Language of Flowers (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Language of Flowers


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Origin = Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Genre = Indie
Years_active = Language of Flowers Mk1 - 1992
Language of Flowers Mk2 - 2003–present
Label = Shelflife Records
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Current_members = Tara Simpson
Marc McCourt
Colm McCrory
Ashton Cameron
Bentley Cooke
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Language of Flowers is a 5-piece indie-pop band originally from Belfast in Northern Ireland signed to San Francisco indie label Shelflife Records. As of 2006 its members are located in London, Manchester and Belfast. The band's sound is characteristic of the British C86 movement with heavy use of jangling Rickenbacker 12-string guitars, airy female vocals and bright pop melodies.

Language of Flowers Mk1 (1992)

Language of Flowers Mk1 started out in 1992 when friends Colm McCrory (bass guitar) and Marc McCourt (guitar) hastily assembled a band with their friend Jeff Lynas on vocals to support the twee pop band Heavenly after they had booked them to play in Derry, Northern Ireland. This initial incarnation of the band split up immediately after their first gig (which included a cover of Velocity Girl by Primal Scream) after Heavenly’s singer Amelia Fletcher compared their shambolic sound to riot grrl band Huggy Bear, quite the opposite of the poppy, melodic Sarah Records influenced style they were aiming for. They would not play again for over 10 years.

Language of Flowers Mk2 (2003 - Present)

In 2003 Marc and Colm decided to reform the band after mutual friends Ashton Cameron and Tara Simpson had toyed with the idea of starting a Field Mice influenced band. With Tara taking up vocal duties and Ashton on rhythm guitar they began searching for a drummer around Belfast. Ironically in a city famous for banging its drums this turned out to be a difficult challenge and after exhausting the local area, Colm turned to Bentley Cooke, with whom he shared a flat with whilst living in Leicester in the mid-90's but who was now based in Manchester, England. After recording a 4 track demo the band quickly signed to Shelflife and released their debut album "Songs About You" in 2004. The album was well received by international fanzines with reviews noting the band's classic indie pop influences from the aforementioned bands Field Mice and Heavenly as well as The Smiths, Comet Gain, The Go-Betweens and Lush.

The band spent 2005-2006 playing across the UK with other indie pop bands Camera Obscura (band), Trembling Blue Stars, Malcolm Middleton and Pipas as well as touring around Northern Europe.

They are currently writing and recording their second album which is rumoured to feature guest appearances from ex-Smiths bassist Andy Rourke on piano.

Current Lineup

* Tara Simpson - Vocals, Guitar, Percussion
* Marc McCourt - Guitar
* Colm McCrory - Bass Guitar, Vocals
* Ashton Cameron - Guitar
* Bentley Cooke - Drums

External links

* [http://www.shelflife.com/ Shelflife Records]