Youthmovies

Youthmovies
Andrew Mears and Stephen Hammond of Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies on stage at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, in July 2004
Andrew Mears and Stephen Hammond of Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies on stage at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, in July 2004
Background information
Also known asYouthmovie Soundtrack Strategies, YMSS, Youm
OriginOxford, England, United Kingdom
GenresMath rock (early years)
Post-rock
Progressive rock
Years active2002–2010
LabelsBlast First Petite
Drowned in Sound
Try Harder Records
Fierce Panda
Vacuous Pop
Quickfix
Past membersAndrew Mears
Al English
Stephen Hammond
Samuel Hudson Scott
Simon Jones
Graeme Murray
Websitehttp://www.myspace.com/whyyoum

Youthmovies (previously known as YMSS or Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies) were an English rock band active from 2002 to 2010. They consisted of Andrew Mears (guitar and vocals), Al English (guitar), Graeme Murray (drums), Stephen Hammond (bass) and Sam Scott (brass and keys).

History

Simon Jones, drummer for the band Hope of the States, originally played drums in Youthmovies. Prior to Hope of the States being signed to Sony BMG in 2004, Jones was replaced by Graeme Murray.

Their early sound touched upon noise, brooding soundscapes, samples, feedback, and drone, though their mini-album Hurrah! Another Year, Surely This One Will Be Better Than the Last; The Inexorable March of Progress Will Lead Us All to Happiness and the subsequent single "Ores" suggested they were moving into a more ambitious and musically accomplished sound.[citation needed]

The band toured extensively with Hope of the States, Pioneers Press author Adam Gnade, 65daysofstatic and ¡Forward, Russia!. They also played at the Truck Festival,[1][2] Latitude Festival, All Tomorrow's Parties,[3] Bestival, Cambridge Film Festival[4] and the Reading and Leeds festivals.

In October 2007, the band released a 5-track CD EP in collaboration with Adam Gnade entitled Honey Slides on guitarist Al English's label Try Harder.

Between April and June 2007, the band recorded their first full-length album, Good Nature, at the Seamus Wong studio in Leicester, released on Drowned in Sound Recordings on 17 March 2008. Ant Theaker, former guitarist with Hope of the States, produced the album, which was mixed at the Strongroom Studios in east London, and mastered in Chicago by Bob Weston of Shellac. The album introduced "a new attention to melody"[5] and was the first recording to feature the trumpet playing of Sam Scott.

In December 2009, the band announced that they had split. The last tour happened in March 2010 with performances in England and Scotland along with their regular collaborator, Adam Grande.

In October 2017, the band announced a one-off reunion show, which was to take place in March 2018 in Oxford. After the show sold out in under an hour, a second date was announced. Both shows were fundraisers for The Brain Tumour Charity.

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

CDRs

  • Homeless Musics I (October 2005)[12]
  • Homeless Musics II (2006)[13]
  • Homeless Musics III (2006)[14]

References

  1. ^ Hughes, Tim (10 July 2007). "Line-up for truck festival revealed". Oxford Mail. Newsquest (Oxfordshire & Wiltshire) Ltd. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  2. ^ Hughes, Tim (21 July 2008). "6,000 enjoy Truck Festival". Oxford Mail.
  3. ^ "ATP VS THE FANS - LINE UP". All Tomorrow's Parties website. ATP Festivals. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  4. ^ Hawkett, Becky. "Interview: Youthmovies". Cambridge Film Trust. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  5. ^ Mears, Andrew (31 March 2008). "Band Notes - Youthmovies". SUPERSWEET. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
  6. ^ Good Nature at MusicBrainz
  7. ^ Let's Get Going... You're Fracturing Me With This Misery at MusicBrainz
  8. ^ Hurrah! Another Year, Surely This One Will Be Better Than the Last; The Inexorable March of Progress Will Lead Us All to Happiness (2005 repress) at MusicBrainz
  9. ^ Honey Slides at MusicBrainz
  10. ^ Polyp at MusicBrainz
  11. ^ "Ores" at MusicBrainz
  12. ^ Homeless Musics at MusicBrainz
  13. ^ Homeless Musics II at MusicBrainz
  14. ^ Homeless Musics III at MusicBrainz