- Dark Room Notes
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Dark Room Notes 
Background information Origin Dublin/Galway/Wicklow, Ireland Genres electro/synthpop Years active 2004 – present Labels BBE Records Members Ronan Gaughan
Ruairi Ferrie
Arran MurphyPast members Ruairi Cavanagh
Darragh ShanahanNotable instruments Vocals, guitar, synth, programming, glockenspiel, drums Dark Room Notes are a three-piece electro/synthpop band based in Dublin, Ireland. The three founding members, Ronan Gaughan, Ruairi Ferrie and former drummer Ruairi Cavanagh originally hail from Galway. Later members Arran Murphy is from Wicklow, and Darragh Shanahan, who was the band's drummer for four years, comes from Dublin.
The band's music has been described as electro/synthpop with a slightly sombre overtone and introverted lyrical sensibility. According to Village [1] they "seem to gather comparisons with the murkier side of electro pop, usually bands like New Order, Interpol or Joy Division. While the comparisons have some basis, DRN are far from gloomy, just a bit ... cool... But this cool does not translate into pretension, just humorous and knowledgeable asides to their favourite artists, photographers and filmmakers".[1]
The band's debut album We Love You Dark Matter was nominated for the Choice Music Prize.
Contents
Career
Dark Room Notes formed in Galway in 2004, recruiting drummer Shanahan in 2006. They performed their first gig in Galway in December 2006. Their debut single Love Like Nicotine was released in late 2007 on Gonzo Records, and became an alternative radio hit. This was followed in summer 2007 by the Dead Start Program EP, which featured lead single Slow Puncture and an early recording of Shake Shake My Ceiling.
The band were selected to play on the sixth series of the acclaimed RTÉ music show Other Voices. [2]. Dark Room Notes topped the 'Viewer's Choice' poll on RTÉ [3] for Series 6 of Other Voices.
Producers who have worked with the quartet include Flood, Tom Rixton and Ciarán Bradshaw.
The band recorded their debut album We Love You Dark Matter in London during the summer of 2008, with producer Ciaran Bradshaw. The album was released on Good Friday 2009 to widespread critical acclaim. DRN spent the ensuing months touring Ireland and playing all of the major festivals before being signed by BBE Records in the autumn. BBE released We Love You Dark Matter worldwide in spring 2010, preceded by the re-release of Love Like Nicotine on February 8.
In January 2010 We Love You Dark Matter was nominated for the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year 2009.[2][3]
In March 2010 DRN travelled to the CMW music festival in Toronto and SXSW in Austin, Texas.
In April 2010 drummer Darragh Shanahan announced his departure from the band with immediate effect. The remaining three members chose not to replace him, but to continue on using a drum machine.
The band have completed the recording of their second album, entitled simply Dark Room Notes, which will be released on BBE in autumn 2011.
Dead Start Program was re-released on BBE on April 18, 2011.
Band members
Current members
- Ronan Gaughan — Vocals, guitar, synth, programming
- Ruairi Ferrie — Vocals, guitar, synth, programming, glockenspiel
- Arran Murphy — Vocals, synth, glockenspiel
Former members
- Ruairi Cavanagh — Drums
- Darragh Shanahan — Drums
Discography
Albums and EPs
- Dead Start Program (GON002, CDS, October 12, 2007 - 4 track EP)[4][5]
- We Love You Dark Matter (GON003 April 10, 2009 - CD and Download)
- We Love You Dark Matter (BBE12ALP April 2010 - CD, 12" and Download)
- Dead Start Program (BBE April 18, 2011 - Download only)
Singles
- Love Like Nicotine (GON001, CDS and Limited Edition 7" Vinyl, June 2007 - 3 track single with remixes)
- Love Like Nicotine (BBE February 2010 - Download only)
- Elm (BBE Autumn 2010 - Download only)
References
- ^ "Dark Room Notes Written By Tom Rowe". Village. October 23, 2007. http://www.village.ie/Arts/Music/Dark_Room_Notes/. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
- ^ Charlie Taylor (January 13, 2010). "Bell X1 on Choice prize shortlist". The Irish Times. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0113/breaking57.htm. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
- ^ "Choice Music Prize nominees revealed". RTÉ. January 13, 2010. http://www.rte.ie/arts/2010/0113/choicemusicprize.html. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
- ^ "Debut Dark Room Notes EP - Dead Start Program « Keep It Fresh". Keep It Fresh. October 9, 2007. http://keepitfresh.wordpress.com/2007/10/09/debut-dark-room-notes-ep-dead-start-program/. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
- ^ Lauren Murphy. "Dead Start Program EP". entertainment.ie. http://entertainment.ie/album-review/Dark-Room-Notes---Dead-Start-Program-EP/5232.htm. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
External links
- Official website
- Dark Room Notes on Myspace
- Dark Room Notes PR in Ireland
- Fan site based in Austria
Videos
Categories:- Irish rock music groups
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