Biography
In 2004 the Birmingham-based UK indie rock outfit came together under multi-instrumentalists Lawrence Becko (b. 1982, London, England) and Tom Rogers, who borrowed their singular name from the nickname of one of Rogers’s childhood companions. The founding roster was rounded out by Olly Forrester on drums, Jasmin Hollingum (b. 1984, Bath Spa, Somerset, England; synthesizer, violin, French horn) and Alex Housden (b. 1981, Lancaster, Lancashire, England; cello, piano). Working together, Becko and Rogers shaped a lo-fi, folk-tinged strain of indie rock whose songs drew heavily on synesthesia, the uncommon neurological condition Becko says allows him to perceive chords and lyrics as colours. The quartet inked a deal with the independent Static Caravan Records imprint, issuing the limited-edition EP Treeology in February 2006 and the similarly restricted single ‘Penguins’ later the same year. Around the time that single appeared, Rogers and Forrester exited while Aidan Murphy (b. 1982, Birmingham, West Midlands, England; guitar, harmonica) and James Dey (drums) joined the ranks. Although promotion stayed modest, reviewers lavished praise on Shady Bard and the group earned modest UK radio exposure. Their debut album From The Ground Up arrived in May 2007 to broad critical approval that linked the band’s sound to Sparklehorse, the Flaming Lips and Spiritualized. The record revealed considerable textural richness through its dense layering and wide array of atypical instruments, moving from the hushed, hypnotic opening track ‘Fires’ to the sweeping, dramatic ‘Treeology’.
Albums