Mary Hansen
Mary Hansen | |
---|---|
![]() Hansen in 1996 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Mary Therese Hansen |
Born | Maryborough, Queensland, Australia | 1 November 1966
Died | 9 December 2002 London, England | (aged 36)
Genres | Experimental pop, indie pop, experimental rock, psychedelic rock |
Occupation(s) | Vocalist, musician |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, percussion, keyboards[1] |
Years active | 1986–2002 |
Formerly of | The Wolfhounds, Stereolab, Schema |
Mary Therese Hansen (1 November 1966 – 9 December 2002) was an Australian-born guitarist and singer. She joined the London-based avant-pop band Stereolab in 1992. As a member, Hansen recorded six studio albums from Transient Random-Noise Bursts with Announcements (August 1993) to Sound-Dust (August 2001).
As a side-project, in late 1999 she formed the space rock group Schema with members of Seattle-based band Hovercraft, and they issued their debut album, Schema, on 19 September 2000. On 9 December 2002, Hansen was struck and killed by a truck while bicycling in London.
Biography
Early life
Mary Therese Hansen was born on 1 November 1966 in
Career
By 1988, Hansen had moved to London and worked in various jobs.[1] She soon became a backing singer with the Essex-based indie band the Wolfhounds.[1] She met guitarist Tim Gane when the Wolfhounds performed alongside his indie pop band, McCarthy. Gane formed Stereolab, in 1990 with Lætitia Sadier (ex-McCarthy). Hansen joined Stereolab as second vocalist and guitarist in 1992. She also contributed percussion, keyboards, and occasional lead vocals.[4] As a member of that band, Hansen recorded six studio albums from Transient Random-Noise Bursts with Announcements (August 1993) to Sound-Dust (August 2001).[4]
Outside of her work with Stereolab, Hansen sang on records by
In late 1999, Hansen combined with Seattle-formed space rock group Hovercraft to form Schema. An eponymous maxi-EP/mini-album was released on 19 September 2000 on avant-garde Kill Rock Stars imprint, 5 Rue Christine.[5] AllMusic's François Couture described their style as "space rock, psychedelic rock, ambient pop, and artsy avant-rock" with the feature track being "Echolalia... Curvilinear" with its "ethereal female vocals, lots of guitar noise, and a driving rhythm section".[5]
Death
On 9 December 2002, a truck hit and killed Hansen while she was riding her bicycle in London.[6] Just before her death, she had bought a block of land in Maryborough, as she frequently spent time there with her family.[1] Stereolab's subsequent release, Margerine Eclipse (2004) was dedicated to Hansen,[1] with its track 'Feel and Triple' being a tribute to her.[7]
In 2004, Hybird, an EP of some of Hansen's music, was released posthumously. It also featured her artwork, contained three tracks which had been released in limited editions before her death, and a final track which was finished by Stereolab's
References
- ^ a b c d e f Seymour, George (2 March 2018). ""Mary Sings in Central Park; Maryborough Girl Made Her Mark in Music Industry in London"". Fraser Coast Chronicle. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
- ^ a b c d Glaister, Dan (14 December 2002). "Obituary: Mary Hansen". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
- ^ "Profile". Government of Queensland. 11 September 2012.
- ^ Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
- ^ a b Couture, François. "Schema – Schema". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
- ^ "Stereolab Singer Killed". BBC News. 11 December 2002. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
- ^ "Margerine Eclipse - Stereolab". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
- ^ "Mary Hansen - The Horizontalist". Duophonic Records Official Website. Retrieved 16 May 2018.