- Mo-Ho-Bish-O-Pi
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This article is about the Welsh rock band. For the extinct bird, see Molokaʻi ʻŌʻō.
Mo-Ho-Bish-O-Pi 
Background information Origin Cardiff, Wales Genres Indie rock Years active 1996–2002 Labels Soda
FF Vinyl
Seriously Groovy
V2 RecordsMembers Martin Bimrose
Richard Arnold
Mike CarterMo-Ho-Bish-O-Pi were a Welsh indie rock group formed in 1996. The trio included Martin Bimrose on guitar, Richard Arnold on drums and Mike Carter on bass. Formed in 1996 when the members were studying fine art at Cardiff University, the band has released material under various record labels, including Soda, FF Vinyl,[1] and V2.
The band's sound was described by NME as being "as eclectic as their name is confusing".[2] Likened to Beck, Sonic Youth and Pavement, Mo-Ho-Bish-O-Pi have been reported as being "closer to the Flaming Lips with overtones of Bis and ABBA".[3] Their "punky garage"[4] sound is evident on singles such as Drop Jaw and Playboy, while a melancholic and perhaps more accessible side is demonstrated on Names for Nameless Things.
The band's name is derived from Moho bishopi, the scientific name of the Moloka‘i ‘Ō‘ō, an extinct bird known to have lived in Hawaii. Martin Bimrose saw an article about the bird in the Readers Digest whilst waiting at the dentists. He thought that with some imaginative punctuation, "the name could be as mad as he is".[5]
Following the bands demise (the group has been inactive since 2002), Mike Carter and Richard Arnold went on to form The International Karate Plus[6] but they have since also ceased to exist. Richard Arnold now plays in King Alexander and Mike Carter is now in Heck with former members of legendary Cardiff band Sammo Hung.
Contents
Discography
Albums
- Vague Us (10 September 2001)
Singles and EPs
- Two Tier Water Skier (1999) [1]
- Vitamin E(P) (31 January 2000)
- Drop Jaw (18 September 2000)
- Playboy (12 March 2001)
- Names for Nameless Things (21 May 2001)
- Hear the Air (3 September 2001)
Appearances on compilations
- Kate is Cool appears on Otter Than July Double 7" Vinyl EP / Compilation CD EP from Fierce Panda
(also contains tracks by Scribble, Fraff, Pop Threat, Hofman and Rosita)
References
- ^ The FF Vinyl Countdown, Alison Stokes, South Wales Echo, 29 March 2002
- ^ Something different, Mailcasual, Leicester Mercury, 17 May 2001
- ^ Mo-Ho-Bish-O-Pi artist listing, Drowned in Sound, accessed 5 March 2007
- ^ Pop Album Reviews, Tim Perry, The Independent, 15 September 2001
- ^ Mo-Ho-Bish-O-Pi profile, Seriously Groovy Records, accessed 11 May 2008
- ^ Pop: Single of the Week, The Independent, Features section, p 39, 2 July 2005
External links
- MySpace page - presumably unofficial
- Drowned in Sound
- AllMusic
Categories:- British indie rock groups
- Musical groups established in 1996
- Musical groups disestablished in 2002
- Welsh rock music groups
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