Fabric (UK): Psyche/Crossover...maybe?

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This band have been around for quite a while now, and seem to tick most of the right boxes to my admittedly easily-pleased ears - but I couldn't find any reference to them on the site anywhere, so wondered whether they might stand a chance of being included...   
Described as sounding "something like a merger between Pink 
Floyd and Portishead with Stevie Nicks on vocals", Fabric are a five-piece based 
around the songwriting partnership of lead singer Anna Parry and 
guitarist/producer Simon Matthews.

Anna and Simon first met at City of 
Bath College in the late 90's where they started writing and performing together 
with the band Plastic Eyes gigging extensively around Bristol and Bath reaching 
the final of the famous Moles Club Battle of the Bands along the way.

In 
2005, after several years of intensive writing and recording spent away from the 
live circuit, Anna and Simon started performing as Parry/Matthews using 
technology to create the lush, layered soundscapes that made their recordings 
stand out.

Released in December 2005 on their own AMO Music label, their 
debut album featured eight tracks written, performed and produced by the duo. 
The album received some very positive reviews...

"Sophisticated pop songs that 
would grace anyone's CD collection" - Kevin (bristolrock.co.uk)
"This is 
a fine debut from the Bath pair." - Ash Brown (silhobbit) 
"Pure magic with 
surprising edge and depth 8/10." - The Mag (the-mag.me.uk)
"I loved it. I 
just wish that it lasted much, much longer. Simply brilliant. A Masterpiece" 
-  Alan (bristolrock.co.uk)

By summer 2006 Parry:Matthews had recruited 
bass player Neil Swift and drummer Tom Hammond and were gigging and recording as 
a full working band. Anna and Simon felt that while the name Parry:Matthews 
suited them when performing as a duo, it wasn't representative of the band they 
had become so in 2007 they re-christened themselves Fabric.

The album 
'four two' was completed in November 2007 with all four band members 
contributing to the songwriting. Produced by Simon Matthews and mastered by 
James 'Statick' King, 'four two' features ten songs written and recorded over 
the previous eighteen months, apart from 'Rainclouds', a new recording of a song 
that Anna and Simon first wrote and performed together several years before with 
Plastic Eyes but simply 'forgot about'! There are still over 100 other songs 
from those days, most of which have been recorded but not yet released in any 
shape or form.

'four two' was released in December 2007 and it too 
received rave reviews...

"Fabric are a band that command their groove, 
creating distinct pockets in their style to fit a variety of styles into their 
sound. Check out this fantastic record." 8/10 - A must-listen. Steve 
(the-mag.me.uk)

"This is a world class top notch collection of songs that 
has been recorded and mastered to the highest level of quality...An album that 
you can listen to in its entirety time after time without skipping a track here 
and there, because there is no reason to do so...Please get yourself a copy of 
this fine album, you will thank me for the recommendation when you do." Kevin 
(bristolrock.co.uk)

"The effect is somewhat dizzying and hypnotic and when some 
guitar licks bust through the mix...it's like you're in the midst of one of 
those dreams when you're not really sure whether or not you've woken up. It's a 
mood that doesn't seismically change over the course of the entire album. 
Sometimes this can serve to create an unrelenting euphoric dreamscape that puts 
the listener in a trance for the duration of the album and can change the whole 
complexion of a day...It's definitely worth a listen, and is made by talented 
musicians with an understanding of what makes a solid tune." Dave Urwin 
(live-music-scene.co.uk)

"The overall feel to this album oozes experienced 
seasoned musicians, it gives you that warm feeling that they really know what 
they are about and have nothing to prove. Another one for my iPod I think. 
Highly recommended" Alan (bristolrock.co.uk) 
Fabric's mesmerising live performances have also received critical acclaim, check out MySpace for more reviews.

Fabric completed their third album 'The Wait' in early 2010. The ten new recordings include guest performances from Matt Venn, Kellie Cox and former Plastic Eyes band mate Andrew Rimmer. 

Fabric are:
- Anna Parry / vocals
 - Simon Matthews / guitar, keyboards
- Neil Swift / bass
 - Tom Hammond / drums

http://www.myspace.com/fabricsounds (samples from 'four two')
http://www.facebook.com/fabrictheband
http://fabric.bandcamp.com/ (listen and download 'The Wait")
http://www.fabric.themoon.co.uk (official website)
http://www.fabric.themoon.co.uk/downloads.htm (free downloads of all tracks of all three albums, either individually or as .zip files)

Sounds to me as though they have positioned themselves somewhere along the fuzzy line between Psyche and Crossover, but are they worth an eval...Thoughts anyone?

