The High Llamas
The High Llamas are a London-based musical group, formed by the Irish guitarist and songwriter Sean O'Hagan after the demise of his group Microdisney. O'Hagan writes and arranges the music and the rest of the group consists of drummer Rob Allum, keyboardist/cellist Marcus Holdaway, and ex-Microdisney bassist Jon Fell. Guitarist John Bennett played with the band for several years, leaving in 2000. The core group is augmented by guitarist Pete Aves and vibist/percussionist Dominic Murcott, both for live performances and on record.
Musical style
The High Llamas' output (including the eponymous debut album, technically credited to "Sean O'Hagan") showed influences including pre-1950s American pop and folk, Brazilian jazz and bossa nova, film composers of the 1960s, and 1990s European electronic music. O'Hagan's work most frequently included references to Brian Wilson's psychedelic period and/or kitsch lounge revival. Although O'Hagan sometimes expresses discomfort at reviewers' claims of derivative works, he generally wears his influences on his sleeve, even naming several more recent songs after the composers and pop musicians who most inspired that particular track (examples: "Bach Ze", "Pat Mingus", "Shuggie Todd"). The Beach Boys' influence on O'Hagan is most obvious on the expansive, cinematic 1996 album Hawaii, a musical spaghetti western on themes of tourism and colonialism. It blended elements of Pet Sounds, Smile, and Wild Honey such that O'Hagan was recommended by Bruce Johnston to produce an aborted Beach Boys comeback LP. O'Hagan had played on some The Beach Boys dates. The High Llamas had previously provided a backing band for Arthur Lee's Love in the mid 1990s.
The High
The High were an English rock group from Manchester, who were generally regarded as part of the Madchester scene.
History
The band was formed in 1989 by former Turning Blue singer John Matthews, along with former Buzzcocks F.O.C. members Andy Couzens (guitar, also formerly of The Stone Roses and pre-Roses bands The Patrol and Waterfront), Simon Davies (bass), and drummer Chris Goodwin (also formerly of Inspiral Carpets), when Steve Diggle left Buzzcocks F.O.C. to reform the Buzzcocks.
They were signed by London Records and had three minor UK Singles Chart hits in 1990 before breaking into the top 30 in 1991 with a revamped version of their debut single, the Martin Hannett-produced "Box Set Go". The band's debut album, Somewhere Soon, peaked at number 59 in the UK Album Chart.
With the Madchester scene losing favour with the critics, the band's later releases failed to chart, the band splitting up in 1993. John Matthews and Chris Goodwin went on to form the Manchester group 'One Summer' with local musicians Stephen Fitzpatrick (guitar) and Carl Wolstenholme (bass). One Summer worked with Factory Records group A Certain Ratio and recorded a demo for the label before it went into administration.
The High (comics)
The High (John Cumberland) is a fictional character, a superhero in the Wildstorm Universe. He first appears in Stormwatch #46 and was created by Warren Ellis and Tom Raney.
Publication history
The High plays a major part in the Stormwatch story arc "Change or Die." The character was later revived for the series Number of the Beast and would become a key part of the line-wide storyline "World's End".
Fictional character biography
The High came from an alternate reality. He fought as a superhero alongside Jenny Sparks in the 1930s, but became frustrated and left the crime-fighting occupation long before she did. After years detached from society (including a decade spent seated atop a throne of stone in the Rocky Mountains, contemplating his plan) he was left with a somewhat naive apprehension of others, their motives and ability shrinking in the face of his noble plan. He was overly trusting of his cohorts, quick to mistrust anyone who stepped in their way, and eager to force the world to change and be done with it - and he ultimately learned, as Jenny Sparks said, that people only want change on their own terms. His emblem was five arrows in a circle, much like the symbol for recycling - he wore this on his costume's belt and on a t-shirt he wore when out of costume.
Podcasts:
The High Llamas
ALBUMS
- Talahomi Way released: 2011
- Can Cladders released: 2007
- Beet, Maize & Corn released: 2003
- Retrospective, Rarities & Instrumentals released: 2003
- Buzzle Bee released: 2000
- Snowbug released: 1999
- Lollo Rosso released: 1998
- Cold and Bouncy released: 1998
- Hawaii released: 1997
- Santa Barbara released: 1992
- Gideon Gaye released:
Hawaii
Released 1997- Cuckoo Casino
- Sparkle Up
- Literature Is Fluff
- Nomads
- Snapshot Pioneer
- Ill-fitting Suits
- Recent Orienteering
- The Hot Revivalist
- Phoney Racehorse
- Dressing Up the Old Dakota
- D.C. 8
- Doo-Wop Property
- Theatreland
- A Friendly Pioneer
- Cuckoo's Out
- Peppy
- There's Nobody Home
- The Hokey Curator
- Campers in Control
- Double Drift
- Island People
- Incidentally N.E.O.
- Tides
- Nomad Strings
- Pilgrims
- Rustic Vespa
- Folly Time
- Hawaiian Smile
- Instrumental Suits
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Sailing Bells
by: High LlamasRocker on the hill
Left alone until
He is cooled by the
Lightest of rains
Runner in the din
Let's the high rocks slip
‘Til the clash and the sea spray are gone
The clash and the sea spray are gone
Oh the little rocks
Lay low on the tide
(Oh the little rocks lay)
The little rocks lay
(Oh the little rocks lay)
Bobby sails the cat
Down the midway flat
Like a freeform not far from the land
Sailing bells are hung
Brushes on the drum
And the free bird of Cantabile
And the cameras come down the midway
Oh the little rocks
Lay low on the tide
(Oh the little rocks lay)
The little rocks lay
(Oh the little rocks lay)
Rocker on the hill
Left alone until
He is cooled by the
Lightest of rain
Runner in the din
Let's the high rocks slip
‘Til the clash and the sea spray are gone
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