Teleman

Teleman distinguish themselves through an idiosyncratic blend of indie and dance elements that balances thoughtful introspection with playful energy. Having evolved from the brash 2000s London indie rock band Pete & the Pirates, the group adopted a subtler and more layered aesthetic. Their 2014 debut Breakfast captured this shift through free-ranging pop, while Brilliant Sanity in 2016 fused taut rock structures with electronic explorations and abundant hooks. By the transition into the 2020s, dance influences had become central, shaping the electronic textures and warm, witty songcraft of Family of Aliens in 2018 and Good Time/Hard Time in 2023.

Following the 2012 dissolution of Pete & the Pirates, vocalist/guitarist Thomas Sanders, keyboardist Jonny Sanders, and bassist Pete Cattermoul launched Teleman after discovering the name on a thrift-shop album by composer Georg Philipp Telemann. Drummer Hiro Amamiya completed the quartet, whose early demos displayed wry, melodic guitar pop recalling the Beach Boys alongside acts such as Django Django. The band joined Moshi Moshi Records and issued their first single, “Christina,” through the label’s Singles Club in 2013. Produced by Bernard Butler, Breakfast arrived in 2014 and reached number 65 on the U.K. Albums chart; the group also toured with Suede, Metronomy, and Franz Ferdinand before releasing the 2015 single “Strange Combinations.”

Teleman next enlisted producer Dan Carey to refine their songwriting and deepen their synthesizer palette, centering on the Mellotron, Roland Jupiter, and Korg Trident. The resulting Brilliant Sanity, released in April 2016, peaked at number 51 on the U.K. Albums chart and featured the singles “Fall in Time” and “Düsseldorf.” Their Fünf EP extended the electronic trajectory, pairing each of its five tracks with a different producer—Timothy J. Fairplay, Ghost Culture, Bullion, Boxed In, and Moscoman. These dance leanings and a more open, collaborative writing process informed the third album Family of Aliens, which debuted at number 40 on the U.K. Albums chart in September 2018, becoming the band’s highest-charting release to that point. The following May, Family of Remixes appeared, containing reworkings by sir Was, C.A.R., Seven Davis, Jr., and Teleman themselves.

Jonny Sanders departed amicably in September 2020 to concentrate on his music, film, and design work as Prehuman. That year also saw solo releases from the remaining members: Thomas Sanders, previously known as Tap Tap, issued Only Magic under the name Tom Sanders, while Hiro Amamiya released the EP Uncertainty as Hiro Ama. As a trio, Teleman recruited Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard and Al Doyle to produce the November 2021 Sweet Morning EP, which reflected a more streamlined and direct approach. They continued in this vein with Good Time/Hard Time in April 2023, merging the danceable sounds of Giorgio Moroder, Metronomy, and early house music with meditations on friendship and the value of life.