Klaxons
Klaxons | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | London, England |
Genres | |
Years active | 2005–2015 |
Labels | |
Past members |
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Website | klaxons |
Klaxons were an English
The band has been on indefinite hiatus since 2014.
History
Formation (2005–2006)
Jamie Reynolds grew up in Bournemouth and Southampton.[4] He dropped out of studying philosophy at Greenwich University[5] to work in a record shop, Essential Records in Southampton, before moving to London and being made redundant.[6] Simon Taylor-Davis and James Righton grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon, meeting at Stratford-upon-Avon High School. The trio formed in New Cross, London, after meeting through Reynolds' girlfriend.[7] Righton had been working as a teacher at the time.[8]
James taught Simon how to play guitar,
Myths of the Near Future (2006–2008)
Klaxons' debut single, "
The band signed to
In August 2006, Klaxons played at the
The first single from their debut album, "
Their debut album, titled
On 1 October 2007, the band released A Bugged Out Mix,[25] a double album featuring 27 tracks mixed by Reynolds.
Klaxons singled out a new song that has strong progressive rock influences as a guide to one possible direction the album may go in, revealed recently NME magazine. Guitarist Simon Taylor said, "We wanna make something that's bigger and softer and louder and lo-fi and heavier produced - just lots of contradictions. I think it's gonna be like the last record but swollen. We've been listening to a lot of European prog music, and dubstep, and dance and folk. A huge broad variety of things really. There's one track we've been playing in soundcheck, it's this massive prog opus."[26]
Klaxons performed with the singer Rihanna on her song "Umbrella" which had "Golden Skans" mixed into the background during the Brit Awards 2008 held in London on 20 February 2008.[27]
Klaxons won 'Best Album' at the
Surfing the Void (2008–2011)
Talk of a second album began in November 2007, during the band's UK winter tour. Influences include
At the beginning of 2009, the band played a small club show at Madame Jojo's in London, their first in the capital since the NME Big Gig the previous year. During the set, the band featured new songs "Imaginary Pleasures" and "In Silver Forest", together with the previously aired "Moonhead" and "Valley of the Calm Trees".[34] In March 2009, it was reported that the band had been told to re-record parts of their second album, after it was rejected by label Polydor. Reynolds said "we've made a really dense, psychedelic record" and that "it isn't the right thing for us [the band]".[35] In an interview with BBC News, Reynolds revealed that "Moonhead" and new track "Marble Fields and the Hydrolight Head of Delusion" were "probably going to make it", and that they were working with "Simian Mobile Disco production" during April–May 2009. Reynolds added that "Valley of the Calm Trees" had been retitled "The Parhelion", to reflect its lyrical content.[36] James Ford of Simian Mobile Disco confirmed working with the band later in the year, stating in an interview with Newsbeat that they were "...trying to keep it melodic and vocal because that's one of their great strong points".[37]
On 22 May 2009, the band announced a show at
It was announced during November 2009 that the band were now working with producer Ross Robinson, with Robinson confirming through his Twitter account.[45] The band stated that work with Ford had gone astray, reaching difficulties with Ford acting as both producer and drummer.[46] Klaxons broke from recording at the end of the year to perform at Get Loaded In the Dark at Brixton Academy on 31 December 2009, featuring alongside Chase & Status and Annie Mac.[47] Recording was completed to the satisfaction of both band and label in February 2010.[45] The following month, it was confirmed that the band would be playing Open'er Festival in Poland as well as the Reading and Leeds Festivals in the UK. They headlined the BBC Radio 1/NME Stage.[48] Taylor-Davies suggested Reading and Leeds would be a UK-exclusive, saying, "I think in England it's just going to be Reading and Leeds, in terms of festivals, this summer".[49]
On 25 May 2010, Zane Lowe premiered the track "Flashover" on his BBC Radio 1 show, the band's first new material in three years. Even though the track was not released as a single it was available on the band's new album, titled Surfing the Void.[45][50][51] In support of the new album, the band announced an eight date tour of the UK and France, which took place during May–July 2010. For live performances, they were joined by Anthony Rossomando as a touring member.[45]
Their second album Surfing the Void was released on 23 August 2010,[52] and includes the single "Echoes", which was released one week prior. In contrast to the band's debut album which sold 350,000 in the UK, Surfing the Void sold 30,000 and was to be the last release with Universal/Polydor.[53]
On 25 December 2010, the band released on their website a free EP of material that was worked on for the album in 2007-2008, entitled Landmarks of Lunacy.[54]
Love Frequency and break-up (2012–2015)
In January 2012, Klaxons announced on their Twitter account that they were to begin recording their third album on 30 January.[55][56] NME reported that the album was "expected to be released later" in the year and that the band were working with James Murphy and The Chemical Brothers.[57] At Berlin Festival 2013 they played new songs "Children of the Sun", "Invisible Forces", "Love Frequency", "Rhythm of Life" and "New Reality" which were released on their 2014 album.
The album's lead single "There is No Other Time" is a collaboration with British production duo
In October 2014 the band announced that their dates in the UK and Europe through October/November and Japan/South America in January 2015 would be their "last headline tour". The band's publicist was unable to confirm whether this meant the band were splitting up or not.[63]
In June 2022, Righton was asked by NME if there was any chance of a Klaxons reunion. "No, I think that was such a fun, amazing thing we did," he replied. "I've so much love and respect for the other guys and never say never, but I think we did all right. We've had big offers for reunions through for years now, but it's not as easy as that or something I'd go lightly into."[64]
Musical style
The band were described as "acid-rave sci-fi punk-funk" by the
The band's Facebook page lists the band's genre as "Psychedelic / Progressive / Pop".[67]
Band members
- Jamie Reynolds – bass, vocals (2005–2015)
- James Righton – keyboards, vocals (2005–2015)
- Simon Taylor-Davies – guitars (2005–2015)
Touring members
- George Latham – drums (2013–2015)
Past members
- Steffan Halperin – drums (2007–2013)
Discography
- Myths of the Near Future (2007)
- Surfing the Void (2010)
- Love Frequency (2014)
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | BT Digital Music Awards | Best Rock/Indie Artist | Nominated[68] | |
2007 | Q Awards | Best New Act | Nominated[69] | |
2007 | Mercury Prize | Best Album | Myths of the Near Future | Won[70] |
2007 | MTV Europe Music Awards | Best UK & Irish Act | Nominated[71] | |
2007 | NME Awards | Best New Band | Won[72] | |
2007 | Vodafone Live Music Awards | Live Breakthrough Act | Won[73] | |
2008 | Brit Awards | Best Live Act | Nominated[74] | |
2008 | Brit Awards | Breakthrough Act | Nominated[74] | |
2008 | Ivor Novello Awards | Best Contemporary Song | "Golden Skans" | Won[75] |
2008 | NME Awards | Best Album | Myths of the Near Future | Won[76] |
2008 | NME Awards | Best British Band | Nominated[77] | |
2008 | NME Awards | Best Video | "Golden Skans" | Nominated[77] |
2008 | NME Awards | Best Dancefloor Filler | "Atlantis to Interzone" | Nominated[77] |
2008 | NME Awards USA | Best International Track | "Golden Skans" | Won[78] |
2008 | NME Awards USA | Best New International Band | Won[78] | |
2008 | NME Awards USA | Best New International Live Act | Won[78] | |
2008 | NME Awards USA | Best International Album | Myths of the Near Future | Nominated[79] |
2010 | Best Art Vinyl | Best Artwork | Surfing the Void | Won[80] |
2011 | NME Awards | Best Album Artwork | Surfing the Void | Won[81] |
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