Edited by yam yam - January 16 2013 at 12:39

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yam yam Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Crossover Team Joined: June 16 2011 Location: Kerberos Status: Offline Points: 7082	Topic: Fabric (UK): Psyche/Crossover...maybe? Posted: January 16 2013 at 12:36
	This band have been around for quite a while now, and seem to tick most of the right boxes to my admittedly easily-pleased ears - but I couldn't find any reference to them on the site anywhere, so wondered whether they might stand a chance of being included... Described as sounding "something like a merger between Pink Floyd and Portishead with Stevie Nicks on vocals", Fabric are a five-piece based around the songwriting partnership of lead singer Anna Parry and guitarist/producer Simon Matthews. Anna and Simon first met at City of Bath College in the late 90's where they started writing and performing together with the band Plastic Eyes gigging extensively around Bristol and Bath reaching the final of the famous Moles Club Battle of the Bands along the way. In 2005, after several years of intensive writing and recording spent away from the live circuit, Anna and Simon started performing as Parry/Matthews using technology to create the lush, layered soundscapes that made their recordings stand out. Released in December 2005 on their own AMO Music label, their debut album featured eight tracks written, performed and produced by the duo. The album received some very positive reviews... "Sophisticated pop songs that would grace anyone's CD collection" - Kevin (bristolrock.co.uk) "This is a fine debut from the Bath pair." - Ash Brown (silhobbit) "Pure magic with surprising edge and depth 8/10." - The Mag (the-mag.me.uk) "I loved it. I just wish that it lasted much, much longer. Simply brilliant. A Masterpiece" - Alan (bristolrock.co.uk) By summer 2006 Parry:Matthews had recruited bass player Neil Swift and drummer Tom Hammond and were gigging and recording as a full working band. Anna and Simon felt that while the name Parry:Matthews suited them when performing as a duo, it wasn't representative of the band they had become so in 2007 they re-christened themselves Fabric. The album 'four two' was completed in November 2007 with all four band members contributing to the songwriting. Produced by Simon Matthews and mastered by James 'Statick' King, 'four two' features ten songs written and recorded over the previous eighteen months, apart from 'Rainclouds', a new recording of a song that Anna and Simon first wrote and performed together several years before with Plastic Eyes but simply 'forgot about'! There are still over 100 other songs from those days, most of which have been recorded but not yet released in any shape or form. 'four two' was released in December 2007 and it too received rave reviews... "Fabric are a band that command their groove, creating distinct pockets in their style to fit a variety of styles into their sound. Check out this fantastic record." 8/10 - A must-listen. Steve (the-mag.me.uk) "This is a world class top notch collection of songs that has been recorded and mastered to the highest level of quality...An album that you can listen to in its entirety time after time without skipping a track here and there, because there is no reason to do so...Please get yourself a copy of this fine album, you will thank me for the recommendation when you do." Kevin (bristolrock.co.uk) "The effect is somewhat dizzying and hypnotic and when some guitar licks bust through the mix...it's like you're in the midst of one of those dreams when you're not really sure whether or not you've woken up. It's a mood that doesn't seismically change over the course of the entire album. Sometimes this can serve to create an unrelenting euphoric dreamscape that puts the listener in a trance for the duration of the album and can change the whole complexion of a day...It's definitely worth a listen, and is made by talented musicians with an understanding of what makes a solid tune." Dave Urwin (live-music-scene.co.uk) "The overall feel to this album oozes experienced seasoned musicians, it gives you that warm feeling that they really know what they are about and have nothing to prove. Another one for my iPod I think. Highly recommended" Alan (bristolrock.co.uk) Fabric's mesmerising live performances have also received critical acclaim, check out MySpace for more reviews. Fabric completed their third album 'The Wait' in early 2010. The ten new recordings include guest performances from Matt Venn, Kellie Cox and former Plastic Eyes band mate Andrew Rimmer. Fabric are: - Anna Parry / vocals - Simon Matthews / guitar, keyboards - Neil Swift / bass - Tom Hammond / drums http://www.myspace.com/fabricsounds (samples from 'four two') http://www.facebook.com/fabrictheband http://fabric.bandcamp.com/ (listen and download 'The Wait") http://www.fabric.themoon.co.uk (official website) http://www.fabric.themoon.co.uk/downloads.htm (free downloads of all tracks of all three albums, either individually or as .zip files) Sounds to me as though they have positioned themselves somewhere along the fuzzy line between Psyche and Crossover, but are they worth an eval...Thoughts anyone? Edited by yam yam - January 16 2013 at 12:39

seventhsojourn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: December 11 2009 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 4006	Posted: January 20 2013 at 11:19
	Thanks for the suggestion, will check it out later this evening.

Rivertree Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions Joined: March 22 2006 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 17650	Posted: January 20 2013 at 12:50
	regarding their current album 'The Wait' this won't have a chance when longing for the psych/space territory - though sometimes reminding me of the band SKY CRIES MARY too much pop substance in there, that means even something iffy when it comes to crossover ...


yam yam Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Crossover Team Joined: June 16 2011 Location: Kerberos Status: Offline Points: 7082	Posted: January 20 2013 at 13:41
	^ Thanks Uwe. Wasn't sure at all about this act, so am grateful for your advice. I personally love this stuff, and it tends to cloud your objective judgment somewhat when you particularly like something!

seventhsojourn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: December 11 2009 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 4006	Posted: January 20 2013 at 15:00
	I also have my doubts about this band but we'll see. David, since Crossover would appear the only possibility, do you want me to pass it on to the team or would you prefer to do so yourself?

yam yam Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Crossover Team Joined: June 16 2011 Location: Kerberos Status: Offline Points: 7082	Posted: January 20 2013 at 15:14
	Since two people out of two have expressed doubts, I'm happy to leave it un-evaluated. I realised it might be a borderline case, but thought I'd give it an airing here just to see what the reaction was. Thanks for checking it out guys.