Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Suggest New Bands and Artists
Forum Description: Suggest, create polls, and classify new bands you would like included on Prog Archives
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=91546 Printed Date: February 24 2025 at 06:49 Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Fabric (UK): Psyche/Crossover...maybe?Posted By: yam yam
Subject: Fabric (UK): Psyche/Crossover...maybe?
Date 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" rel="nofollow - http://www.myspace.com/fabricsounds (samples from 'four two')
http://www.fabric.themoon.co.uk/downloads.htm" rel="nofollow - 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?
Replies: Posted By: seventhsojourn
Date Posted: January 20 2013 at 11:19
Thanks for the suggestion, will check it out later this evening.
Posted By: Rivertree
Date 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 ...
Posted By: yam yam
Date 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!
Posted By: seventhsojourn
Date 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?
Posted By: yam yam
Date 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.