War Against Sleep album "Invitation to the Feast". These two songs were "Changing of the Seasons" and "Borderline Personality".

Talbot is also involved with Guy Bartell in their self-described 'Victorian Clockworktronica' ensemble, Bronnt Industries Kapital. In 2000 the pair set up Silent Age Records, a co-operative label which helped gain exposure for their own music as well as artists SJ Esau (now signed to Anticon), War Against Sleep (Fire Records (UK)), Mole Harness (Stray Dog Army), and Exercise One.

Nick Talbot keeps a weblog entitled " [http://policediversnotebook.blogspot.com The Police Diver's Notebook] ".

Line up

*Nick Talbot (vocals/guitar)
*Dave Collingwood (drums) - left May 12, 2008
*Robin Allender (bass/backing vocals/synth)
*Alex Wilkins (guitar)

Discography

ingles

*"Gas Mask Days" EP CD (Silent Age)
*"The Diver" 7" (For Us Records)
*"Black Holes In The Sand EP" (2004,Warp Records)
*"The Velvet Cell"/"See My Friends (edit)" 7" (Warp Records)
*"Trust"/"Underfoot" 7" (Warp Records)
*"Hollow Men"/"Longest River" 7" (Warp Records)

Albums

*"Internal Travels" CD (Silent Age)
*"Flashlight Seasons" CD (2004) ( [http://www.sinkandstove.co.uk Sink & Stove Records] ), reissued on LP/CD by Warp
*"Fires in Distant Buildings" LP/CD (2005, Warp Records)
*"The Western Lands" LP/CD (2007, Warp Records)

oundtrack and compilation appearances

Certain Gravenhurst tracks have also been contributed to soundtracks and compilations, some of which are not available elsewhere, including:
* "Nicole (Instrumental)" - ("This Is England" soundtrack - May 2007)
*"Song Among The Pine" - ("Ein Freund Von Mir" soundtrack – October 2006)N.B. According to the credits on the soundtrack CD, additional soundscapes were provided on this track by Bronnt Industries Kapital collaborator Guy Bartell.
* "Entertainment" - ("Ein Freund Von Mir" soundtrack – October 2006)
* "Stillwater" - ("The Hospital Radio Request List Vol II" compilation, track 4 – June 2004)
* "Entertainment (live)" - ("Comes With A Smile" issue 20 “How They Wash Away…” - magazine, track 13 – January 2006)
* "Herne The Hunter" - "(bonus track on Japanese edition of "Fires in Distant Buildings" – 2005)
* "See My Friends (edit)" - (available on Warp promo CD for "The Velvet Cell" single - 2005)
* "The Laden Trees" - ("Children Are Fascinated By Fire" – Fire Records compilation, track 8 - 2004)
* "Damage part III" - played solo on Irene Trudel’s WFMU radio show in 2003.
* "Romance" - (played on Irene Trudel’s WFMU radio show in 2003)
* "Black Holes in the Sand (edit)" – available on certain Warp promos of "Black Holes in the Sand" - 2004.
* "The Diver" - ("Dead Man’s Shoes" soundtrack - 2004)
* "Long Way Home" - ("555CD55" – 555 Records compilation, track 40 - 2003)

References

External links

* [http://www.gravenhurstmusic.com Gravenhurst official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/gravenhurst Gravenhurst MySpace]
* [http://www.warprecords.com Warp Records Site]
* [http://policediversnotebook.blogspot.com Nick Talbot's Weblog]
* [http://www.silentagerecords.co.uk Silent Age Records]
* [http://www.99matters.de/gravenhurst/ Gravenhurst - Video Interview: "What is really important to you?"]
* [http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/7460]
* [http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/12372]
* [http://mstation.org/gravenhurst.php]
* [http://www.paul-sullivan.com/view_article.php?textID=129]
* [http://www.myparkmag.co.uk/articles/entertainment/music/Gravenhurst-are-back-with-Hollow-Men.jsp Gravenhurst are back with Hollow Men]

Reviews

* [http://www.gigwise.com/contents.asp?contentid=8154 Gravenhurst - 'Fires in Distant Buildings' (4.5/5)]
* [http://www.soundfires.com/reviews/149 Album review on Soundfires.com]